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Author Topic: Installing radio in Honda Ridgeline.  (Read 324 times)

KI4IC

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Installing radio in Honda Ridgeline.
« on: January 28, 2023, 02:52:17 PM »

I purchased a 2023 Honda Ridgeline and need to install my Kenwood TM-v71A. I am planning on mounting the radio itself under the drivers seat and mounting the control head on the dash. I plan on mounting the Larson antenna on the hood. My problem is how to get the co-ax and power wires through the firewall.
Any suggestions will be appreciated especially if someone has mounted a radio in another Ridgeline. Also if anyone knows of any other forums that might be helpful.
Thanks.
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WA9AFM

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Re: Installing radio in Honda Ridgeline.
« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2023, 07:08:42 PM »

I've mounted radio in three different Honda CR-V's.  The easiest way I've found is to snake the power/coax through the gap in the left front quarter panel.  Open the hood and the driver's door. Looking from the driver's door frame side, you should see daylight in the gap between the engine compartment and the vehicle interior.

Tom, WA9AFM/5
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VE3TMT

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Re: Installing radio in Honda Ridgeline.
« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2023, 05:08:00 AM »

I mounted a Kenwood TM-732A the same way. Head unit is under the drivers seat, front panel in center console. Power and coax run out through drivers quarter panel. I can send pics if you like.

Max
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AI5BC

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Re: Installing radio in Honda Ridgeline.
« Reply #3 on: January 29, 2023, 08:07:56 AM »

I would not recommend asking hams how to install a mobile radio, never met one who knows much about it. Most will tell you how to screw it up, make it dangerous and fire prone. For example, how many hams have you heard tell you to run the radio battery negative wire directly to the battery term post? Only a fool would do that.

If you were to take your vehicle to a professional radio shop that does any work for military, local, municipal, state, federal governments, or any utility must be certified by Electronics Technicians Associations International, Mobile Communications and Electronics Installer certification program. They are required to follow the Bible to the letter; Motorola R56 Appendix G Mobile Installation Standards and Technique. You can find it right here:

https://www.sno911.org/images/Documents/WirelessTech/RRP/Policies/R56_Mobile_Installation_Standards_and_Techniques_2.pdf
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K6CPO

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Re: Installing radio in Honda Ridgeline.
« Reply #4 on: January 29, 2023, 12:35:29 PM »

I've mounted radio in three different Honda CR-V's.  The easiest way I've found is to snake the power/coax through the gap in the left front quarter panel.  Open the hood and the driver's door. Looking from the driver's door frame side, you should see daylight in the gap between the engine compartment and the vehicle interior.

Tom, WA9AFM/5

This is what I did with my 1998 Dodge Dakota back 12 years ago. The installation has been through four different mobile radios to date and is still working perfectly.

I would not recommend asking hams how to install a mobile radio, never met one who knows much about it. Most will tell you how to screw it up, make it dangerous and fire prone. For example, how many hams have you heard tell you to run the radio battery negative wire directly to the battery term post? Only a fool would do that.

If you were to take your vehicle to a professional radio shop that does any work for military, local, municipal, state, federal governments, or any utility must be certified by Electronics Technicians Associations International, Mobile Communications and Electronics Installer certification program. They are required to follow the Bible to the letter; Motorola R56 Appendix G Mobile Installation Standards and Technique. You can find it right here:

https://www.sno911.org/images/Documents/WirelessTech/RRP/Policies/R56_Mobile_Installation_Standards_and_Techniques_2.pdf

I followed the instructions included by the radio manufacturer, which called for connecting the negative lead directly to the battery. It's still like that today and working fine. A blanket statement like this doesn't apply to all installations. How a radio is installed in a vehicle is driven by the make, model, and particularly the year of the vehicle.
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AI5BC

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Re: Installing radio in Honda Ridgeline.
« Reply #5 on: January 29, 2023, 05:15:48 PM »

I followed the instructions included by the radio manufacturer, which called for connecting the negative lead directly to the battery.

Like I said do not take any ham radio operator advice installing radios in a vehicle. They know nothing of vehicle electrical systems. Taking the negative directly to the battery term post is extremely dangerous. If you ever bothered to look at the circuit would quickly realize you just put their radio Negative return wire and coax shield in parallel with the vehicle negative bonding jumper. That means a portion of all vehicle current, including cranking current, is flowing on your coax shield and radio negative lead. All that outside vehicle current flowing through your radio is common-mode noise. One of them is alternator whine on TX audio, or the pops and clicks as thing cycle one and off.

Real surprise comes if you have a mechanic work on the battery and forgets to reconnect the vehicle bonding jumper to the chassis, or it gets damaged. You will never know it until you go to start the vehicle.  You put the key in the ignition, all the bells, lights, and whistles come on normally, you turn the key, and the cab fills up with smoke. After you put the fire out and investigate, you find your coax shield, radio DC negative wire, and circuit boards burnt to a crisp smart guy.

Try a little experiment. Get a DC clamp-on amp meter and clamp it to your radio DC negative and monitor it. Turn off your radio. Now insert the key and crank the engine while observing the amp meter. Please explain why you see 5 to 10 amps of engine cranking current flowing through your radio. After the engine starts, turn on all your vehicle electrical accessories. Turn on the AM/FM to ghetto sound level, high beams, roll the electric windows up and down and seats back and fort, then comeback and explain why you have vehicle currents flowing through your radio system. You are in a nasty ground loop, and hams love to be in Ground Loops. 
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K5LXP

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Re: Installing radio in Honda Ridgeline.
« Reply #6 on: January 30, 2023, 06:00:41 AM »

AI5BC isn't exaggerating, I have personally serviced vehicles where the radio became a fusible link for the starter.  You never connect your radio negative lead to the battery.  This has been standard practice in the 2 way radio business for decades now.  I get that you see even vehicle manufacturers recommend it, and maybe for some equipment it's OK, but from both a mechanical and electrical standpoint you're asking for trouble connecting either positive or negative radio cable directly to the battery. 

Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM
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AI5BC

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Re: Installing radio in Honda Ridgeline.
« Reply #7 on: January 30, 2023, 06:17:47 AM »

I have personally serviced vehicles where the radio became a fusible link for the starter.  You never connect your radio negative lead to the battery.  This has been standard practice in the 2 way radio business for decades now.
Most hams never figured it out, and the same lie is still being told and taught today by foolish Uncle Elmer. Just like your shack power and grounding is outdated and dangerous. Hams are stuck in the 60's.
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VE7REN

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Re: Installing radio in Honda Ridgeline.
« Reply #8 on: January 30, 2023, 03:56:44 PM »

The absolute easiest way to avoid problems that arrise with firewall routing,just drill a hole in the floor and runn the power and antenna wires. The hole can be gooped up with silicone/black rtv sealent,etc. its ideal,avoids issues with airbag wiring,sensors,harness wiring,etc,etc. split loom can be installed over the wires and ant coax to avoid damage,etc. and zip tie them to your frame,cross member ,etc. Be logical about the routing. i have done this many times on installes,and IT WORKS! PERIOD!
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K6CPO

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Re: Installing radio in Honda Ridgeline.
« Reply #9 on: January 31, 2023, 12:50:19 PM »

I have personally serviced vehicles where the radio became a fusible link for the starter.  You never connect your radio negative lead to the battery.  This has been standard practice in the 2 way radio business for decades now.
Most hams never figured it out, and the same lie is still being told and taught today by foolish Uncle Elmer. Just like your shack power and grounding is outdated and dangerous. Hams are stuck in the 60's.

So , if I don't connect it to the battery's negative terminal, where should it be connected?
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VE3TMT

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Re: Installing radio in Honda Ridgeline.
« Reply #10 on: January 31, 2023, 12:52:29 PM »

So , if I don't connect it to the battery's negative terminal, where should it be connected?

To one of the bolts securing the driver seat to the frame.
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AI5BC

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Re: Installing radio in Honda Ridgeline.
« Reply #11 on: February 01, 2023, 06:41:55 AM »

So , if I don't connect it to the battery's negative terminal, where should it be connected?

Nearest seat bolt, and the wire should be no longer than 12-inhches. 
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K6CPO

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Re: Installing radio in Honda Ridgeline.
« Reply #12 on: February 01, 2023, 01:04:13 PM »

To one of the bolts securing the driver seat to the frame.
[/quote]
I have personally serviced vehicles where the radio became a fusible link for the starter.  You never connect your radio negative lead to the battery.  This has been standard practice in the 2 way radio business for decades now.
Most hams never figured it out, and the same lie is still being told and taught today by foolish Uncle Elmer. Just like your shack power and grounding is outdated and dangerous. Hams are stuck in the 60's.

So , if I don't connect it to the battery's negative terminal, where should it be connected?

So , if I don't connect it to the battery's negative terminal, where should it be connected?

You know, it would be nice if hams could reach a common consensus on how a radio should be installed in a vehicle. The manufacturer says one thing, you guys are saying something else and the K0BG website says something entirely different.
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K5LXP

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Re: Installing radio in Honda Ridgeline.
« Reply #13 on: February 02, 2023, 06:41:15 AM »

If the nearest chassis ground works (e.g. seat bolt), then fine.  But anymore with unibody cars that are glued together, the electrical path between that point and the battery negative may not be very direct.  I've measured as much as a volt of drop between the battery negative and radio chassis during TX.  So measured drop to the proposed termination point would be the test I'd do before I considered the installation complete.  The "best" way would be to run a separate negative wire from the radio and terminate it to the chassis a few inches away from where the battery has it's frame connection.  You don't want to use the same connection point or you're in the same boat as connecting directly to the terminal.  Often there is more than one negative cable, one that goes directly to the starter and another one not quite as heavy that will be screwed to a body member with a star washer.  Plant the radio negative lead with a similar nut/bolt or self tapping screw with a star washer nearby and that checks the box.

Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM
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AC2KV

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Re: Installing radio in Honda Ridgeline.
« Reply #14 on: February 02, 2023, 02:10:19 PM »

To help answer the original question of how to penetrate the firewall for wiring, I would look for an existing wire bundle or hose that is passing through a rubber grommet in the firewall. They are usually larger than necessary and can accommodate additional wires.

Carefully use a utility knife to slice a hole, run the wires and then seal it up with some RTV or silicone and you're done.

I've never come across a vehicle where this is not an option.

Also, most modern radios come with a power cable that is fused on both the positive and negative leads which is a good practice to help protect the radio and vehicle in case of mishap. he fuses should be as close to the power source and ground as possible.
« Last Edit: February 02, 2023, 02:16:37 PM by AC2KV »
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