Yaesu FT 8900 wire size

[gonejeeping15]

I presently have an FT 8900 which I use as a base and a radio I use in my offroad trailer. I have an aftermarket wire harness with a 15 amp fuse, 12 AWG wire, and is 8 foot long wired directly to the battery.

I would like to put a 1.5 leader off the battery and a Red Dee connecter in line so anyone could use my power source and to gain some length for my own use.

I went to the radio candy store not knowing the specs and they sold me a Red Dee 2, PS-4 connecter which is standard for a 15 amp fuse (they said) with recommendations for 16-18 AWG wire.

What AWG do I really need for adding a 1.5 foot leader off the battery and a Red Dee connection into my 8.0 wire harness?

 

[rusty_tlc]

1.5 feet? meters?
According to this Red-Dee2™ Connect - PS-4 the Red Dee PS-4 is rated for 45 Amps.

 

[gonejeeping15]

Wire size

1.5 Feet for a total of 9.5 Feet from battery to radio.

So do I wire a 12 gauge into a connecter that recommends 16-18 gauge?

 

[gonejeeping15]

"Connectors" sorry about the spelling, the older you get the more you forget.

 

[1911]

Every Yaesu owner's manual I have (though I don't own an 8900) specifies the minimum wire gauge requirements in the first few pages of the manual, under installation. I believe it's 12 AWG for my 65-watt 2800's, but larger wire never hurts, especially for a longer run.

 

[rusty_tlc]

If I understand correctly you are using the PS-4 to split off your existing radio power connection, then building a 1.5' pigtail to supply other radios or equipment.

I would use 12AWG

Anderson makes a Power Pole connector that should work with the PS-4, and is designed for 12 AWG;

30 Amp Permanently Bonded Red/Black Anderson Powerpole Sets - $11.99
Or these
30 Amp Unassembled Red/Black Anderson Powerpole Sets - $9.99

The benefit of using 12AWG over 16AWG are;
Lower voltage drop-> less heating in wire
More robust -> less prone ta a fatigue failure down the road.
Consistent with the existing wiring.

 

[gonejeeping15]

Thanks Rusty_tlc
Thats the answer I was looking for, now I need to make another one hour trip to the Radio candy store to exchange this stuff.