"Ralph Blach" wrote in message
...
How do I run an extra power cable through a 1996 dodge caravan's fire
wall? I really do not want to drill a hole through the file wall for
obvious reasons. I have looked all over the firewall
and cant seem to find an obvious place to run the power cable.

I want to run a high power ham radio and other equimement.

Thanks

Chip Blach


Chip,

Take a *close* look at the rubbery seal/"boot" where the steering shaft
comes through the firewall.

On my 2003 Ford Explorer, there was *plenty* of room to cut a small slit
with an x-acto knife well below, and out of the range of motion of the
steering shaft. I then made sure it was secured out of the range of motion
of the shaft on *both* sides of the firewall, going to the driver's side
under the hood to the battery (with 25A in-line fuses in BOTH positive and
negative leads) and under the carpet to the driver's side wiring channel
that runs under the door "thresholds" (which simply snap in/out on the
Explorer (the body of the FT-857 is located under the rear, driver's side
seat and the control head is mounted on the center console in a good
operating position using a Panavise mount I got from HRO ...)

One more hint ... to check out clearances on BOTH sides of the firewall, I
used a long, heavy needle probe (about a 3" needle in a plastic handle about
6" long) to probe the spot I thought looked good from a beforehand visual on
both sides (the needle punches a small, self-sealing hole, but allows you
to see exactly where you are on both sides of the firewall). Then, when
satisfied, I used about a 1/2" wide x-acto knife blade to cut a slit (not a
hole) that I could push 2 #8 insulated wires through ... a red for positive
and a black for negative (it's actually a very heavy-duty "zip cord" that I
got from
http://www.powerwerx.com/category.asp?CtgID=1002 (they also have the
in-line fuse holders for automotive type fuses, etc.)

Now, this worked just fine on my Explorer ... on your vehicle, YMMV, but I
hope the suggestions are helpful.

73,
Carl - wk3c

One would think that with all the high power audio, the car manufactures
would make this easy.

Chip

Carl R. Stevenson wrote:
"Ralph Blach" wrote in message
...

How do I run an extra power cable through a 1996 dodge caravan's fire
wall? I really do not want to drill a hole through the file wall for
obvious reasons. I have looked all over the firewall
and cant seem to find an obvious place to run the power cable.

I want to run a high power ham radio and other equimement.

Thanks

Chip Blach



Chip,

Take a *close* look at the rubbery seal/"boot" where the steering shaft
comes through the firewall.

On my 2003 Ford Explorer, there was *plenty* of room to cut a small slit
with an x-acto knife well below, and out of the range of motion of the
steering shaft. I then made sure it was secured out of the range of motion
of the shaft on *both* sides of the firewall, going to the driver's side
under the hood to the battery (with 25A in-line fuses in BOTH positive and
negative leads) and under the carpet to the driver's side wiring channel
that runs under the door "thresholds" (which simply snap in/out on the
Explorer (the body of the FT-857 is located under the rear, driver's side
seat and the control head is mounted on the center console in a good
operating position using a Panavise mount I got from HRO ...)

One more hint ... to check out clearances on BOTH sides of the firewall, I
used a long, heavy needle probe (about a 3" needle in a plastic handle about
6" long) to probe the spot I thought looked good from a beforehand visual on
both sides (the needle punches a small, self-sealing hole, but allows you
to see exactly where you are on both sides of the firewall). Then, when
satisfied, I used about a 1/2" wide x-acto knife blade to cut a slit (not a
hole) that I could push 2 #8 insulated wires through ... a red for positive
and a black for negative (it's actually a very heavy-duty "zip cord" that I
got from
http://www.powerwerx.com/category.asp?CtgID=1002 (they also have the
in-line fuse holders for automotive type fuses, etc.)

Now, this worked just fine on my Explorer ... on your vehicle, YMMV, but I
hope the suggestions are helpful.

73,
Carl - wk3c

On Mon, 28 Jun 2004 14:51:22 -0400, Ralph Blach
wrote:

One would think that with all the high power audio, the car manufactures
would make this easy.

They really don't think to make things easy for DIY installations.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

On Mon, 28 Jun 2004 18:43:25 -0000, Carl R. Stevenson hath writ:

"Ralph Blach" wrote in message
...
How do I run an extra power cable through a 1996 dodge caravan's fire
wall? I really do not want to drill a hole through the file wall for
obvious reasons. I have looked all over the firewall
and cant seem to find an obvious place to run the power cable.
I want to run a high power ham radio and other equimement.

Take a *close* look at the rubbery seal/"boot" where the steering shaft
comes through the firewall.

On my 2003 Ford Explorer, there was *plenty* of room to cut a small slit
with an x-acto knife well below, and out of the range of motion of the
steering shaft. I then made sure it was secured out of the range of motion
of the shaft on *both* sides of the firewall, going to the driver's side
under the hood to the battery (with 25A in-line fuses in BOTH positive and
negative leads) and under the carpet to the driver's side wiring channel
that runs under the door "thresholds" (which simply snap in/out on the
Explorer (the body of the FT-857 is located under the rear, driver's side
seat and the control head is mounted on the center console in a good
operating position using a Panavise mount I got from HRO ...)

One more hint ... to check out clearances on BOTH sides of the firewall, I
used a long, heavy needle probe (about a 3" needle in a plastic handle about
6" long) to probe the spot I thought looked good from a beforehand visual on
both sides (the needle punches a small, self-sealing hole, but allows you
to see exactly where you are on both sides of the firewall). Then, when
satisfied, I used about a 1/2" wide x-acto knife blade to cut a slit (not a
hole) that I could push 2 #8 insulated wires through ... a red for positive
and a black for negative (it's actually a very heavy-duty "zip cord" that I
got from
http://www.powerwerx.com/category.asp?CtgID=1002 (they also have the
in-line fuse holders for automotive type fuses, etc.)

Now, this worked just fine on my Explorer ... on your vehicle, YMMV, but I
hope the suggestions are helpful.

As well, I found an existing rubber gromment/wire harness pass-thru about
dead center on the firewall that had plenty of extra "skirt". I was able
to use an awl to poke/punch a hole in this extra "skirt" next to the existing
wire harness. After pulling 2 10 ga. wires through my "new" hole, I
slathered some RTV on both sides to (re)weather proof it.

HTH
73
Jonesy
--
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