Yaesu FT-70D DC Power Adapter - TheSmokinApe

[@w7don]

I like the cut of your jib. I've lost track of how many hours of blood, sweat, and tears you've saved me. Keep doing what your doing so long as it brings you happiness. Thanks, brother.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Don, glad you like the videos!

[@SidebandSamurai]

Excellent video, here is a pro tip for you: The power pole crimper is retching for a reason. Its not to make a pretty clicking noise when you squeeze the handle. What you do is place the metal connecter in the crimper in the correct orientation. Squeeze the handle just until the jaws of the crimper touch the connector and does not come out. Then insert the wire in to the hole of the metal connector. Now while holding the wire and the crimper, squeeze the crimper until the connector is fastened and there you go easy peasy lemon squeezy. I am not saying your method does not work, but thought this would make your building of patch cables much easier.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for the tip 👍

[@karlmadsen3179]

Dude. I like your style. I also like my FT-70D. I've made several power adapters from such detritus sitting around the shop and receive intense mockery from My Wife for hanging on to these things.....only later to find them deployed somewhere. Ha! I laugh out loud back at the mockery.

[@TheSmokinApe]

LOL @ this. Our toaster over broke and my wife thought I was crazy because I wanted to harvest parts from it before throwing it away.

[@karlmadsen3179]

@@TheSmokinApe totally reasonable and understandable

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@karlmadsen3179 lol, right

[@KC5TGTRadiosNMore]

Really like this idea. I have 2 FT-70d radios and I love them. Great little radio with a lot going for it at a good price point.

[@TheSmokinApe]

And they sound great too!

[@theend5304]

@@TheSmokinApe Why did Ham Radio 2.0 criticize him and not include him in the top 2020 for a bad menu and a weak battery?

[@theend5304]

Why did hamradio criticize him and not include him in the top 2020 for a bad menu and a weak battery?

[@George-bb9yi]

Could you verify the connector size? Late to the party, I could not find the connectors in question on your Amazon store.

[@twohandsandaradio]

WAY off topic but I thought it a good spot to share. You know the convaluted way to program the radio...plug this in do that yada yada. You can skip a lot of that. I just turn the radio on and pop the battery. THen I plug the USB cable in. Then hold the AMS button down and snap the battery back in and it goes into the ADMS mode thing. Bypasses a ton of steps and japanese finger traps. Excellent video as always!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Good tip! I didn't know that. Glad you liked the video.

[@twohandsandaradio]

@@TheSmokinApe Goes way back to the IT days the directions would say "always keep ac adaptor connected before doing this or that with a laptop". I would think why? If the battery is the power source the laptop shouldn't care or know. Same with this the radio doesn't know where the power is so bypass that. Makes life so much easier and faster. Sorry for the rambles. 73 Sir!

[@hamradiotube]

Nice build buddy. Power Pole the world!! I did the same thing for many of my radios. You do need some helping hands though. And shrink that wrap around the plug all the way son, come on!

[@01cthompson]

Great video. This used to be a good, basic ham radio skill that seems to have been forgotten. I remember having to cobble a cable for my Garmin GPS to connect a 9pin TNC plug and a serial plug for APRS. It was a really good feeling when it actually worked!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Chris! I'm sure that 9 pin cable was a job... lol...

[@01cthompson]

@@TheSmokinApe Dr. Frankenstein would have been proud.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Haha

[@chrissewell1608]

Clean wiring job! I like the backup battery bank idea. Slap a solar charging system on that battery, and you are off the grid and mobile.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Yeah, it's a pretty handy setup, thanks for watching!

[@livebyreason]

Ham top tip featured here. The firmware update from Yaesu corrects the "parasitic drain" on these radios.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for the info LBR

[@vaamorais]

Glad I came across this as I have been looking into this for a while but was not sure that the radio could handle 12V on that side port as the charger outputs 10.5V. I will try building one very soon. Thanks for sharing.

[@Rusted_Link]

The manual indicates up to 16 volts 😲

[@WJ6FRadio]

Killer video as usual! This idea is perfect. I am going to try it on my old FT-60 and FT-70. Super practical.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Craig, it’s already come in handy 👍

[@dlat69]

Nicely done! Would inserting a fuse add some protection?

[@TheSmokinApe]

Probably not a bad idea.

[@gabrielguzmann1ufo905]

Hey 👋 Ape! What’s the size of that connector? There is no link on your Amazon store!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Connector Size - 4.0mm x 1.7mm - External Diameter x Internal Diameter

[@gabrielguzmann1ufo905]

Thanks 🙏 Ape I used the label on the package 📦 from your video to search and found the item! 73 de N1UFO

[@Screamingtut]

you heat shrunk your bag of Power Poles! FYI can you make a power cable for the car on an FT3DR HT. mine when on with APRS running drains the battery fast!

[@TheSmokinApe]

I sure did, I noticed that when I was cleaning up 🤔

[@alphamike2839]

Great info! The plug says 11-16V. So 12v must be fine. Thanks for doing the video.

[@TheSmokinApe]

No problem 👍

[@theend5304]

4-16)))

[@ubergeek318]

Thats a slick mod. I need to look into building one

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks man, I like it 👍

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

I will have to make one of these Ape thanks!

[@TheSmokinApe]

I think it’s going to come in handy 👍

[@rayessinger4204]

Can you run the FT70 on the battery if you remove the battery on the radio? Thank you

[@TheSmokinApe]

I didn't try, sorry man.

[@Tump2010]

you can the 3dr, just tested it, the 70 should be the same.

[@juanfgonzalez2039]

When you have the radio contacted to a battery can you transmit or will it hurt the radio

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@juanfgonzalez2039 I don’t do it so not sure

[@juanfgonzalez2039]

@@TheSmokinApe thanks bro love your videos Kk6ikw

[@TheSmokinApe]

Glad you like them and thank you for watching 👍

[@gregm.857]

Nicely done! The outer part of the connector is called the "shell." Did you find the radio charges faster with a 12V supply, compared to the 10.5V OEM wall wart?

[@Rusted_Link]

Well Mr. Ape. Did it? Did you test it? Please Please test it. Connect it to your variable voltage POWA supply and see what it can handle. I'll bet it'll take up to 13.8.

[@gregorysmith3097]

This is just to allow you to recharge without AC power, correct? Does it charge faster on AC or through this adapter?

[@dutchovenguy]

Charging with DC is slow.

[@dtm789]

Is the input on the radio 12 volts ? On my UK power supply it looks like 10 volts ?

[@TheSmokinApe]

My power supply says 10 as well, it’s my understanding the radio can handle 12 but I didn’t see it documented. 👍

[@theend5304]

11-16

[@wilsonlee63]

Yes the charging cradle is of no use outside the home, a connector for mobile makes sense. Are only cheap Chinese radios uses a USB for charging?

[@TheSmokinApe]

Yeah, I’ve only seen the Chinese ones have USB so far.

[@billschell6382]

Will the FT-70D accept 13.8V on it's DC-in port? The manual isn't too clear about it. Thanks!

[@TheSmokinApe]

The charger is rated for 10.5v, 13.8v might be "high risk"

[@billschell6382]

@@TheSmokinApe OK, I did some experiments with a bench supply. My application is a fox hunt transmitter with a 75% duty cycle, with the radio set to 2W output. With 12V going to the DC -in port, the radio got too hot to comfortably hold after 30 minutes. After backing off the voltage to 7.2v (the battery pack voltage) the radio just got slightly warm after 30 minutes. Looks like it's got a linear regulator that's converting the excess voltage to heat.

[@humantruckjack423]

Cant find poles on amazon 4mm ???

[@ryankc9oza118]

Thanks for the info

[@TheSmokinApe]

No problem 👍

[@rayessinger4204]

Thank you

[@TheSmokinApe]

You're welcome

[@stridermt2k]

Rocking little cable! Thank you for making this video! love ham radio for so many reasons, resourcefulness and the DIY spirit being among them! I bought the same crimpers from your recommendation in a previous video and zero regrets whatsoever! Lead free solder is the spawn of all that seeks to drain this world of righteousness and if you haven't figured it out IT BURNS WE HATES IT. Be proud to use leaded solder, because that's the good sh...er, stuff. 73 DE N2NLQ

[@TheSmokinApe]

The making stuff part is cool for sure 👍

[@radioman3229]

GREAT video.... thanx

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks RM 👍

[@miken6imy]

I think the ft70d will not charge when the radio is on using either: the base charger OR the wall wart plugged into the side. Using the standard wall wart plugged in to the side takes 8 to 10 hours from 0 to 100. Using the drop in cradle charger it takes 4 hours to go from 0 to 100 percent.

[@TheSmokinApe]

I don't know, I typically don't use them when charging.

[@Tump2010]

The FT3dr (I know not this radio) when plugged in the radio runs off of the plug disconnecting the battery and then trickle charges the battery. If you use the supplied AC adapter and key up with power set to high you will brown out the 3dr and it will reset as it can only put out 1a not 3, the adapter that comes with the 3dr can power it in mid or low, the cord plugged into a PP for your shack has plenty of power and it transmits on high just fine while plugged in and charging. You can do the same to a cigarette lighter, no need for any circuits or battery eliminators, just go from cigarette adapter to 4mm connector. Again, that is all true for a 3dr but yaesu does a lot of the stuff the same. We will have to get Ape to key up while it is plugged in.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Just tried and it did key up.

[@miken6imy]

Ft70d user: with radio in base charger the battery stops charging when radio is on. With radio off in the base charger the battery will charge.

[@edgardoramos6061]

Awesome, have consider selling those? Thank you

[@TheSmokinApe]

I doubt it, I don't have the set up to do it...

[@swenner64]

is it the 4mmx 1.7mm or the 4mm x .07 connector?

[@TheSmokinApe]

Pretty sure this was it: Connector Size - 4.0mm x 1.7mm - External Diameter x Internal Diameter

[@jss672006]

Good info, thanks!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Glad it was helpful!

[@richlin1]

By making this lead, have you found that it charges faster than with the standard adapter? Or is the bottleneck in the radio?

[@TheSmokinApe]

Honestly, I haven't compared the two side by side.

[@dutchovenguy]

I have not run a side by side test, but DC charging is SLOW. I use the same Bioenno battery as here.

[@jimjaeger8968]

I am trying to design my own 12VDC power supply from my vehicle. I can't seem to find the specifications for the input voltage tolerances. Vehicle power can vary up to 14.7 VDC. Do I need to regulate this voltage or will the FT70D tolerate it?

[@TheSmokinApe]

I give mine 13.6-13.8, I wasn't able to find the tolerances but being honest 14.7 would make me nervous...

[@lasantiagoa]

Just bought an ft-dr and saw this. Ths Ape! 73 de Luis, HB9HJU

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Luis, glad you liked it.

[@swenner64]

Will this work on my FT-3Dr?

[@TheSmokinApe]

It should.

[@swenner64]

@@TheSmokinApe Thanks Just solved my problem for field charging

[@radioactive8772]

Is it a 12 v battery?

[@TheSmokinApe]

No

[@user-mt2qn4yp8w]

Great stuff Ape. Can never get enough tips on building things. 73 de KG7LOI

[@TheSmokinApe]

You and me both!

[@WadeAbout]

I can power my FT60R from12v but I don’t think it charges from it. I’ll have to look into it

[@TheSmokinApe]

I'm not sure if it does.

[@theend5304]

It's all right, it's charging! The current consumption of ft5d is equal to: Adapter 10 V ---- 0,17A Accu 12 V ----- 0,16 A Battery alkaline 6LR61 9 V ----- 0,22 A

[@radioman3229]

aRE THE CONNECTORS "4.0mm x 1.7mm "?

[@TheSmokinApe]

I think so but can't remember. The manual (which I can't find) should have the spec 👍

[@radioman3229]

@@TheSmokinApe ok, thanks

[@1originaloutlaw675]

great video!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks 1OO 👍

[@Tallhorse89]

What antenna is that?

[@TheSmokinApe]

Nagoya 701

[@StevenHailstone]

Do you find the Nagoya performs better than the stock antenna?

[@brentredenbach8644]

does anyones ft-70 run off 12 volts external power without the battery? mine does not, ithe external power port only charges the battery when installed. bu,,er,as i wanted to use this radio for 24/7 monitoring! anyone have this same issue

[@TheSmokinApe]

Sorry man, I do not...

[@alvarogaitan2529]

good job thanks from kb2uew

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Alvaro 👍

[@Rusted_Link]

Crank up the POWA to 1.21 gigawatts and I'll bet you'll reach Marconi himself.

[@paulhastings3109]

Could not make the led longer and have more battery life. Put the battery in your pocket, go bag.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Yeah, you could make it longer.

[@danford7532]

SMH is an "idiot", pronounced "idiot"

[@TheSmokinApe]

Glad you liked the video!

[@temporarilyoffline]

That's pronounced "hakko" son, not "hakko" SMH

[@TheSmokinApe]

I didn't have my glasses on.

[@JohnWhite-k3k]

8:30 Rebar?