DC HI warning on SS 6900N

Good morning everyone,I’ve just put my old 6900n in the car for a bit of future DX and all that and what I’ve noticed is while my engine is running the radio shows DC HI on the display.Whiie it’s ignition off and not running the radio works perfectly.Connections are straight from the battery so I can only think it’s something to do with the alternator producing to my power while charging the battery and the radio doesn’t like it.
Has anyone else encountered this problem and what can be done as a solution?
Can this multimode be plugged into a cigarette lighter as I also have a PowerPoint in the boot too.I don’t fancy chatting away on a net and worrying about the battery running flat as I think the AA is on LSB..lol
Hope everyone is fine after last nights storm as here in London we were lucky as it wasn’t anywhere near as bad as up north.
Cheers Tom.
26CT4029

Haven't had that problem, sorry. Our car tends to run the other way, I mean the voltage is always on the low side, quite often under 12V.

You can run from the cigarette lighter socket as long as your socket is rated high enough. Ours is a Zafira, it has a few sockets and all rated at 15amps, so plenty for the 6900. The voltage does still vary though depending on if running the engine or not, just like being connected straight to the battery, so not sure if it will help with your problem. Worth a try though in case there is some sort of regulator in line in your vehicle that will stop the voltage going too high.

Thanks SangueG,It’s definitely something I haven’t come across before,I’ll have a look at the owners manual and see what the cigarette sockets are rated at but I think it’s 15 amps.
I’ve tried another radio Am/Fm plugged into the cigarette lighter and it seemed ok but only has a 5 Amp draw unlike the SS 6900n which I think is 10 amp.
I’ll try the cigarette lighter as the worst thing they might happen is I need to change the fuse.
Thanks again SangueG.
Tom 26CT4029

Can you alter the warning voltage to around 14.5v won't harm the radio i don't think as they will take 16v well that is where the red starts on my volt meter on mine.

Cheers Alan Pilot I’ll see what I can do,I’m still looking for the radios manual..lol
I’m sure it’s only something simple as I tried the radio in a Vauxhall Astra and it worked perfectly with the ignition on and off.
Cheers Tom.
26 CT4029

I have 2 cars one charges at 13.9v and the other charges at 14.4v.
It does drop a bit in warmer weather.
I know you change the SWR alarm so i would think you could also change the voltage warning.
Not got that type of radio but i am sure somebody on here will point you in the right direction soon.

CRT SS 6900N V6 SERVICE MANUAL & Program Files (kbmuseum.org.uk)

all the info  you will need for that radio  manual . data files  service manual  .....

Chickenfoot@1987 wrote:

Good morning everyone,I’ve just put my old 6900n in the car for a bit of future DX and all that and what I’ve noticed is while my engine is running the radio shows DC HI on the display.Whiie it’s ignition off and not running the radio works perfectly.Connections are straight from the battery so I can only think it’s something to do with the alternator producing to my power while charging the battery and the radio doesn’t like it.
Has anyone else encountered this problem and what can be done as a solution?
Can this multimode be plugged into a cigarette lighter as I also have a PowerPoint in the boot too.I don’t fancy chatting away on a net and worrying about the battery running flat as I think the AA is on LSB..lol
Hope everyone is fine after last nights storm as here in London we were lucky as it wasn’t anywhere near as bad as up north.
Cheers Tom.
26CT4029

Got the same problem in my Peugeot with the 6900. Not always there but sometimes is so prevalent as to stop Txing. My 6900 is into a cig lighter - had loads of mobiles and never had any probs using the cig lighter. Thought like you, that it could be surges from the alternator but all cars are fitted with voltage regulators so can't see it being the cause. Taking my multi meter out with me in a while and see if the readings are high. Really think it is a quirk with the radio.... I think you can switch the warning off as well ..... looking thru' the handbook.

Hello Blue Boy,That 6900 is still flashing up DC HI as before so I just use the radio for an hour or so then switch off and start the engine.(No drama’s as of yet).
Let me know what you found out with the multi meter and did you disable the DC warning?
Cheers Tom.
26CT4029

been thinking on the same lines a big leisure batt i have a 150 amp hour, its great but heavy its just to big so its for the shack just in case of a power cut, now an accumulator would it be any good must look into this as a portable power. and save the car batt

With your radio connected, on the program choose Options & Features and in there you can adjust your DC High and Low alarm settings.  
Its a common problem if the radio is set to a tight voltage tolerance.
Surprised no one knew that.

NoMad wrote:

With your radio connected, on the program choose Options & Features and in there you can adjust your DC High and Low alarm settings.  
Its a common problem if the radio is set to a tight voltage tolerance.
Surprised no one knew that.

Thanks I’ll finally sort that problem now.
Tom.
26CT4029