About How to Make Starlink Work on 12 Volt: There is no doubt that Starlink has revolutionized the internet service industry with numerous plans and features for users globally.
Unfortunately, it has yet to factor in digital nomads using Starlink RV.
When using a stationary RV plan, the likelihood of overloading the generator or battery with power is often high.
As such, most customers have recently asked for a 12V DC power supply, which isn’t in the market yet.
The good news is, you can make your own. In today’s tutorial, we will show you two straightforward methods you can use when learning how to make Starlink work on 12 Volts.
Why DC Power?
(AC-DC conversion concept)
Normally, a Starlink router supplies power to the dish by converting AC power into a utilizable DC power of 48 volts.
The readily available AC power usually saves the day if you live in an on-grid, such as a residential area.
However, you will require an inverter in an off-grid battery system to acquire AC power. Through the router, you can change to AC power from DC, then back to DC.
How to Make Starlink Work on 12 Volt?
Prerequisites
Building your own DC power supply can sometimes be challenging, especially if it’s your first time.
Lucky for you, we have two methods you can use: the cheap and easy methods.
The former requires using an RJ45 connector to modify the Starlink, while the latter involves no modification, i.e., no RJ45 connectors.
The Easy Way
Equipment you will need
- Ethernet cable
- Crimp tool
- Screwdriver
- WiFi router
- Power Over Ethernet (POE) injector
- Cable adapter
- 48V DC to DC converter
Now that we have the components, we can begin.
First step
Start by connecting the POE injector input to the power supply 12volts output in the following order:
- Injector’s negative (-) terminal to the power supply’s negative wire.
- Injector’s positive (+) terminal to the supply’s while positive wire.
Next, connect the cable adapter to the POE injector port using the ethernet cable. Then, link the cable adapter to the Starlink cable.
Lastly, use an ethernet cable to connect the injector’s data port to the WAN/Internet port of the router.
Second step
First, read through the router configuration and set it up in advance as per the model and manufacturer instructions.
Additionally, put up the WiFi password and name on the router. Next, cut the AC-DC converter, then connect the 12V DC plug to the battery system of the van/RV, etc.
(White POE injectors for electronic equipment)
In case you are unaware, the plain black lead on the router is negative, while the black one with white strips is positive.
However, this principle only applies to the TP-Link router and might differ slightly in other routers.
Third step
The step here involves finalizing the power connection and installing the DIYed power supply in your cabin, van, RV, etc.
First, dispense 12V/24V DC to the DC-DC power supply’s input leads.
Then, connect;
- The supply’s black input wire to the negative battery lead.
- The supply’s red input wire to the positive battery lead.
N/B: Position a fuse on the positive battery lead for safety measures.
Lastly, connect the 12V DC to the power supply of your router.
The Cheap Way
Although the second method is tedious, it will help you save more money.
Equipment needed
- Ethernet cable
- RJ45 shielded connectors
(RJ45 connectors)
- RJ45 crimp tool
- Crimp tool
- Splice connectors
- Screwdriver
- Strippers/wire cutters
- WiFi router
- POE injector
- 48V DC to DC converter
- Starlink ethernet adapter
Instructions
Step One
Our first task is switching the Ethernet Adapter’s proprietary Starlink connection for a shielded RJ45 connector. Without the Starlink connection, you’ll power the dish from your source.
Note that using the Ethernet adapter isn’t mandatory. If you only want to alter the Starlink cord, apply the same steps. Today, we won’t be cutting the Starlink wire. Rather, we will modify the adapter.
Normally, the standard POE pinout differs from Starlink’s POE pinout. Therefore, we will need a little rewiring.
Prepare the cable using the steps below.
- Begin by cutting the Starlink cables (using wire cutters) to disconnect the Starlink router from the Ethernet adapter.
- Next, use the blade in crimp tools to remove two inches of insulation to reach the wires and covering. Then, check for the drain wire and fold it away momentarily. There should be 16 wires with eight coiled pairs (four small pairs and four large ones). Since we won’t be needing the shorter pairs, cut them.
- Afterward, try straightening all eight wires by separating the four sets. Once straight, place the wires in your left hand while ensuring they’re facing your body. Moving forward, align the wires with the modified RJ45 pinout. After placing them correctly, ensure they’re smooth and flat. Furthermore, please keep them in the appropriate direction using your index finger and left thumb.
Installing the RJ45 connector
Stay on the wires with your middle finger and left thumb, then use wire cutters to remove about half an inch from all eight wires.
After ensuring the end is straight and clean, connect the RJ45 plug to the wires in an orderly manner.
The bottom-to-top order should be:
- Brown
- White/brown
- White/blue
- Green
- White/green
- Blue
- Orange
- White/orange
It’s time to fold the foil and drain wire along the cable. By moving the RJ45 plug backward, you can verify that the cable jacket, foil, and drain wire are complete.
Then, use your crimp tool to compress the RJ45 to keep the wires together.
(Crimping RJ45 connector)
Step Two
In this step, screw in our electrical components to a piece of wood in whichever creative format you want.
Next, assemble the components.
Write the DC-DC power conversion wires as ‘voltage out’ and ‘voltage in.’ Black (-ve) and red (+ve) power input wires will let it connect to your battery system. Output wires have black for -ve and white for +ve.
Now, connect the white wire to the POE injector’s positive terminal and the black wire to its negative terminal.
Step Three
Modify the router cable by reconfiguring the end of an Ethernet cable. Likewise, adjust the connector’s dish side to match.
Next, connect the 12V battery system from the router to the power wire.
At the end, ensure the following are in place;
- The router power supply should have adjustments to connect to your application’s battery system.
- The Ethernet cable going to the POE injector from the router should have a new RJ45 connector on one of its ends.
- You should have connected the POE injector’s input to the DC-DC converter output.
- The Starlink connector on the Starlink/Ethernet cable should have a new replacement, an RJ45 connector.
At long last, we are officially ready to test out the battery system.
How to Test the DC Power Supply
Regardless of the method you use, at this point, your electrical assembly should be ready for testing.
So, place the Starlink dish in an area with a clear sky view, then check the aftermarket router.
Ensure you power it on till it starts displaying a WiFi signal. Next, connect your phone to the router’s WiFi network.
If you need to confirm that you’ve turned on your Starlink dish, you’ll see it moving vertically after plugging the Starlink cable.
Alternatively, open your phone’s Starlink app to confirm, or use any other device to browse the site.
(Typing Starlink into address bar)
Afterward, wait approximately 10 to 15 minutes for the Starlink dish to initialize and appear on the website or app.
Once the dish starts working, the app or website should indicate an “Online” status.
Finally, perform a speed test to examine the internet connectivity.
Additional tip: Inspect the battery monitor for power usage during testing.
Conclusion
All in all, tackling these projects guarantees an improvement in energy usage by roughly 15%.
Therefore, it is worth the trial. But remember to practice cautionary measures when handling electricity.
Also, our website has more posts on Starlink if you are still interested in learning.