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Old 09-17-2009, 09:10 AM   #1
donnie
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Default Mobile Install Question

Im thinking about installing a dual band in my Jeep.
Iv got a Diamond K 412 mount on the hood.
The brain would be mounted on the left rear fender well and the remote over the rearview mirror.
Would there be any problem with running the power line for the brain in the same hole as the antenna?
Any other options for the power wire??
Also what gauge power wire would be best for this application?
Thanks.
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Old 09-17-2009, 11:04 AM   #2
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I'm not sure what you mean by "Brain" if you are concerned about the power line and the antenna coax in the same hole.. Use RG-8 for the power line.

As to what size feed line.. Well, I know not enough about the device to tell you.. but. CLICK HERE FOR A Document That mnight help.. American Wire Size current limit chart.

Or google "Wire Size Calculator"
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Old 09-17-2009, 01:40 PM   #3
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Sorry, I forgot to state what radio I was considering.
The brain I was refering to is the main part of the radio.
What Im looking at for the mobile is either a FT 7800 or a 8800.
There isnt a lot of places in the Jeep to put a radio.
The antenna mount has RG 316 already attatched to it.
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Old 09-17-2009, 10:58 PM   #4
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Originally Posted by wa8yxm View Post
I'm not sure what you mean by "Brain" if you are concerned about the power line and the antenna coax in the same hole.. Use RG-8 for the power line.
I have an old friend that swears by using RG-8 for his power to his radios. The center lead for positive and the shield for his ground. He always told me it helped with noise on HF especially. Other than him you are the ONLY other one I've seen suggest that. It must help and I may do that on my next mobile install.



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Old 09-18-2009, 07:43 AM   #5
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Thanks for the idea about the RG 8.
The RG 8 I have is about the thickness of a battery cable.
Is this the same as your refering to?
I did an cb install years ago with RG 58 as the power cable and it seemed to work fairly well.
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Old 09-18-2009, 10:01 AM   #6
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RG-8 the outer jacket will indeed be as large as, or larger than, a battery cable.. Let me look something up. about 0.405 inches outside diamater

Inside this jacket is a wire braid (the sheild) some insulation, (The dielectric) and the center conductor. which is what I was trying to look up.. This cable can easily carry 1,000 watts at RF (or more)

Ah that found it, The center conductor is 13awg wire, that's only slightly smaller than 12ga, 12ga can easily carry 20 amps of load

20 amps at 12 volts is 200 watts (Allowing for some losses)

And the nature of coax is inductive loss when you power up is minimized.
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Old 09-19-2009, 10:35 AM   #7
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Also, from what Iv learned, the power supply from the battery should be 12 ga.
The wiring used for a mobile stereo amp is pretty good size, gauge wise.
Would it hurt to a larger size from the battery to the radio?
Sorry for the question but this is all fairly new to me.
Thanks.
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Old 09-20-2009, 08:59 AM   #8
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Would it hurt to use larger wire from battery to radio?

Well.. From a pure electronics point.. NO, the larger the wire the better the wier.. 10 ga, 8ag, 6ga, larger wire (Smaller ga numbers) mean less resistance per foot, means less voltage drop between battery and radio and this is good.

On the other hand.. Larger is heavier, this means you have more weight to cart around, it also costs more and is harder to wrangel

But...... Larger is generally better

And as I said.. RG8 is about 13ga on the center conductor.. Should be good to power radios up to around 200 watts.

The shield is harder to grade because there are different grades of coax. A fully shielded coax.. the shield would be very low ga number equivlent.

But partially shielded wire the shield is way less able to haul current.
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Old 09-20-2009, 09:08 AM   #9
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OK Thanks for the info.
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Old 09-21-2009, 09:17 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by donnie View Post
OK Thanks for the info.
09 Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4X4 4 spd auto w/ Road Master Falcon TowBar and US Gear Unified brake system.

If you don't mind a short comment on that aux-brake system.

GOOD SYSTEM!

That's all.
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Old 10-22-2009, 08:39 AM   #11
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As a PS., Im leaning towards the Yaesu FT 7800 or FT 7900.
Beside the price difference, is there any major difference, operation wise, between the two radios? Would one work better than the other.
Thanks.
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Old 11-05-2009, 11:45 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by donnie View Post
Sorry, I forgot to state what radio I was considering.
The brain I was refering to is the main part of the radio.
What Im looking at for the mobile is either a FT 7800 or a 8800.
There isnt a lot of places in the Jeep to put a radio.
The antenna mount has RG 316 already attatched to it.
My goodness you have caused me a trip down memory lane. Back when I was in the Army, they hadn't come out with the Hummer yet so we still drove Jeeps.

As my memory serves me if you jammed them in the back, you could fit 5 in the Jeep including the driver. Fit a radio to the Jeep with an antenna and you would lose 2 passengers.

I also know the military Jeeps were a little smaller than the Civilian version, and radio electronics was much bigger back then

Maybe I can tell you about the stolen Jeep from the arterillery company that was on loan to the MPs, but not over so public a forum. As I would not want to get anyone in trouble after 39 years or so.
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Old 11-08-2009, 11:34 AM   #13
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OK, now Iv got a dilema.
Originally, I was leaning towards the FT 7900.
Got to looking at the ICom 208 H.
The 208 claims to have 55 on VHF and 50 on UHF and 500 memory channels
The FT claims 50/45 and 1000 memory channels.
Would 5 watts really make that much difference?
From the pics, I like the compactness of the IC control head but dont like thought of having two seperation cables.
The more I compare the two the more confussed I get.
I dont want to get one then regret getting it.
Anyone have a IC 208 or FT 7900 that could help me with a decision?
Thanks.
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Old 11-10-2009, 06:59 AM   #14
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I had an IC208H and it was a great radio. I ran a Larsen Dual Band antenna on the right front corner of the truck. I used it with the head separated.

5 watts will not really be noticed as long as you go with a good antenna.

Ken
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Old 11-10-2009, 09:22 AM   #15
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In my F-150 the "brain" part of the Kenwood V7A is mounted under the passenger seat. Running #12 wire to the battery was a little rough, but the ground lead is only 18" long. The control head is mounted in the center of the top of the dash in a little tray thingy intended for sunglasses and other such clutter. (Ford owners will know what I'm referring to) The antenna cable runs from under the seat to the door sill trim, runs under trim all the way to the top of the right rear door, then out the door to the mag mount on the roof.

I drilled no holes for this install. Most of the trim pulled off and reseated with my fingers

Tropical depression Ida is dumping rain on us now or I would make some pictures to put up.
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