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On a number of fairly modern rigs I've seen that both power leads are fused:

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Why is this still so?

Does this have something to do with some vehicles having a ground-positive system or is this simply a forgotten relic that needs to disappear as quick as possible?

If the fuse (in the negative lead) needs to go, what would be a safe and proper solution?

Related: How do I power my radio in a vehicle mobile install?

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1 Answers1

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According to Alan K0BG's page about wiring, the negative lead is fused because of the possibility of a faulty ground elsewhere in the vehicle, which could cause excessive current to flow in the negative lead to the radio.

Here's a diagram from Alan, showing how to properly wire power to the radio: how to properly wire power to a ham radio in a vehicle

Alan's page about wiring, and the rest of his site, are chock-full of excellent advice about mobile ham radio.

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