Member Since: 15 Oct 2020
Location: Wokingham
Posts: 412
Amateur radio install
Some advice please on running power to my radio.
I thought it was going to be nice and easy until I actually started. I'd assumed that the nut at 'A' would come off and I could fit my ring terminal underneath, unfortunately it seems to be some weird captive mechanism that won't come apart. I've no idea what the threaded hole at 'B' is for or the wire at 'C'. At first glance 'B' looks to be a larger thread than 'A', possibly M8 and I'm guessing that 'C' is the same thread.
When it comes to the earth terminal I found an article on the web that said it was OK to connect it to the battery as long as it was after the BMS and I assumed that was the purpose of the nut that I've circled but again that seems to be captive. Is that the right place or should I just use the earth point in front of the fuse box? Ideally I'd like to keep the wiring under the battery/fuse box cover.
7th Jun 2022 7:20 pm
rrhool
Member Since: 28 Aug 2014
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 4400
The nut at 'A' is the battery terminal clamp. Don't try clamping under that. The earth point you identify is ideal Richard
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7th Jun 2022 9:05 pm
Moleshome
Member Since: 15 Oct 2020
Location: Wokingham
Posts: 412
So where would you suggest taking the positive feed from? B, C, where the battery feeds into the fusebox?
7th Jun 2022 9:49 pm
pwheeldon
Member Since: 15 Jan 2020
Location: West Yorks
Posts: 1446
B or C would be fine.Discovery 4 GS 2009 Auto Stornoway Grey
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7th Jun 2022 11:06 pm
Green Land Rover
Member Since: 21 Oct 2017
Location: Stourbridge
Posts: 408
I'd go with B. Seems like it was put there to add extra connections.
You probably know this but don't forget to fuse the connection Discovery 4 HSE - Aintree Green
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Member Since: 15 Jan 2020
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I have my aux battery connected to B and my winch connected to C, purely because of cable routing.Discovery 4 GS 2009 Auto Stornoway Grey
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8th Jun 2022 8:54 am
Moleshome
Member Since: 15 Oct 2020
Location: Wokingham
Posts: 412
Cables in place and fused.
Presumably there's a route from the back of the fuse box to the fuse box behind the glove box, is that the best way to get the power feed into the passenger compartment? Any pictures on where to find it?
8th Jun 2022 8:43 pm
KevinD3
Member Since: 05 Aug 2020
Location: Sutton Coldfield
Posts: 1207
There should be an entry on the drivers side (is on the D3 and the body is the same) take the “battery cover” off on the drivers side, there’s a grommet in the bulkhead, comes out behind the soundproofing in the drivers footwell, quite high up
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8th Jun 2022 8:55 pm
Moleshome
Member Since: 15 Oct 2020
Location: Wokingham
Posts: 412
Excellent, thanks.
Just a pain that I've got to go from one side to the other and then back again.
8th Jun 2022 9:15 pm
goldypurple
Member Since: 23 Mar 2018
Location: Norfolk uk
Posts: 95
What radio are you installing?
I wired my Yaesu radio into the rear accessory socket, and mounted the main radio in the panel behind it, that way the radio is out the way and the head is then mounted up front. radio only comes on with the ignition so wont run the battery flat.
are you planning to install HF?
what antenna you using? be interested to see pictures once complete.
73
Andy
M0NKR
9th Jun 2022 9:45 am
Moleshome
Member Since: 15 Oct 2020
Location: Wokingham
Posts: 412
It's for an FT-857D so ideally I need a 22 Amp feed although, realistically, I'm not going to be drawing that much so could use one of the accessory sockets.
At the moment it'll just be 2M/70cm via a Nagoya MAG-77EL-WH although when funds permit I might splash out on an ATAS so I can do a bit more on the HF side.
I'll also be using 11m for green laning etc. with a Sirio Performer 5000. For now I'll just swap antennas on the same mount but I'll probably end up making another mount and having one each side.
The head unit is attached to a CD player mount for now purely for simplicity but I need to look into moving it somewhere better.
Hopefully if I get things sorted this weekend I'll try to get some pictures up.
73s
Stuart
M7PSM
9th Jun 2022 5:43 pm
Moleshome
Member Since: 15 Oct 2020
Location: Wokingham
Posts: 412
Incidentally, would there be any benefit/disadvantage to running from the stop-start battery rather than the main one?
9th Jun 2022 5:46 pm
Moleshome
Member Since: 15 Oct 2020
Location: Wokingham
Posts: 412
Well it's in but I still need to do some tidying/re-routing of cables. I'm not particularly keen on the CD player mount, ideally I'd like to knock up a bracket to mount it above the main display. Transceiver is mounted under the passenger seat.
12th Jun 2022 5:12 pm
mick_n3
Member Since: 19 May 2017
Location: Kettering
Posts: 421
Something like this?
M6NIO
12th Jun 2022 6:18 pm
Moleshome
Member Since: 15 Oct 2020
Location: Wokingham
Posts: 412
Something exactly like that
Is the bracket simply wedged between the dash and the top of the screen or is it fixed in place?
BTW, for anyone else trying this the worst part of the install by a long way was trying to get the power feed through the sound deadening by the steering wheel. In the end I just folded the wire over the end of a flat bladed screwdriver and forced it through.
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