HELP! Pactor Modem Power Supply

[ess105]

I wonder if anyone can help me. I am repacking my Pactor Modem and for the life of me I can't find the power supply. Chances are it's one of the many unlabeled power supplies I was less than diligent with. Can anyone tell me what it looks like (perhaps a photo) and/or let me know what voltage it is. I have found one that is 48V which fits the socket on the back but the manual suggests the supply is no more than 20V.

Not the end of the world if it's lost as I can get power via the cable from the SSB.

[AnchorageGuy]

Our Pactor gets its power from the radio.

[db8us]

Yes, it should not need the power plug! I fell into the same trap :-)

[ess105]

That's how I had it rigged while testing at home. I'm just bothered that I can't find the power supply. That may mean it didn't come with one and my memory is as bad as it has always been. No probs - thanks for responding.

[JB]

Yep - mine is also powered through the radio connection - I don't think they have a separate power supply.

[Paul Elliott]

(I am assuming you have the PTC II-pro, but the others are similar)

The Pactor modem can be powered from the radio (the typical configuration), or from a power supply via the rear panel jack. Here is an excerpt from the manual:

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3.1 Power supply

The PTC-IIpro has two inputs for its power connections which can be used alternatively. Either connect via the DC-in supply socket at the rear of the unit, or via the connector for the short-wave transceiver (Audio). Both connections are decoupled with diodes and protected against reverse polarity. An input voltage between 10…20 VDC is allowed, the current consumption depends due to use of a switch mode regulator internally on the input voltage and how the PTC-IIpro is equipped (e.g. Modems, RAM etc) and also the present processor speed. It is usually around 200 mA at 13.8 V. Basically the higher the input voltage the lower the current consumption. The power supply inputs on the PTC-IIpro are especially filtered so that harmonics of the switch mode regulator cannot pass outside the unit. The inputs are also protected by a self-resetting fuse.
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[tlavino]

Hello, in case you need to build your own power cable, the power supply port on the SCS PTC-II modems is an IEC 60130-10 Type A, center conductor (2.1mm) is positive, outer conductor (5.5mm) ground.

Cheers,

Ted Lavino
KG6LZP

[donradcliffe]

I had trouble with the Pactor when powered by the radio when the batteries were low and I was using full radio power. I'm not sure RF wasn't the cause, but using the separate power wiring on an independent circuit solved them.

[paulo7]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

I had trouble with the Pactor when powered by the radio when the batteries were low and I was using full radio power. I'm not sure RF wasn't the cause, but using the separate power wiring on an independent circuit solved them.

Best is to use low or medium power. More power is not better ... often worse!

[donradcliffe]

I agree. More power means more RF floating around the boat. I used 25-30% transmitter power to keep the autopilot happy.

[gamayun]

Thanks for the post! I'd been pulling my hair out wondering where the power cord is for the Pactor Modem I'm reinstalling. I had borrowed the modem for a passage a few years ago, returned it, then bought it from the owner who had sold his boat. I guess I could have asked him about this too but things that seem to get lost like this are just embarrassing. At least I kept the proprietary cable wires attached.