Kia Telluride ham radio installation - Battery Connection information needed

[vsp5151]

Does anyone know how to connect the high current leads from a 50 watt 2 meter/220 mobile radio to a new Kia Telluride battery? I can't find anything on line about. I did find somewhere that they are being used for law enforcement vehicles but there was no technical information. I know that on a Ford F-150 there is a special way to connect to a shunt mounted on the battery. Thanks in advance for information

 

[mmckenna]

Does anyone know how to connect the high current leads from a 50 watt 2 meter/220 mobile radio to a new Kia Telluride battery? I can't find anything on line about. I did find somewhere that they are being used for law enforcement vehicles but there was no technical information. I know that on a Ford F-150 there is a special way to connect to a shunt mounted on the battery. Thanks in advance for information

I don't know about the Kia, but I've done a bunch of Fords. No matter, the installation requirements are the same:

Positive lead from the radio needs to go to the battery + terminal. Install a fuse as close as reasonably possible to the battery.
The negative lead from the radio should be attached to a body ground close to the radio. No fuses. Find body steel near the radio and ground there.

The issue is the hall effect sensor that will be on the negative lead from the battery to the body. What they don't want you to do is give an alternate return path that bypasses that sensor.

 

[madrabbitt]

Recently did a small upfit on a 2023.

Without interjecting my opinion on those overpriced POS's, it was a simple setup with a low voltage isolator from the main battery to a stud in the cabin supplying 12v for an inverter, cell booster and a low wattage two way radio.

Inverter was grounded to a seat bolt, two way was grounded to a body mounted bolt under the dash.

Like Mmckenna said, ground the equipment close to where its mounted, run power direct to battery. In my upfit, it was a 4 gauge running from the isolator (which got mounted under the intake tube to the side of the battery) down the left along existing harnesses into the body under the driver's seat. The inverter was under the drivers seat, grounded to the seat bolt, the other two pieces of equipment had their own fused leads from the stud we mounted under the seat.

didnt take photos, probably should have, but it was a half day of work in crap weather.

 

[slowmover]

Son and I going over his new vehicle to get lists together on an install: Dodge recommends unfused NEG going to sheetmetal near BATT ground (past utilizing professional).

Point is that you’ve a choice or two so long as problems avoided. “Closest” is also easiest once routing figured.

List of Materials + Routing.
Then, proper tools.

Conductors Sized (AWG) for 3% Voltage Drop

Conductors Sized (AWG) for 3% Voltage Drop

www.marinco.com

.

 

[madrabbitt]

On the subject of UNFUSED ground.

Many radios ground their case and the shield portion of the antenna jack is grounded as well. Since the shield of the antenna may have an electrical path to ground via the NMO or other antenna bracket, having a fuse on the ground can cause an issue, because if that fuse blows, the radio may still have continuity to ground via the antenna, and that is a whole new problem.

Therefore, fuse your POSITIVE side. Do not fuse your GROUND unless the radio specifically requires it.
Make your ground line as short as feasible, so its not a potential source of noise. Ground to something solid on the body.

 

[mmckenna]

On the subject of UNFUSED ground.

Not sure I've ever seen an LMR radio come with a fused ground lead.
But I've seen a lot of amateur radio gear that does.

I think that's the ham manufacturers trying to cover all the possibilities with inexperienced installers, and seems to lead to a lot of confusion.

 

[madrabbitt]

Not sure I've ever seen an LMR radio come with a fused ground lead.
But I've seen a lot of amateur radio gear that does.

I think that's the ham manufacturers trying to cover all the possibilities with inexperienced installers, and seems to lead to a lot of confusion.

i've seen occasional kenwoods with the T style connector have a fused ground lead. My 100 watt VHF in the last truck had one, which I removed when i grounded it to the seat bolt. Other then that, i cant recall a single one. None of my motorolas have had one, none of the BK's i've installed, and i've done hundreds of those.

 

[mmckenna]

i've seen occasional kenwoods with the T style connector have a fused ground lead. My 100 watt VHF in the last truck had one, which I removed when i grounded it to the seat bolt. Other then that, i cant recall a single one. None of my motorolas have had one, none of the BK's i've installed, and i've done hundreds of those.

I haven't seen a Kenwood LMR radio with a T power connector in a long time….

 

[madrabbitt]

I haven't seen a Kenwood LMR radio with a T power connector in a long time….

i traded a XTS3000 with a XTVA for it... which may date how long ago that radio came into my possession.

 

[rescue161]

Even the newer NX series mobiles from Kenwood came with fuses on both leads and actually had an SO-239 RF connector. It screamed ham. I got rid of it shortly after I bought it.