So for grins I was going to buy one of these radios because it runs off 6 volts and I have a 6 volt tractor battery but maybe a car usb voltage dongle for the lighter socket would be in order so as to reduce the output of the large battery. That way I can sit in the truck at the top of the hill for hours and listen in. maybe just plug the usb into the truck and viola! anyway the voltage is just right and thank you for pointing out that the center is negative. Thats a big one.
Excellent explanation. A quick note, I own a Tecsun PL-600 and PL-660. They are both centre negative 6V. One radio came with a wall power supply charger, the other thankfully came with a centre negative cable connector to an USB C connector. I'm golden. I am buying the Etón Elite 750 soon. I'm in business.
Good point about the 'wall warts' and it applies to most consumer electronics today. They CAN be modified to reduce noise. I would start with a choke and filter capacitor but that is _not for the average consumer to attempt._
Just found a USB-A to center negative on Amazon. So I ordered it. Thanks to you and your video for showing the additional option for powering the radio.
@@thomasniner001 I haven't been able to find anything myself, but Amazon sell a simple cable that adapts the DC barrel connector from centre negative to centre positive, they call it a "Reverse Polarity Converter Cable", and that would allow using a much-easier-to-find usb to dc barrel with centre positive cable.
Thanks for this detailed presentation. I just bought the Tecsun S2000 and will presumably have to run on Batteries until I can get a cord like the one you made.
Thank you for taking the time to make this video clip… I will definitely be using the information you provided. I was fortunate enough to pick up a Grundig 750, like new, at a garage/estate sale for only $25… Unbelievable, right? However, it didn’t have the exterior power supply. Now I know how to make one! Again, thank you.
It's a 5.5x2.1mm standard solar 12v connector I used. You need the right power bank though as my S2000 powers up with an Anker bank showing 5.24v output, but does not power up from a Xaomi power bank showing output of 5.02v
I made one too but one power bank of my 2 powers it ok. The one that outputs 5.2 or so volts is ok..the other is closer to 5.0v and the radio flashes "power lo" and doesn't work. Check your power banks if doing this cord..and remember centre negative.
I have a Tecsun S-2000 but unlike other Tecsun models that have the facility to charge Nimh and Nicklel cadmium batteries ,this one doesn't. I even contacted Tecsun Australia to find a way to use rechargeables, but they told me the ciruitry to do this was left out of the design .(possibly to save costs in an already expensive radio.)I thought being a top end radio they would have included the extra circuitry but this wasn't the case.
I did a similar thing with my Philips FM radio. It runs off 3 D cells, so 4.5V It has a 4.5V DC socket too. But I didn't have any adpaters. Turns out, at full charge, alkaline batteries are 1.6V, So 3 of them give off 4.8V And my powerbank gives out 4.8V too. (Even though it's supposed to be 5V) I found a USB cable around, which was perfect for it, So I used it for months. Now I have a more permanent solution. I bought a 18560 battery, and a charger module for it. Connected it together and hot glued it inside the battery compartment. Now I have a rechargeable radio, and I don't have to keep buying D cells. 3.3V is the lowest a 18650 battery should go. And D cells go as low as 3V when they can still power it.
I keep coming back to the Grundig 750 to see if it's a radio I should buy, but the issues like the one presented here (batteries and wall wart) seem to be something I shouldn't have to deal with on an expensive radio to begin with. Your solution appears to be a good one, however how many people like me are willing to go through so much trouble just to power up a radio, we shouldn't have to is my point. Thanks for the excellent video, should I desire to purchase the 750 I'll give your hat trick a try.
It's not intended to be the end-all solution. It's simply an option. Using a battery or a wall wart is no different than any other appliance that can run on either a battery or line power.
I have one of these . It works for ages on a set of batteries so no issue really . I am in the UK and mine was supplied with a built in power supply not a wall wart . I don't bother using it though . I am still on my first set of batteries . Great radio . I wonder if you bought one . Best regards .
The wall wart for the Eton Elite 750 is a no-name OneHungLow wall wart, which disappoints me. I may end up getting one of those amazon multi-packs of Ferrite chokes to see if I can slap one on the cord. I'll have to think about it.
I have the Tecsun S-2000, this worked perfectly for me. I bought a polarity conversion cable ($0.55) and it worked great, only need a simple phone charger to operate the radio. Makes it very portable and versatile. Can even use a solar panel to power it. Thank you very much for this video, it is very helpful. By the way, on my unit the empty compartment on the back on my unit houses a hardwired power cord. I would like to to know where to find that battery voltage setting ?
I am in the UK too . I have the s2000 also . The batteries seem to last so long I haven't bothered to plug it in yet . Mine also has the built in power supply not wall wart. Do you find the radio works ok on the mains . They are great radios . I am delighted with mine . Best one I have ever owned . Best wishes .
I have own a Grundig 750 Sat Radio for more than five years and have always powered it with the wall plug power supply. Never thought about the voltage or the polarity. When you mentioned those two items I got very curious and pull the owners manual out of the battery compartment. Found the page with all of the power info to see what it said.. On the page concerning power it tells about the batteries:UM1 (alkaline)x4 and DC: 6V/500mA, negative polarity. . Question comes to mind, was the wall plug power supply changed to 6V if or when these radioes were made in the USA.??
I was unaware they were ever anything but 6 volts. "Negative polarity' probably means the center of the coaxial connector is negative, not the more 'standard' positive.
This is a SUPERB idea! While you were talking about the 5V I was thinking, "I know 5V is familiar...", then it hit me: USB! Getting information in a grid-down situation is critical! Another tool in the box! Thank you for this video. Any ideas on replacing the internal clock battery? I am sure mine died a long time ago and it's annoying when the power goes out. LoL!
Correction. It stays on as long as there is a battery or a.c. plugged in. Clock does not have an internal battery. Mine stays on as it's plugged in full time.
Hi, I'm in the UK, most SW radio sets are "centre negative" The reason has something to do with the misconception that the "positive" FEEDS when in actuality the "negative" DRAWS..... Q.E.D.
Whether or not the 'positive' feeds or not, that's a different subject. There is a recognized polarity to DC power. It's universal that there is a positive and negative, and that polarity naming convention must be considered when connecting electronics to a DC power supply. Positive doesn't become negative based on which side of the Atlantic the source is on.
@@BackPackHack AHH! I see, in the 50s an 60s a lot of European cars were 6volt positive ground! Some were 12volt positive ground. The VW Beetle, (or bug) was one of the most popular.
Hellow dear, thank you for the trick,I find it very clever and indeed, let me ask you please ,if I put rechargeable batteries they will be charged by the power supply?
Not wishing to be pedantic but at 3mins 26secs you put your hand on the radio and claim that you can tell the radio as to whether you are using 1.5 volt alkaline batteries or 1.25 volt rechargable batteries. I, like @chinadaveg9769 am asking the same question as to where in the menu this is.Many Thanks in advance
Supposedly TECSUN builds them all. As far as externals go, the TECSUN S-2000, Grundig Satellit 750, and Eton Elite 750 are all identical radios. Internally, I cannot be sure. But I do know TECSUN builds Eton, (and I believe the Grundig brand name has been discontinued altogether, but I could be wrong on that.) It stands to reason the internals would also be identical.
I have a 750 that recently toasted. My batteries seemed to be having an increasingly shorter life span, so i started using a transformer, but it wasn't the one the came with the radio. My question is what would be the consequence if my transformer was the reverse polarity? Is that what probably damaged the radio and what components do you suspect that scenario would damage?
I have no idea whether reverse-polarity would damage the radio. But keep in mind, the DC connector is center-negative. If you're using rechargeable batteries, it may be one or more of them are approaching end-of-life and just won't hold a charge.
I had an issue with the center-negative plug when I first got my Grundig Satellit 750. I have a bunch of the Radio Shack wall warts with the swapable end connectors (750 uses an "M" size) and when I'd connect it to the radio nothing was happening--no power. I know center-positive is most common, so I thought there was an issue with the radio. But, just for the heck of it I swapped the plug around and BAM, the radio came alive. Then I looked in the manual and noticed the plug diagram was center-neg. In summary, I kind of doubt it was a polarity issue that killed your radio. If it didn't like the power your wall wart/transformer was giving it, it wouldn't have worked at all--more than likely. There could have been a short somewhere in the radio causing it to use batteries quicker, then killing the radio.
@@BackPackHack That is what I meant to write. Could not think of the name AC adapter. I like my S 2000. I don’t see the setting to let the radio know if I using Alkaline or rechargeables. Where is that setting. My user guide doesn’t have this information.
A USB charger may... or may not be.... 5 volts. Or 6 volts... or any other voltage. Chargers for specific devices may output different voltages because they're really power supplies, not actual chargers. The parts that would make them a charger is in the device itself (phone, tablet, laptop etc).
BTW is is indeed a DMCA copyright flag. it's absurd, really, because there's the Fair Use clause which should apply to videos on TH-cam that have bits of copyrighted music, but no, the 'bots that look for copyright violations don't factor that in.
How difficult would it be to open the radio, and replace the radio power input port with a center positive power input port? With that, instead of a single, homemade wire specifically built for one particular application, you could have a plethora of options for power cords already on the market. Just a thought. I have an Eton Elite 750 coming from eBay this week. Trying to learn all I can.
@@BackPackHack AHHHH! YES! Due some unknown reason, I was visualizing wires running from the input to a board. But now that you mention it, OF COURSE the input is soldered directly to the board. Thanks for the heads-up.
You can use a linear wall wart and not have any problems, not the switcher supply it probably came with. Just buy a better radio. That thing is just an expensive junky radio.
Loved when you were changing radio stations! The odds of you catching AC/DC ! And the words "High Voltage" 😁
So for grins I was going to buy one of these radios because it runs off 6 volts and I have a 6 volt tractor battery but maybe a car usb voltage dongle for the lighter socket would be in order so as to reduce the output of the large battery. That way I can sit in the truck at the top of the hill for hours and listen in. maybe just plug the usb into the truck and viola! anyway the voltage is just right and thank you for pointing out that the center is negative. Thats a big one.
Excellent explanation. A quick note, I own a Tecsun PL-600 and PL-660. They are both centre negative 6V. One radio came with a wall power supply charger, the other thankfully came with a centre negative cable connector to an USB C connector.
I'm golden. I am buying the Etón Elite 750 soon. I'm in business.
Good point about the 'wall warts' and it applies to most consumer electronics today. They CAN be modified to reduce noise. I would start with a choke and filter capacitor but that is _not for the average consumer to attempt._
Tecsun is the OEM mfg of all versions of this radio.
Just found a USB-A to center negative on Amazon. So I ordered it. Thanks to you and your video for showing the additional option for powering the radio.
Could you share the link?
@@thomasniner001 I haven't been able to find anything myself, but Amazon sell a simple cable that adapts the DC barrel connector from centre negative to centre positive, they call it a "Reverse Polarity Converter Cable", and that would allow using a much-easier-to-find usb to dc barrel with centre positive cable.
Thanks for this detailed presentation. I just bought the Tecsun S2000 and will presumably have to run on Batteries until I can get a cord like the one you made.
Steven, do you own a Tecsun PL-600 or 660? They are both centre negative. Use that power cable.
Thank you for taking the time to make this video clip… I will definitely be using the information you provided.
I was fortunate enough to pick up a Grundig 750, like new, at a garage/estate sale for only $25… Unbelievable, right? However, it didn’t have the exterior power supply. Now I know how to make one!
Again, thank you.
It's a 5.5x2.1mm standard solar 12v connector I used. You need the right power bank though as my S2000 powers up with an Anker bank showing 5.24v output, but does not power up from a Xaomi power bank showing output of 5.02v
wow, great job. As son as you mentioned 5 volts I said USB power.
I made one too but one power bank of my 2 powers it ok. The one that outputs 5.2 or so volts is ok..the other is closer to 5.0v and the radio flashes "power lo" and doesn't work. Check your power banks if doing this cord..and remember centre negative.
I have a Tecsun S-2000 but unlike other Tecsun models that have the facility to charge Nimh and Nicklel cadmium batteries ,this one doesn't. I even contacted Tecsun Australia to find a way to use rechargeables, but they told me the ciruitry to do this was left out of the design .(possibly to save costs in an already expensive radio.)I thought being a top end radio they would have included the extra circuitry but this wasn't the case.
Great tip. I've been looking at the Tecsun S-2000 and my only issue was powerin it, not with D cell batteries.🍻👍🤓
I did a similar thing with my Philips FM radio.
It runs off 3 D cells, so 4.5V
It has a 4.5V DC socket too. But I didn't have any adpaters.
Turns out, at full charge, alkaline batteries are 1.6V,
So 3 of them give off 4.8V
And my powerbank gives out 4.8V too. (Even though it's supposed to be 5V)
I found a USB cable around, which was perfect for it,
So I used it for months.
Now I have a more permanent solution.
I bought a 18560 battery, and a charger module for it.
Connected it together and hot glued it inside the battery compartment.
Now I have a rechargeable radio, and I don't have to keep buying D cells.
3.3V is the lowest a 18650 battery should go.
And D cells go as low as 3V when they can still power it.
I keep coming back to the Grundig 750 to see if it's a radio I should buy, but the issues like the one presented here (batteries and wall wart) seem to be something I shouldn't have to deal with on an expensive radio to begin with. Your solution appears to be a good one, however how many people like me are willing to go through so much trouble just to power up a radio, we shouldn't have to is my point. Thanks for the excellent video, should I desire to purchase the 750 I'll give your hat trick a try.
It's not intended to be the end-all solution. It's simply an option. Using a battery or a wall wart is no different than any other appliance that can run on either a battery or line power.
I have one of these . It works for ages on a set of batteries so no issue really . I am in the UK and mine was supplied with a built in power supply not a wall wart . I don't bother using it though . I am still on my first set of batteries . Great radio . I wonder if you bought one . Best regards .
Thank you for this! - very well explained.
Excellent good service to Humanity in detail good job
LAST🤣🤣 GREAT JOB YOUNG MAN. KEEP THEM COMING.
only having a wide and narrow filter is this radios biggest flaw you have hear all the stations nearby
Really good idea, but I'm just using used 18650 batteries cells from a laptop computer in parallel to power my 750.
I use JR remote control transmitters for flying my radio control models. Just like the Grunding the center pin is negative polarity.
The wall wart for the Eton Elite 750 is a no-name OneHungLow wall wart, which disappoints me. I may end up getting one of those amazon multi-packs of Ferrite chokes to see if I can slap one on the cord. I'll have to think about it.
I have the Tecsun S-2000, this worked perfectly for me. I bought a polarity conversion cable ($0.55) and it worked great, only need a simple phone charger to operate the radio. Makes it very portable and versatile. Can even use a solar panel to power it. Thank you very much for this video, it is very helpful. By the way, on my unit the empty compartment on the back on my unit houses a hardwired power cord. I would like to to know where to find that battery voltage setting ?
You Mentioned Rechargeable D-Cell Size Batteries ,Nicad ,Im,Guessing,Ok.What Is The Mah For These Batteries,????
Eatan elite 750 is the name for that radio and the eaten and the Grundig are both made by Techsun.
many thanks Robert , well presented..
I have the tecsun version and it’s directly wired into the radio from the mains, no adapter just a plug.
I am in the UK too . I have the s2000 also . The batteries seem to last so long I haven't bothered to plug it in yet . Mine also has the built in power supply not wall wart. Do you find the radio works ok on the mains . They are great radios . I am delighted with mine . Best one I have ever owned . Best wishes .
I have own a Grundig 750 Sat Radio for more than five years and have always powered it with the wall plug power supply. Never thought about the voltage or the polarity. When you mentioned those two items I got very curious and pull the owners manual out of the battery compartment. Found the page with all of the power info to see what it said.. On the page concerning power it tells about the batteries:UM1 (alkaline)x4 and DC: 6V/500mA, negative polarity. . Question comes to mind, was the wall plug power supply changed to 6V if or when these radioes were made in the USA.??
I was unaware they were ever anything but 6 volts. "Negative polarity' probably means the center of the coaxial connector is negative, not the more 'standard' positive.
Nice job! Thanks for your hard work.
This is a SUPERB idea! While you were talking about the 5V I was thinking, "I know 5V is familiar...", then it hit me: USB! Getting information in a grid-down situation is critical! Another tool in the box! Thank you for this video.
Any ideas on replacing the internal clock battery? I am sure mine died a long time ago and it's annoying when the power goes out. LoL!
I don't think there is one.
I think there must be as when I power off the clock on the display stays on.
Correction. It stays on as long as there is a battery or a.c. plugged in. Clock does not have an internal battery. Mine stays on as it's plugged in full time.
I’ve been looking for a new cord for over two years
Anon-Co sells them.
Great information 🙏
so simple to make a standard usb cable red black and a power plug works fine
Hi, I'm in the UK, most SW radio sets are "centre negative"
The reason has something to do with the misconception that the "positive" FEEDS when in actuality the "negative" DRAWS..... Q.E.D.
Whether or not the 'positive' feeds or not, that's a different subject. There is a recognized polarity to DC power. It's universal that there is a positive and negative, and that polarity naming convention must be considered when connecting electronics to a DC power supply.
Positive doesn't become negative based on which side of the Atlantic the source is on.
@@BackPackHack AHH! I see, in the 50s an 60s a lot of European cars were 6volt positive ground! Some were 12volt positive ground. The VW Beetle, (or bug) was one of the most popular.
The only trouble with USB power while DXing is its noise on shortwave.
Very good radio
Hellow dear, thank you for the trick,I find it very clever and indeed, let me ask you please ,if I put rechargeable batteries they will be charged by the power supply?
No.
I would like to to know where to find that battery voltage setting in the manual that you refer to-Thanks Jeff
The voltage is listed on the label of the AC adapter.
Not wishing to be pedantic but at 3mins 26secs you put your hand on the radio and claim that you can tell the radio as to whether you are using 1.5 volt alkaline batteries or 1.25 volt rechargable batteries. I, like @chinadaveg9769 am asking the same question as to where in the menu this is.Many Thanks in advance
Nice
Center negative is very common everywhere but the USA...... just ask anyone who plays electronic instruments.
What kind of input Jack did you get to wire to the USB? Is it 5.5x2.1?
Yes... just remember it's center negative.
@@BackPackHack thanks subbed!
@@BackPackHack remembered! Works great with my Anker power bank that runs a little high at 5.2v
just bought a eton 750 elite ...whats your thought on that radio ...will it compare ?
I don't have an Eton, so I can't compare them.
Same radio as S2000
Supposedly TECSUN builds them all. As far as externals go, the TECSUN S-2000, Grundig Satellit 750, and Eton Elite 750 are all identical radios. Internally, I cannot be sure. But I do know TECSUN builds Eton, (and I believe the Grundig brand name has been discontinued altogether, but I could be wrong on that.) It stands to reason the internals would also be identical.
Mine quit running off batteries only, any idea why that could be?
I have a 750 that recently toasted. My batteries seemed to be having an increasingly shorter life span, so i started using a transformer, but it wasn't the one the came with the radio. My question is what would be the consequence if my transformer was the reverse polarity? Is that what probably damaged the radio and what components do you suspect that scenario would damage?
I have no idea whether reverse-polarity would damage the radio. But keep in mind, the DC connector is center-negative.
If you're using rechargeable batteries, it may be one or more of them are approaching end-of-life and just won't hold a charge.
I had an issue with the center-negative plug when I first got my Grundig Satellit 750. I have a bunch of the Radio Shack wall warts with the swapable end connectors (750 uses an "M" size) and when I'd connect it to the radio nothing was happening--no power. I know center-positive is most common, so I thought there was an issue with the radio. But, just for the heck of it I swapped the plug around and BAM, the radio came alive. Then I looked in the manual and noticed the plug diagram was center-neg.
In summary, I kind of doubt it was a polarity issue that killed your radio. If it didn't like the power your wall wart/transformer was giving it, it wouldn't have worked at all--more than likely. There could have been a short somewhere in the radio causing it to use batteries quicker, then killing the radio.
My 750 came with a regular plug with a long 6 foot wire all in one. Why did yours come with that short wire attached?
I bought mine used and it didn't come with a factory AC adapter.
@@BackPackHack That is what I meant to write. Could not think of the name AC adapter. I like my S 2000. I don’t see the setting to let the radio know if I using Alkaline or rechargeables. Where is that setting. My user guide doesn’t have this information.
Can you use the plug in USB charger, like that comes with Mac laptop computers, so i can plug in the radio and runit off a USB wall charger. Thanks
A USB charger may... or may not be.... 5 volts. Or 6 volts... or any other voltage. Chargers for specific devices may output different voltages because they're really power supplies, not actual chargers. The parts that would make them a charger is in the device itself (phone, tablet, laptop etc).
BTW is is indeed a DMCA copyright flag. it's absurd, really, because there's the Fair Use clause which should apply to videos on TH-cam that have bits of copyrighted music, but no, the 'bots that look for copyright violations don't factor that in.
Oh, and if there's "violating" content, in the process of uploading the video TH-cam will find it and say "you can't upload this blah blah blah"
Watched it for 5 minutes, dang just get to the point
Hello, is this a good device or not? The Grundig made a Chinese-German device. Thank you❤
AFAIK, they're still highly regarded and sought-after even after being discontinued years ago.
@@BackPackHack
Hello! Tell me, is the Eton Satellite 750 an American company?
The company is based in California.
@@BackPackHack Thanks for the info!
What in the universe is a WallWort??????
Wall wart. The cube the contains the transformer.
How difficult would it be to open the radio, and replace the radio power input port with a center positive power input port?
With that, instead of a single, homemade wire specifically built for one particular application, you could have a plethora of options for power cords already on the market. Just a thought. I have an Eton Elite 750 coming from eBay this week. Trying to learn all I can.
If the power inlet is soldered directly to a circuit board, that will make for one heck of a change.
@@BackPackHack AHHHH! YES! Due some unknown reason, I was visualizing wires running from the input to a board. But now that you mention it, OF COURSE the input is soldered directly to the board.
Thanks for the heads-up.
You can use a linear wall wart and not have any problems, not the switcher supply it probably came with. Just buy a better radio. That thing is just an expensive junky radio.