Wiring in new VHF - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Got Stripers · 05-23-2003, 08:49 PM

Question on wiring in a new VHF and because I'm basically lazy, I'd like to cut corners and save time. I had run an independant pair of wires after I bought this point, so my depth finder was going direct to the battery, with an inline near the battery. After I picked up a hand held Lowrance GPS, I wired that into the same set of leads, both on the same inline; no problems at all. Ok the obvious easy out for me is to put all 3 on that same pair of wires, anyone see any problems with that? Of course now I've got to figure out how to fish the antena wire out and get it over to the drivers side, as there is no way it will reach the console now.

BigBo · 05-23-2003, 09:31 PM

GS, You don't mention what size wire the original leading back to the battery is or the fuse size. But, at some point you're going to start overloading that lead in both those areas. Best way to handle it is to use the original lead wire as a "fish wire", attach 2 larger gauge wires to it(one hot and one ground), and pull through so that you now have a sufficient size wires to feed several devices. Then someplace inconspicuous, install a buss bar/fuse block to wire all your devices into each with a dedicated fuse and do away with the inline fuses to each device but sizing the correct fuse on the block.
The way you're attempting to operate them will draw too much current and start blowing fuses. The easy thing to do is to oversize the current in line fuse but then you're not protecting your electronics to the manufacturers specifications.
I'm sure you probably already realize that this is the right way to do it even though it's not the quickest.
Good luck

UserRemoved1 · 05-24-2003, 07:39 AM

You forgot MY major business bubba

If it ever stops raining i'd be glad to help you. I have the tools/wire etc.

Bigcat · 05-24-2003, 08:47 AM

Salty,got blue butt connectors

UserRemoved1 · 05-24-2003, 09:05 AM

SOMEHOW I KNEW you were going to say that when I saw you replied to this.

I got a new package. These one's got built-in cameras to guide the wires

JohnR · 05-24-2003, 05:36 PM

Salty - what radio do you have?

Boat in the water yet or should I not ask

- I saw a yellow boat at the end of my street and was wonderin'

UserRemoved1 · 05-24-2003, 06:34 PM

I have the Icom M502 radio, is the best on the market.

Boat....well you want the run-down on that one??

I pulled it out of the repair shop last Friday, got sick of playing games with these guys when they already got paid by Angler and the boat was just sitting there, a 2 day job turned into 3 weeks and still hadn't been touched. They changed the rub rail, the new rail is worse than the old, now it has a permanent sag in it from 1.5 hours of transom strap and needs to be completely removed and re-done AGAIN. not to mention the Gel coat void the guy opened up and left like that when he pried the old one off. None of the other stuff got fixed, and since now they are telling me they are considering the lack of drains in the gunwale rod holders because they foamed them in a non repairable/warrantable issue i've called them buffoons and asked for my money back......stay tuned for a legal fight now

Unfortunately my patience has worn thin now..........

JohnR · 05-24-2003, 07:46 PM

Sheeit - sorry to here that... Let us know if there is anything we can do to help... Who had the Rub Rail job?

Yeh - I'm gunning for one of those 502s also...

capesams · 05-24-2003, 08:14 PM

John..whats a good price on that 502?

JohnR · 05-24-2003, 09:24 PM

CS - best online:

4 Marine- Electronics - don't know them but best price - $265 : http://4marine-electronics.com/searc...sp?ItemId=1789

ThreeRiversMarine - $279 : http://www.threeriversmarine.com/trmproducts.htm#Icom

Boatfix - 279 : http://www.boatfix.com/elec/icomvhf.asp

BLD - 275: http://brokenlegdave.com/Manufacture/Icom/m502.htm

BW - $300 : http://www.boatersworld.com/webapp/w...26&cat2=249092

Best store - Pawtuxet Marine Elec in RI has them for about $290 and they are a great shop...

capesams · 05-24-2003, 09:45 PM

txs.....best I can do 264.00 plus shp. thats fa 1,,need 3,,,257.41 everyday price.

JohnR · 05-25-2003, 07:03 AM

CS - Oh yeh? PM me

Mr. Sandman · 05-26-2003, 04:17 PM

I just bought a bunch of stuff from these guys...http://www.bethel-marine.com and was very pleased.

502 was part of it.
http://www.bethel-marine.com/Icom_VHFRadio3A.htm
I was also considering the standard spectrum +..you get a few more features for the $ (stuff like a hailer option and a larger LCD readout.) I ended up going for the icom only because i like the rugged looks of the unit. The 602 comes with all the goodies but the there is a big price jump. Also got a good 8' antenna....(looking for a 20 mile range) For the most part all of these VHF units are pretty close in that they all have the same watt transmit and will all do a decent job. Some have a few features the others don't and some have a differnt water-proof rating. The 502 is a couple/few years old but has gotten great reviews from several magizines.
the 602 is Icom's top of the line in vhf.
The icom units are noticable larger then some of the others as well.

That brokenlegdave fellow will give you a cusom quote on multiple units. Give or take a few bucks...they are all about the same.