List: trawlers@lists.trawlering.com
From: Dennis OConnor
Re: T&T: Icom - bad support
Wed, Jul 23, 2008 11:45 AM
EX, etc. is a poor
solution...
Next, filtering the power line noise at the radio is the least effective place
to do it... Put your filters at the noise source... This means the alternator
and the inverter... Radio Shack, or just about any truck stop that sells CB
radios will have them on the shelf... The only reason for a filter at the
radio is if pumps or other gear on the boat is generating noise, and putting a
filter on them is not feasible...
Next, run a dedicated +(power) and -(return) line for the radio directly from
the battery terminals... Notice the dedicated ground, isolated from everything
but the battery terminal and the radio - don't ground the radio or it's mount
to the metal of the boat... Most important... In autos, where taming noise
from the electric fuel pumps is a real bear because the entire metal skin of
the vehicle becomes saturated with electrical noise, the isolated negative DC
line all the way back to the battery terminal is one of the key ingredients in
the solution... And tape, or bind the + & - wires together, or get one of the
molded red and black wire pairs... Don't let the two wires separate helter
skelter all over the boat as that increases noise pickup on the wires...
Finally, at each end of the new power line solder a 0.1 MFD capacitor across
the + and - wires - a 0.01 will work also.. They can be had at radio shack for
a few cents......
This will cure 99% of noise problems...
denny / k8do