This topic

SMART HUB 2 DC POWER CABLE EXTENSION

Collette1 — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 13:46:48 GMT

Hello,

I'm m trying to move my router. Limited sockets means to do this I need to extend the power cable, standard DC cables do not fit, seems its a 6.3/3.0mm port, I'm failing miserably after 5 cable attempts and have also tried DC adaptors, which also do not seem to work with the original cable.

Does anyone have any suggestions? it seems the original cable is niche and doesn't like anyone messing with it.

Thanks

Re: SMART HUB 2 DC POWER CABLE EXTENSION

imjolly — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 13:49:44 GMT

is there any reason you cannot just use a power extension cable and then plug existing hub plug into that?

Re: SMART HUB 2 DC POWER CABLE EXTENSION

Collette1 — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 14:03:05 GMT

Hi,

I was hoping to be able to feed the small cable and tac round and under furniture/fixtures, also needs to go round a door frame, so not as discreet, and would need a super long one to get to the opposite side of the room, ethernet is easy. If there's no other option I may need to resort to this, it's an old house. Very sparse outlets. But I was hoping there may be a less visible option.

Re: SMART HUB 2 DC POWER CABLE EXTENSION

Les-Gibson — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 14:58:19 GMT

Get an electrician in to fit a new socket near the hub and run the cable in plastic conduit, you'll hardly notice it if he does a good job.

Re: SMART HUB 2 DC POWER CABLE EXTENSION

Collette1 — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 15:52:01 GMT

Never thought of that, thank you

Re: SMART HUB 2 DC POWER CABLE EXTENSION

countrypaul — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 18:35:51 GMT

If you re looking for a dc extension then it might be worth reading this: Smart Hub 2 DC plug - BT Community

Have you thought of using poe with a splitter at the hub end and a suitable adapter cable?

Re: SMART HUB 2 DC POWER CABLE EXTENSION

Collette1 — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 18:38:10 GMT

Ooh, excellent, I'll take a look thank you.

Re: SMART HUB 2 DC POWER CABLE EXTENSION

DW198 — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 16:20:34 GMT

Hi all, has anyone found a solution for a DC extension cable or an adaptor that fits the 5.5mm x 3.0mm socket in the back of the Home Hubs and Smart Hubs? I don't want a full-on mains extension, just a low-voltage 12V DC extension lead.

Re: SMART HUB 2 DC POWER CABLE EXTENSION

VeteranISPUser — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 17:35:35 GMT

Hi @DW198 I simply bought a genuine BT Smart Hub 2 power supply from eBay and spliced in a similar two ply extension lead in the middle of the 12v cable (making sure I matched the polarity). I didn’t touch the original.

Re: SMART HUB 2 DC POWER CABLE EXTENSION

WSH — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 17:46:22 GMT

I used to use a similar thing before the SH2 and had to give it up in favour of a mains extension.

What I did find was that there is only one company that does a 3mm plug. If memory serves, they were in the US. Phoenix I think. I've since found CPC Farnell do one. I never did find anybody selling a DC socket in that size. I don't know whether Farnell do.

I don't know if it helps but I did find that the plug on the old Home Hub 5A is the same size and so you could cannibalise one off there. (Not the 5B. That was a different size).

As it only requires a 3A feed, 0.5mm flex would probably do for a mains feed. You said it was a long distance so that might be a factor in using 0.5mm. I wouldn't use it for a long distance, as 0.75mm is really recommended today, even for 3A.

Re: SMART HUB 2 DC POWER CABLE EXTENSION

Tel61 — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 17:43:51 GMT

I’m having exactly the same problem. The supplied cable is about 2 ft too short. It’s impossible to fit a 13 amp socket where the router is situated, due to the way the house is.

Do BT really not supply an alternative psu with a longer lead? Surely this is not a big ask?

Re: SMART HUB 2 DC POWER CABLE EXTENSION

DW198 — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 09:51:39 GMT

I haven't found a longer lead yet but I did find size changer adaptors for the Dc input socket on the SmartHub and HomeHub. They're called a "Plug Size Adaptor for BT Home Hub" if you want to look them up. These can then be used with a third party 12V wall supply and 5.5 x 2.1mm extension leads. It would be worth asking them if they also sell extension leads that plug in directly between the BT power supplly and the Hub.

Re: SMART HUB 2 DC POWER CABLE EXTENSION

chrisjp — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 10:59:34 GMT

BT seems to have decided to be unique with its 3mm diameter pin in the SH2 socket. Most DC leads have 2.5mm or 2.00mm diameter holes in their plugs which of course will not fit over the 3mm pin in the socket.
I guess this must have been a deliberate (albeit perverse) decision by BT to prevent people using alternative power supplies for their SH2.
Clearly 3mm sockets and plugs are available in China where the SH2 is manufactured but I suspect they are only available to manufacturers and not available for retail sale.

Re: SMART HUB 2 DC POWER CABLE EXTENSION

naylor2006 — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 11:14:00 GMT

@chrisjp wonder if it was a decision to make sure it was impossible to plug the incorrect PSU in to avoid unnecessary damage resulting in support calls and additional costs. IE if you literally cannot plug the wrong PSU in then tech support just wont get calls about that, money wont be spent replacing devices that have been damaged where its impossible to tell if the user did indeed over power it etc. You can observe this behaviour by many vendors in efforts to reduce the chances of things going wrong, the extreme example being Apple where you can pretty much only do things the way they let you do them.

Ive seen some people moan that its just a way to make money but I very much doubt that BT are thinking about making money off replacing PSU's.

OR.....it was a complete manufacturing oversight because they just didnt even specify to the manufacturers what they expected from that part.

Is it only the SH2 that has this DC jack type?

Re: SMART HUB 2 DC POWER CABLE EXTENSION

WSH — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 11:30:53 GMT

No, the HH5 type A was the same plug. The type B was more standard, a 2.5mm plug.

Re: SMART HUB 2 DC POWER CABLE EXTENSION

rachalmers — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 14:51:49 GMT

What is the address do you have it?