Ken Weitzel wrote:

Red Jeep wrote:
First, use a direct connection to the battery terminals. Second, twist
the connecting wires 2 or 3 twists per foot from the battery to your
radio. Third, get a GOOD chassis ground connection for the radio.



Excellent advice. I would add: fuse both hot & ground for good measure at
the battery ends of the connections. You could also loop the power cord a
couple of times and put a ferrite bead on the power leads.

Always run heavier wire than you think you'll need. It reduces loss and
someday you might want to put out more wattage.

If it's a temporary set-up, use one of those gel-cell booster batteried to
power your radio.

73s!

Hi...

With all due respect, don't even think about fusing ground.

Take care.

Ken

Fusing the ground is recommended and required to do it properly on a
GM. If the vehicle loses it's body or engine ground strap connection
for any reason (like corrosion for one) the starter or alternator or
body/lights, etc. can use the radio as a ground. This usually lets the
smoke out of the unit big time.

http://service.gm.com/techlineinfo/radio.html

I have installed hundreds of transmitters in one contract I had and when
they came back in for repairs over the years, on about 98% of power
short issues either vehicle related or transmitter system related had
the negative fuse blown before the positive one. There were lots of
cases of blown fuses due to ratty vehicle grounds also.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
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