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Tech Area => General Buick Tech => Topic started by: gordyzx9r on December 21 2010, 08:41:50 PM

Title: How to make a Scanmaster portable & battery operated?
Post by: gordyzx9r on December 21 2010, 08:41:50 PM: I have an extra Scanmaster that I'd like to make portable, but instead of using a cigarette lighter plug I'd really like to make it battery powered so I just have to plug into the ALDL and that's it.

Possible?
Title: Re: How to make a Scanmaster portable & battery operated?
Post by: daveismissing on December 21 2010, 08:48:57 PM: Do you mean self contained batteries- inside the unit?
Title: Re: How to make a Scanmaster portable & battery operated?
Post by: gordyzx9r on December 21 2010, 08:52:37 PM: I doubt if there is room to make it self contained, but even if i just have a small battery pack that would be fine.
Title: Re: How to make a Scanmaster portable & battery operated?
Post by: daveismissing on December 21 2010, 09:34:39 PM: As long as you have the ground (negative lead) in common it should work.
I can't remember if there is a ground in the ALDL connector.
Title: Re: How to make a Scanmaster portable & battery operated?
Post by: daveismissing on December 21 2010, 09:44:09 PM: One diagram suggests pin "A" is a ground. I'd check that against the shop manual and voltmeter.
Title: Re: How to make a Scanmaster portable & battery operated?
Post by: Turbodave on December 22 2010, 07:54:50 AM: Since most small batteries like AA's AAA's, C's, D's, etc are all 1.5 volt. It's would take a 9 battery pack to make the needed voltage for relialble operation. So to keep the battery pack reasonably small you're talking about AAA's or AA's.

Personally I prefer the cig litghter adapter. You can't get much more portable than that.
Title: Re: How to make a Scanmaster portable & battery operated?
Post by: ULYCYC on December 22 2010, 08:29:20 AM: The lighter is only a few inches from the ALDL. Just buy a uni lighter plug adapter and tape the wire in with the ALDL lead. Make the wires as long as you want.
Title: Re: How to make a Scanmaster portable & battery operated?
Post by: gordyzx9r on December 22 2010, 08:34:18 AM: Quote from: "Turbodave @ Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:54 am"
Personally I prefer the cig litghter adapter. You can't get much more portable than that.

But with my luck, I'd go look at a car and the cigarette lighter won't be working.
Title: Re: How to make a Scanmaster portable & battery operated?
Post by: daveismissing on December 22 2010, 08:44:26 AM: I think it has a 78L05 type reg inside so a 7.2v RC pack might just be enough to keep it in regulation. IF Bob drives the display LEDS directly off the 12v rail then they might be a bit dim, can't say for sure.

RC packs mean all sorts of recharging options?
Title: Re: How to make a Scanmaster portable & battery operated?
Post by: daveismissing on January 30 2011, 06:55:47 PM: Quote from: "daveismissing @ Wed Dec 22, 2010 8:44 am"
I think it has a 78L05 type reg inside so a 7.2v RC pack might just be enough to keep it in regulation. IF Bob drives the display LEDS directly off the 12v rail then they might be a bit dim, can't say for sure.

RC packs mean all sorts of recharging options?

I had a look today since its too friggin' cold to do anything outside.
The display IS driven directly from the 12v rail and there is a 78L05 for the logic.
As long as you can see the display a lower supply voltage should be viable.
Title: Re: How to make a Scanmaster portable & battery operated?
Post by: WE4_Roller on February 02 2011, 04:49:44 PM: A 9V battery might work and they are small.

Or else a small 12Volt alarm type Gel cell battery that could easily be recharged.