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FT-897D O
PERATING
M
ANUAL
P
OWER
C
ONNECTIONS
The
FT-897D
is designed use from (1) an external DC power source, (2) internal battery (requires optional
FNB-78
Ni-MH
battery pack), or (3) AC power source (requires optional
FP-30
Internal AC Power Supply).
External DC power source operation
I
NSTALLATION
The DC power connector for the
FT-897D
must only be
connected to a DC source providing 13.8 Volts DC (±15%),
and capable of at least 22 Amperes of current. Always ob-
serve proper polarity when making DC connections:
The
Red
DC power lead connects to the
Positive
(+)
DC terminal; and the
Black
DC power lead connects
to the
Negative
(–) DC terminal.
In mobile installations, noise pickup may be minimized by
connecting the DC cable directly to your vehicle’s battery,
rather than to the ignition switch or “accessory” circuitry.
Direct connection to the battery also provides the best volt-
age stability.
Tips for Successful Mobile Installations
:
Ì
Before connecting the DC cable to the battery, measure
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 regulator should
be adjusted to reduce the charging voltage to 14 Volts or
lower.
Ì
Route the DC cable as far away from the ignition cables
as possible.
Ì
If the DC cable is not long enough, use #12 AWG (mini-
mum) stranded, insulated wire to extend it. Be certain to
solder the connections at the splice securely, and pro-
vide ample insulation for the soldered splice (heat shrink
tubing plus black electrical tape work well).
Ì
Check the battery terminal connections frequently to be
sure they are tight and not corroded.
Ì
When operating with the vehicle turned off, or operating
from a stand-alone car battery (in a camp site, etc.), be
mindful of the minimum operating voltage (11.73 Volts)
for the
FT-897D
. If the battery is not charged sufficiently
to maintain at least 11¾ Volts at the radio, erratic opera-
tion or shut-down may occur.
Caution
Permanent damage can result if improper supply volt-
age, or reverse-polarity voltage, is applied to the
FT-
897D
. The Limited Warranty on this transceiver does
not cover damage caused by application of AC voltage,
reversed polarity DC, or DC voltage outside the speci-
fied range of 13.8V ±15%. Never attempt to connect
the
FT-897D
to a 24 Volt battery system.
When replacing fuses, be certain to use a fuse of the
proper rating. The
FT-897D
requires a 25A fast-blow
fuse.
