[02RedRunner]

I am installing an Icom 2 meter radio. Normally on these you snake the power thru the firewall and tie the leads right onto the battery.

On the Frontier, there appear to be small fuses right on the battery terminal. Is this where I should tie in? Or has another ham found a better way to make the power connections?

Thanks.

 

[w0oog]

If that radio takes less than 10 amps. . .you can use the 12-volt accessory socket.

 

[geekmyride]

High power is going to need more than 10a... I ran an 8 gauge power cable from the battery through a fuse to a distribution block under the drivers seat. I tied the radio in there.

 

[Skibane]

IIRC, those "small" fuses are still rated for considerably higher amperage than your Icom will ever draw - which means that they won't protect your radio or its power wires in the event of a short circuit.

However, you could make your + connection to one of the studs on that battery block, and then add your own dedicated fuse or circuit breaker right next to it. That's a pretty common practice for adding car audio equipment. (I used it for powering both a subwoofer amp and my Yaesu dual-bander).

Note that on late-model Frontiers, your Icom's negative connection should be made to the chassis somewhere, rather than directly to the negative post on the battery. This is because the engine computer uses a current sensor mounted on the negative battery cable to monitor battery charge or discharge. If you connect your radio directly to the negative battery post, the current it draws won't get measured by that sensor.

 

[TexasScout]

Unless you have a 75watt rig, the accessory plug will work fine I have been running my FT-8800 off mine for the last 4 years. It will even shut the radio off when you pull the key.

Here's my set up:

http://www.clubfrontier.org/forums/f9/my-ham-radio-electronics-install-105233/