HAM Radio power hookup
I am in the middle of adding an HF radio and scanner to my 2m/440 setup. I will have all 3 on once in a while but will only transmit on 1 at a time. Right now I have 12g wire running from a 15amp circ...
Forum Discussion
While it is true that IF you have a good connection from radio to chassis and IF you have a good connection from chassis to battery it will serve as a ground that's two big ifs. Poor connections, corrosion, loose or rusted frame members over time, etc. Can decrease the effectiveness of the ground path. (Ever work on trailer lights? They use a frame ground. It can be problematic.)
Wire is cheap and you have to run one to the battery anyway for the positive side, why not two?
If you don't fuse the negative wire you can create a situation that is dangerous for your radio. Your radio's chassis is connected thru the shield on your coax to the sheet metal of the vehicle and thru the power wire to the battery. If for some reason your main negative wire from your battery to the chassis comes loose your radio is a path for a lot of current to try to flow. This could send a lot of amps trying to travel thru your coax and radio. Again, fuses are cheap, radios are not.
Also, as mentioned, using a frame ground can cause problems with audio hum, interference, etc. I've been installing high power stereos and two-way radios in vehicle for over 20 years. I always run a positive and negative direct to the battery. It's not that much extra work but makes for a much nicer installation in my opinion.
Wire is cheap and you have to run one to the battery anyway for the positive side, why not two?
If you don't fuse the negative wire you can create a situation that is dangerous for your radio. Your radio's chassis is connected thru the shield on your coax to the sheet metal of the vehicle and thru the power wire to the battery. If for some reason your main negative wire from your battery to the chassis comes loose your radio is a path for a lot of current to try to flow. This could send a lot of amps trying to travel thru your coax and radio. Again, fuses are cheap, radios are not.
Also, as mentioned, using a frame ground can cause problems with audio hum, interference, etc. I've been installing high power stereos and two-way radios in vehicle for over 20 years. I always run a positive and negative direct to the battery. It's not that much extra work but makes for a much nicer installation in my opinion.
