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Author Topic: Power cable length in the shack  (Read 314 times)

AC1LC

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Power cable length in the shack
« on: March 17, 2023, 06:25:36 AM »

Here's a question to ponder..... Does it really matter how long the power cord for a base station radio is?  All of my previous radios I cut the extra factory supplied cable out where I didn't need the excess length and spliced the two ends back together with Anderson powerpoles.

Yesterday I bought a Yaesu FTDX-10 and when I set it up last night I crimped and soldered ring terminals on the end of the factory supplied power cable to attach securely to the lugs on my power supply.  This radio is in house use only, I have no intention of taking it on the road.  I was about to cut down the length of the power cable as I only needed about 18" to get from the radio to the power supply.  But before I cut it I started thinking about it, should I leave it at factory length?  I coiled the wire up as it came from the factory and zip tied the extra together, then fired up the radio.  Everything works fine.  But then I started thinking, am I going to create a air wound inductor by having the coil of power cable right behind the radio that's going to give me issues?  Or, cut it and put the power poles on it?  What do you all do?
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AA4PB

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Re: Power cable length in the shack
« Reply #1 on: March 17, 2023, 06:46:10 AM »

I generally cut the cable to length just to keep things neat. Having a few feet coiled up shouldn't make any difference either. The main issue would be the voltage drop in the cable which won't be significant so long as the total length is only a few feet.
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Bob  AA4PB
Garrisonville, VA

WA2EIO

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Re: Power cable length in the shack
« Reply #2 on: March 17, 2023, 07:08:40 AM »

Leaving it full length should not be a problem, and you could wrap the extra around a large diameter Mix 31 ferrite to help keep any (possible) stray RF out of the DC line.  It seems like common mode currents have become more of a problem with the proliferation of various end-fed antennas in use today, so this way you keep the cable original in case you decide to sell the rig later on, and the ferrite choke won't hurt anything.   Leaving it coiled up as you have it now should also not be a problem. 
 
Congrats on the new rig.   With band conditions as they are now, it should get a great workout!
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N2SR

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Re: Power cable length in the shack
« Reply #3 on: March 17, 2023, 07:16:18 AM »

I like things neat as well, but I also leave enough cable length to allow every piece of equipment to reach the front edge of the desk to allow for easy installation and removal of cables and connections on the back in bright light without having to do that same work bending over (upside down) and reaching back over other equipment. 

You are over thinking the OEM DC power supply cable length.  I'd leave it as is and cable tie the excess near the power supply.  My power supplies are on the floor, not next to the equipment.  There is no need to use up valuable real estate on the operating desk for a power supply. 
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Elect a clown.  Expect a circus.

K4PIH

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Re: Power cable length in the shack
« Reply #4 on: March 17, 2023, 08:42:55 AM »

I coil up the extra, never know when you might need to move something and be a few inches or more short. I never use Anderson power poles either. Just my way of doing things.
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AC1LC

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Re: Power cable length in the shack
« Reply #5 on: March 17, 2023, 08:52:13 AM »

Thanks all, I appreciate your help and advice.
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K5LXP

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Re: Power cable length in the shack
« Reply #6 on: March 17, 2023, 10:49:37 AM »

I've had Icoms for the last 30+ years and have a few of the 6 pin molex-like cables already running to the back of the bench.  Years ago I cut them to length and terminated with power poles, and use multiple power supplies behind the radio bench for a more distributed power setup.  So when I swap one radio out for another I just use the DC cable that's there and any new cable that comes with the radio stays intact as a spare or to package with a radio to sell.

Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM
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W6HB

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Re: Power cable length in the shack
« Reply #7 on: March 17, 2023, 11:43:42 AM »

I usually leave the cables full length, but I do recognize the IR losses can be an issue. When keyed the rig(s) draw ~20 amps and the IR losses in the cable and connectors can be between 0.3 and 0.5 volts easily. In that most rigs are rated for 13.8 +/- 10%, I usually raise my power supplies to 14.1 volts to offset the potential losses.
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