Where to draw power for ham radio install

[Dredgerie]

I’m curious to see all of your installation photos. I just picked up my XLT on Tuesday, and I’ve got a Yaesu in the closet that is like to install.

Sponsored

 

[JonB]

The head of my Icom ID-5100 is on a dash vent mount. The radio body is under the passenger seat. The wiring goes from the battery through a grommet on the lower right (passenger) side of the firewall. From there it sneaks over to the radio body. Custom antenna mount to the frame still being worked on.

 

[JonB]

Thanks! Post up your antenna setup when you get that mount squared away. Be interested to see it.

Fabricated a custom mount that attaches to the left rear frame. Coax run under the bed and through a grommet in the right rear of the cab.

 

[KA5CVH]

Direct to the battery. Ran two 8ga under the truck and brought them in through the cabin air exhaust vent. Coax comes that way as well.

 

[Dredgerie]

I went another way entirely and mine was a little more… labor intensive. I installed a six position marine grade fuse block under the backseat to future-proof my later options, and ran positive and negative 6 gauge wiring up to the battery. Then I installed a Yaesu FTM400XDR to a ceiling rack. I detached the faceplate and mounted it up front off a dash rack in the center console with a mount for my nav. All the cables are run under the door trim and through the firewall except for a 2 foot section from the steering wheel to the faceplate. I built a bracket for the antenna and ran it through the grommet in the rear of the cab to a rack on the bed.

 

[JonB]

KA5CVH and Dredgerie - nice installs. But why the heavy gauge wire? 8 ga can carry 40 amps; 6 ga 55 amps. What are you guys running that would draw that much juice? I wired my truck with 10 ga which is more than enough for my VHF/UHF radio but with enough extra capacity should I decided to put an HF radio in the truck.

 

[Dredgerie]

KA5CVH and Dredgerie - nice installs. But why the heavy gauge wire? 8 ga can carry 40 amps; 6 ga 55 amps. What are you guys running that would draw that much juice? I wired my truck with 10 ga which is more than enough for my VHF/UHF radio but with enough extra capacity should I decided to put an HF radio in the truck.

I put a six position fuse block in mine so I could add extra options later- right now it’s running the radio and my cell booster, later it’ll power my fridge and accessories in the bed like additional lighting and maybe my compressor.

 

[mailbox4449]

I rather stress the battery than the Truck electronics.

Unless I am unsure on whether or not the truck electronics can supply the amps that my transceiver will pull....I will always connect directly to the battery.

Just my opinion.

I'm a noob at this and this sounds very logical

 

[JesseS]

I up'ed my battery SOC to 90% from the factory 75%, and connected the rig directly to the battery & Ground, battery voltage stays around 13.4 when running, and 12.4 at rest, ASS is off.

 

[JesseS]

KA5CVH and Dredgerie - nice installs. But why the heavy gauge wire? 8 ga can carry 40 amps; 6 ga 55 amps. What are you guys running that would draw that much juice? I wired my truck with 10 ga which is more than enough for my VHF/UHF radio but with enough extra capacity should I decided to put an HF radio in the truck.

I used 10 gauge also, plenty for the rig plus a safety margin.

 

[Dredgerie]

I up'ed my battery SOC to 90% from the factory 75%, and connected the rig directly to the battery & Ground, battery voltage stays around 13.4 when running, and 12.4 at rest, ASS is off.

What’s involved in increasing the SOC? More reserve on the battery would be nice.

 

[JesseS]

What’s involved in increasing the SOC? More reserve on the battery would be nice.

Just a Forscan entry in the BCM>battery target state, changed from 75% to 90%, and yes it gives you more reserve power.

 

[JonB]

The battery’s state of charge is set at a level that will keep the battery charged and prolong it’s life. AGM batteries are not the same as the old flooded batteries. Raising the SOC higher than the factory level will shorten the battery’s life and not offer any real improvement in starting capacity.

 

[KA5CVH]

KA5CVH and Dredgerie - nice installs. But why the heavy gauge wire? 8 ga can carry 40

I am adding a Midland GMRS radio and I want to plug my FT991 there as well in when I do POTA. I need 25 amps for the FT991 to be on the safe side. The 991 won't stay in the truck when I'm not doing POTA. My hot is fused at the battery and then there are fuses on the powerpole bus as well as the factory in line fuses on the radios.

 

[KA5CVH]

I put a six position fuse block in mine so I could add extra options later- right now it’s

My 8ga comes to a 1 in 3 out power pole buss box.

Sponsored