Ham radio power source

[4dds]

I tapped the battery under the rear seat. For a mount, I put my dual bander hanging from a bent piece of aluminum stock that hooks into the center console armrest hole. It has a remote head. I sticky-taped a magnet on a drop-in plastic tray (that fits behind and around the top of the screen) to magnetically hold the head. I can pull the whole thing out of the truck in about 10 seconds but when it's in it is very secure.

Not much happening on VHF/UHF though.

PS I had a add quite a few ferrite choaks on the leads from my dash camera / rear camera as it was trashing VHF.

If you ever get a chance I’d like to see how that mount for the radio body mounts to the radio.

Sponsored

 

[gzebrick]

It’s the mobile mount for the radio. A small nut and bolt secured the aluminum piece

 

[Big Kahuna]

I run large gauge with fuse at the battery to a distribution block and then run radio and amp off of that.

 

[RadioGirlFMJ]

Got this Mabbett mount: https://a.co/d/02E3OR4p

The old GPS acts as my GPS for my APRS and receives the positions of others and displays them on the map. Uses ball mount - adjustable arms allow any alignment. Changed the mag mount out for a mag mount charger.

Super clean install! No hanging wires in sight! Had to bend funny to even get this picture!

Radio body is under driver seat with Velco. The mic attaches to it and comes up nicely and sits in center console. Power wired to battery inside through fuse panel, so it shuts off with ignition.

Tailgate antenna mount with an independent ground antenna due to body material.

DE KE8FMJ AR

 

[shaundeane]

Really nice install. When you put the radio (not the head unit, obviously) under the seat, I have seen many say to make sure you are "downstream" from the BCM (I have a hybrid). So for my radio, negative cable with a ring terminal, does that just mean grounding that ring terminal to the body, away from the BCM in a convenient spot? I know that it's not a good idea to connect to the negative post of the battery. It's the "downstream" part that is confusing. Assuming that just means elsewhere?

 

[gmwalk]

Really nice install. When you put the radio (not the head unit, obviously) under the seat, I have seen many say to make sure you are "downstream" from the BCM (I have a hybrid). So for my radio, negative cable with a ring terminal, does that just mean grounding that ring terminal to the body, away from the BCM in a convenient spot? I know that it's not a good idea to connect to the negative post of the battery. It's the "downstream" part that is confusing. Assuming that just means elsewhere?

You can ground to the negative terminal on the battery. But, there is also a ground lug to the chassis right next to the radio that I used instead. I just used a ring terminal to connect the plus side to a lug on the output of the BCM.

 

[shaundeane]

OK interesting, thank you. The video I saw - a very nice install - had the red cable from the radio connected directly to the battery post and there seemed to be agreement that was/is ok. It was the negative (black) cable that got discussion going. This guy had originally connected to the negative battery post and because that post is connected to the BCM, the feedback was that in a hybrid, that's not cool and could drain the battery. I think the feedback suggested - and what you seem to be saying too, is connect that negative cable directly to chassis. Sometimes the terminology is enough to create confusion, at least for me. In case you or anyone else is interested, here's a link to that video - https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...-install-3rd-brake-light-antenna-mount.51978/

 

[gmwalk]

The negative post of the battery goes straight to a chassis ground bolt next to the battery. The BCM is on the positive post. I connect the radio positive lead just after the BSM on the positive side. Here are some photos.

 

[shaundeane]

awesome, thanks for the photos!

Sponsored