Connecting The Radio - West Marine VHF 480 Owner's Manual

5. Remove the bracket from the radio,
and use the mounting hardware to secure the
bracket to the mounting surface.
6. Install the radio back into the mounting
bracket.
To operate correctly, your radio requires two

Connecting the radio

electrical connections:
providing it with power from the boat's
electrical system
x
connecting a VHF-FM marine antenna to the antenna connector
x
Power Supply Requirements
Nominal 13.8 VDC power supply with a
negative ground (10.5 VDC to 16.0 VDC).
Power leads should be kept as short as
possible. A direct connection to the power
supply is ideal.
Minimum of #14 AWG copper wire for
extensions up to 20 feet, 12 AWG wire for
extensions from 20 to 35 feet, or 10 AWG
1. Connect the BLACK wire of the power cable to the NEGATIVE (-) side of your power
wire for extensions from 35 to 60 feet.
source.
2. Connect the RED wire of the power cable to the POSITIVE (+) side of your power source.
3. Install your antenna according to the manufacturer's instructions.
#
nOte: to extend the life of the radio, use waterproof tape to seal electrical connections.
4. If necessary, consult the FCC guidelines for antenna separation. See Antenna Selection
and Installation on page 44 for more details. (In summary, the FCC recommends that
antennas up to 3 dB be installed a minimum of 3 feet from any occupied location;
antennas over 3 dB should be installed at least 6 feet away.)
5. Connect the PL-259 connector from the antenna lead-in wires to the SO238 connector
labeled
ANTENNA
6. Plug the power cable into the power cable pigtail on the back of your radio.
28 English
on the back of your radio.
Radio connector,
SO238 (female
PL-259)
Hex nut
Spring washer
Washer
Hex bolt
VHF Antenna Requirements
Male PL-259 connector
50 Ω impedance
Minimum 3 foot, 3 dB rated antenna for
sailboats or 8 foot, 6dB rated antenna for
powerboats
Minimum RG-58 lead-in wire for antenna
leads up to 20 feet, RG-8X for antenna
leads from 20 to 35 feet, or RG-8U for
antenna leads from 35 to 60 feet.
Antenna lead-in
connector,
male PL-259
Mounting
surface
Mounting
bracket