Page 7VX-1700 OPERATING MANUAL
POWER REQUIREMENTS AND BASIC INSTALLATION
DC Power Connections
The VX-1700 transceiver is designed for operation from
13.8 Volts DC, negative ground, with the DC source being
capable of providing 25 Amperes of continuous current.
For mobile applications, the fused (25-A) DC cable sup-
plied with this transceiver may be used for making the
power connections. Be absolutely certain to observe the
proper polarity when making power connections:
The RED DC power lead connects to the Positive (+) DC
terminal; and
The BLACK DC power lead connects to the Negative (–)
DC terminal.
To minimize noise pickup, and to provide the best input
voltage stability for your transceiver, we recommend you
connect the DC cable directly to the vehicle battery, rather
than to the ignition or accessory circuitry. Route the DC
cable as far away from ignition cables as possible, and cut
off any extra cable (from the battery end) to minimize volt-
age drop. If the DC cable is not long enough, use #12 AWG
(minimum) stranded, insulated wire to extend it. Be abso-
lutely certain to solder the connections at the splice se-
curely, and provide ample insulation for the soldered splice
(heat shrink tubing plus black electrical tape work well).
Use the following procedure to connect the DC cable:
Before connecting the DC cable to the battery, mea-
sure the voltage across the battery terminals with the
engine running fast enough to show a charge. If the
voltage is above 15 Volts, the vehicle’s voltage regula-
tor should be adjusted to reduce the charging voltage
below 14 Volts.
With the radio end of the cable disconnected, connect
the RED cable lead to the POSITIVE battery termi-
nal, and the BLACK cable lead to the NEGATIVE bat-
tery terminal. Make certain that the battery terminal
connections are tight, and remember to check them pe-
riodically for signs of loosening and/or corrosion.
Make sure the POWER switch on the VX-1700 trans-
ceiver is off, and plug the DC cable into the INPUT
jack on the rear panel of the transceiver.
CAUTION! In mobile installations, check to ensure that the
transceiver POWER switch is turned off whenever start-
ing or stopping the engine, to avoid potential damage from
switching transients.
Cigarette Lighter Plug
Fuse Box
INSTALLATION