Diy install of uhf

[Wazza1978 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Wazza1978]

Just wanted some thoughts on fitting a uhf now some people just say use the power wire off the cigarette light which is a easy option but am worried about over loading it. Just want some ideas on how to power one up. Is there spare fuse position on the fuse panel (not sure where the fuse panel is yet so havent looked) and also where have people used for an earth

Cheers

[Hawk Thor Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hawk Thor]

Re: Diy install of uhf

I would run a wire from the battery to a fuse box in the dash. Then you would have a few fused circuits for radios, maplights or an inverter.

[ozwapet2 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozwapet2]

Re: Diy install of uhf

Agree, but put a fuse at the battery end too.
The new UHF units are low current and will probably run OK off the cig lighter feed, but running both + and - direct to battery is a better way IMHO.
Couple of reasons
1) there will be times you want the UHF on with the key out
2) less chance of operational problems with a good thick wire directly from the battery.

The only drawback is you need to remember to turn the UHF off, I'd only do this if you're running off an aux. battery.

[StormyKnight Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close StormyKnight]

Re: Diy install of uhf

I was in the fuse box in the engine bay of my 90 series a couple of days ago... both the front & rear cigarette lighters have fuses rated at 20 amps....from that I would deduce each could handle 10amps continuous. Just remember that the two at the front share the load between them so one could handle 10 amps at a time with the other either doing nothing or not very much at all.

@ 5 Watts maximum output on the UHF that would be about 0.4 amps so I would double that & add a bit to cover conversion inefficiency & to run the display. So around about 1amp. Still plenty of headroom left.

The real question is if you want it to need to be turned on (off?) with the accessories or not....

BTW I have mine wired to the back of the cigarette lighter now for 5 years.....

[Wazza1978 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Wazza1978]

Re: Diy install of uhf

yeah cig lighter is looking good

[Matty80 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Matty80]

Re: Diy install of uhf

yeah cig lighter is looking good

I used the ciggy lighter supply for my UHF. Just make sure to include an inline fuse as close to the connection! 20A is much to high rating for the UHF supply...

[Wazza1978 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Wazza1978]

Re: Diy install of uhf

yeah its got a inline fuse on it and a plug to go in the cig lighter just wanted to make it neater by putting wiring in the back

[Wazza1978 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Wazza1978]

Re: Diy install of uhf

Can anyone tell me as i dont have a multimeter or test light at home. on the cig lighter which is the plug closest the driver which wire is the positive ? there is a wide slot with two wires going into it and a narrow plug with one wire in