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[TenTec] Re: Mobile power wiring

To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: [TenTec] Re: Mobile power wiring
From: kg5u@hal-pc.org (Dale L. Martin)
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1999 18:34:54 -0500
>Don,
>
>General Motors Corp. recommendation for installation of radio
equipment in
>their vehicles  is to connect positive and negative leads from
the radio
>directly to the battery. In this case you need fuses in both
leads for fire
>safety reasons.  The radio should "float" and not be grounded in
the cab.
>RF ground connection is made ONLY at the base of the antenna.
This is done
>to minimize the chance of RFI of RF destruction of expensive
electronic
>items such as  fuel injection computers etc.
>

That's the way my Delta II is wired into my Saturn SC2.
Interestingly, there is little or no engine, computer, or other
car component-generated noise.  All the noise seems to be
external of the car.  Turning off the ignition in the driveway
shows no difference in audio noise or S-meter level (which, in
some areas around Houston may be as high as 10 over or even
more!!).  I can turn on the noise blanker and some of it is
reduced, but not much.  My assumption that, when in a low-noise
area and noise is low in the radio, turning off the ignition is
enough to assure that potential car noise sources are silent or
not functioning.  Am I right?

Have had a lot of nice QSO's with nice signal reports
(nothing/little to do with the Delta, but, still.....) since
putting the radio in the car a couple of months ago (just before
my drive down to Mexico for ARRL DX SSB and CW contests).

73,
dale, kg5u



>73,
>
>Bill - WG6H
>
>> ----------
>> From: Faith III, Don C[SMTP:FaithD@mail01.dnr.state.wi.us]
>> Sent: Thursday, April 22, 1999 3:57 AM
>> To: 'weingaertner@nac.net'
>> Cc: 'tentec@contesting.com'
>> Subject: [TenTec] Re: Mobile power wiring
>>
>>
>> Hello Robert.
>>
>> My recommendation would be to use both a fused neutral/ground
>> to carry current directly back to the battery and a short, low
impedance
>> (i.e. 1/2" or larger braid) connection to the frame (close to
the radio)
>> to
>> serve as an RF ground.  There is a reason most rigs have both
a power
>> neutral/ground and a grounding post.  Granted, in the event of
the ground
>> fuse failure you might not be aware of it due to the presence
of the RF
>> ground, good operation when mobile requires good grounding.  A
6 to 8 foot
>> length of 12 ga. wire from the rig to (or near) the battery
doesn't cut it
>> as a good ground.
>>
>> 73 de N9WR,  Don C. Faith III
>>
>> --
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>
>--
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>
>



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