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Power cables through vehicle frame?	Reply
by KI4EMD on September 21, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
Hello all, I'm looking at installing an 857d in my 04 Chevy S-10. The control head will be up front (obviously!) and the body of the rig will be mounted behind the seat, in the rear of the cab (my vehicle is a 4 door crew cab). In examining the truck closely, it appears that the easiest, most direct route for the rig's power cables will be from the battery terminals, straight down into the vehicle frame, and then up and in through the bottom of the rear of the cab. In other words, the cables will actually rest inside the vehicle's frame for approximately 10 feet or so. At this point in time, I've checked to ensure that the entire length of the frame is unobstructed so that the wires may freely pass through. It is. It looks like I'm good to go. Questions: Does anyone foresee a problem with this plan of attack? Will running the power cables through (inside) the vehicle's frame make the rig more susceptible to electrical/rf/noise problems? Would it be unsafe in any way? Anyone have experience with this type of install? Many thanks, Scott KI4EMD

RE: Power cables through vehicle frame?	Reply
by K0BG on September 21, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
Actually, it isn't all that uncommon. However, most newer framed vehicles use water-forming, and drilling any hole for access isn't a good idea. if there are existing holes, fine. The usual way is to go through the firewall, and into the under sill wiring troughs. You read a lot of misinformation about using the troughs, but if you wire to the battery correctly and with proper fusing, you won't have a problem. Not wiring to the battery will no doubt cause ground loops to occur, and nothing is harder to find and correct. When mobile problems occur, it is usually caused by improper antenna mounting, matching, and the resulting common mode currents. If you want the whole story, visit my web site. Alan, KØBG www.k0bg.com

RE: Power cables through vehicle frame?	Reply
by K3SRK on September 21, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
Maybe this will at least give you ideas. I have an S10 Blazer, similar to your truck. In mine, there is a hole right about at the carpet edge/bottom dash line on the passenger side floor. You could pull the rubber grommet and run a cable through there.

RE: Power cables through vehicle frame?	Reply
by KI4EMD on September 21, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
Thanks, Steve and Alan, for your responses. As it happens, there are already holes in my frame that are located in the perfect locations for what I seek to do. With any luck, I should be able to begin the install process tomorrow. Thanks again! 73 Scott KI4EMD

RE: Power cables through vehicle frame?	Reply
by W3LK on September 22, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
Just make sure the wiring does not chafe on the edges of the holes in the frame - or anywhere else, for that matter. 73, Lon - W3LK Naugatuck, Connecticut

RE: Power cables through vehicle frame?	Reply
by KE4DRN on September 22, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
Hi Scott, what size power cable are you planning on using ? I ran # 6 thhn with Maxi fuses so I can run other stuff in the future. 73 james

RE: Power cables through vehicle frame?	Reply
by K1CJS on October 10, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
Its probably late for this, but it can be added. If the wires aren't tied down and can move around in that framepiece, it is possible for the insulation to be chafed off. If there is an edge in there that you can't see, it could happen very fast. In such cases, it is not uncommon to run the wiring in a corrugated wire sheath--GM uses such sheaths for the harnesses in the engine compartment and along the chassis where the harnesses have the tendency to move or can't be attached along their entire length. It could help prevent problems, or then again it may be unneeded. I just offer food for thought--nothing more than that.

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