Just a couple of questions for those among us who use "modern" DC powered equipment, since I labored my last 34 years as a tube rig user, and never had to worry about 12 volts except for low power mobile rigs and handhelds.
I have an IC-700 and a FT-950 (Icom and Yaesu) that are both 12 (or 13.8) volts. Upon unpacking them, I discovered loooong power wires (about 8 or more feet) of a very sturdy (probably 10) gauge, and they had a fuse in both positive and negative lines, and right next to the place where they would hook up to the power supply. Most rigs I have owned in the past had fuses nearer to the rig, including the Yaesu FT-7100M I got a week or so ago.
I took the power cable on the IC-7K and transmogrified it, shortening it, and placing a Power Pole inline (due to Ares going to Power Poles, I used them). I do NOT need a 10 foot power cord!
Now, the Icom manual warned against messing with the power cable, warning about reverse polarity, but I figure I am old enough, been a Ham long enough (34 years) to keep the polarity right, and if I don't, well, I should have. The "new" cable works fine, BTW... so far.
Questions 1. Why is the cable on both these radios so long? Most power supplies are only a few feet away, for gosh sakes. 2. Why are the fuses on the power supply end of the cable? I kept it that way, though do not understand it. 3. What gauge of wire is needed for 100 watts on 12 volts? By (probably flawed) figuring, a 100 watt radio is going to be about 50 to 60 per-cent efficient, so the draw is going to be about 16 amps. Many charts show a value of around 14 gauge for 6 feet. I am curious about what gauge I need for a run of 6 feet at less than 20 amps.
3. Why are the fuses located next to the power supply, and why are there two?
4. Why can't they make the rigs with an internal PS, and use 120v, especially ones like the 950, as I am NOT going to take that giant out mobile, even though it has a handle and feet on it!
