Cable routing direct from battery to rear of 2001 H6 Outback...

[OzSubbie]

I have a 2001 H6 Outback Wagon and have over time pulled various
panels off and replaced them aftewr running wiring for DVD players,
Rear view camera etc.. All no problem, however I want to install my
Amateur Radio Icom IC 7000 in the rear of the wagon, close to the HF
antenna, all the other wiring no problems however I have to run the
power cables DIRECT to the battery, [ 2 fuses at battery, both
cables ] and I can get the heavy duty cable routed from the rear up to
the front of the front doors along in the sill gully, but further...
a task.... In the engine bay, there are a number of wires, near the
battery, that go into a hole that goes to the rear, the rear washer
hose goes there too, and looking in the passengers side front cabin
area i see again the washer hose, feeding stiff wire into the hole i
can hear it tap against the frame of the door opening, but HOW to get
that cable less than a metre to the door sill has me stumped. I wish I
had a wreaker near by so i could look at a smashed Outback but they
dont stay in the yard for lonf here in Oz..

Any help, ideas, or alternate suggestions would be greatly
appreciated..

cheers from down under...

 

[Bob Noble]

I think I'd use the rear washer hose. Secure a wire or two to it and pull it
though the hole. If you pull an extra wire with it, you can use it to pull
the washer hose back.

 

[mrputler]

I have a 2001 H6 Outback Wagon and have over time pulled various
panels off and replaced them aftewr running wiring for DVD players,
Rear view camera etc.. All no problem, however I want to install my
Amateur Radio Icom IC 7000 in the rear of the wagon, close to the HF
antenna, all the other wiring no problems however I have to run the
power cables DIRECT to the battery, [ 2 fuses at battery, both
cables ] and I can get the heavy duty cable routed from the rear up to
the front of the front doors along in the sill gully, but further...
a task.... In the engine bay, there are a number of wires, near the
battery, that go into a hole that goes to the rear, the rear washer
hose goes there too, and looking in the passengers side front cabin
area i see again the washer hose, feeding stiff wire into the hole i
can hear it tap against the frame of the door opening, but HOW to get
that cable less than a metre to the door sill has me stumped. I wish I
had a wreaker near by so i could look at a smashed Outback but they
dont stay in the yard for lonf here in Oz..

Any help, ideas, or alternate suggestions would be greatly
appreciated..

cheers from down under...

If I understand your problem and you are wondering how to get through
the fire wall, here is what I did for an audio amp that connected
directly to the battery. This was on a Forester, but should work for
you too.

On the passenger side of the fire wall is an air conditioning
condensation drip tube that runs from the inside of the car to the
outside through the fire wall, and is protected by a rubber gourmet.
I was able to pass an 8 gauge power wire between the drip hose and the
gourmet fairly easily. Look along the fire wall under the car for a
hose that doesn't connect to anything and that should be it.

 

[OzSubbie]

I have a 2001 H6 Outback Wagon and have over time pulled various
panels off and replaced them aftewr running wiring for DVD players,
Rear view camera etc.. All no problem, however I want to install my
Amateur Radio Icom IC 7000 in the rear of the wagon, close to the HF
antenna, all the other wiring no problems however I have to run the
power cables DIRECT to the battery, [ 2 fuses at battery, both
cables ] and I can get the heavy duty cable routed from the rear up to
the front of the front doors along in the sill gully, but further...
a task.... In the engine bay, there are a number of wires, near the
battery, that go into a hole that goes to the rear, the rear washer
hose goes there too, and looking in the passengers side front cabin
area i see again the washer hose, feeding stiff wire into the hole i
can hear it tap against the frame of the door opening, but HOW to get
that cable less than a metre to the door sill has me stumped. I wish I
had a wreaker near by so i could look at a smashed Outback but they
dont stay in the yard for lonf here in Oz..

Any help, ideas, or alternate suggestions would be greatly
appreciated..

cheers from down under...

If I understand your problem and you are wondering how to get through
the fire wall, here is what I did for an audio amp that connected
directly to the battery. This was on a Forester, but should work for
you too.

On the passenger side of the fire wall is an air conditioning
condensation drip tube that runs from the inside of the car to the
outside through the fire wall, and is protected by a rubber gourmet.
I was able to pass an 8 gauge power wire between the drip hose and the
gourmet fairly easily. Look along the fire wall under the car for a
hose that doesn't connect to anything and that should be it.

Hey guys, thans for the advise, Yeap, tried the washer hose trick this
arvo, no luck, it does not want to readily slide along and being here
on my own, did not have assistance with gently pulling it whilst the
other end can be felt if it was being pulled, and I feared, if i broke
it, i would be in the poo.

And as for the Forester aircon drip hose idea, well I will look at
that tomorrow afternoon now, bit dark, very wet, and cold, tonight to
go have a peep. am tempted to rug up and have a look, 'cause I wanted
this all done and the car 'reassembled' before I go pick the kids up
for the weekend..

the responce has been GREAT only just discovered this site and yeah,
really good..

goodnight from the Blue Mountains of NSW Australia...

 

[S]

Hi Oz!

I have a 2001 H6 Outback Wagon and have over time pulled various
panels off and replaced them aftewr running wiring for DVD players,
Rear view camera etc.. All no problem, however I want to install my
Amateur Radio Icom IC 7000 in the rear of the wagon, close to the HF
antenna, all the other wiring no problems however I have to run the
power cables DIRECT to the battery, [ 2 fuses at battery, both
cables ] and I can get the heavy duty cable routed from the rear up to
the front of the front doors along in the sill gully, but further...
a task.... In the engine bay, there are a number of wires, near the
battery, that go into a hole that goes to the rear, the rear washer
hose goes there too, and looking in the passengers side front cabin
area i see again the washer hose, feeding stiff wire into the hole i
can hear it tap against the frame of the door opening, but HOW to get
that cable less than a metre to the door sill has me stumped. I wish I
had a wreaker near by so i could look at a smashed Outback but they
dont stay in the yard for lonf here in Oz..

Any help, ideas, or alternate suggestions would be greatly
appreciated..

cheers from down under...

You should be able to run the power cables thru the firewall by poking
them thru a rubber boot somewhere; try the boot around the steering
column, or perhaps where the heater hoses come thru. Find a spot that
is reachable from the inside, usually the engine side isn't as bad.

A more elegant solution might be to install a modest sized gell-cell
battery (or even one of the huge hybrid electrolytic capacitors the
high power stereo guys use) in the back next to the radio, with
charging current coming from the accessory power circuit that is
already there. This will provide for the large surge currents
necessary without having to get 2 #6 wires up to the front. But . . .

HF can be a lot more troublesome as regards grounding, than a typical
UHF/VHF installation. Mobile HF antennas are _always_ short, and
radiation efficiency suffers as a result. Failing to provide a very
low Z RF ground for the antenna makes things much worse.

To keep the RF happy, run a length of heavy braid from the transceiver
grounding terminal to where ever you mount the antenna. If you are
using one of the popular "ball" mounts, connect the braid to the
mounts hardware where it penetrates the body. If you are using a
bumper mount, or mag-mount of some sort, get the braid as electrically
close to the base of the antenna as possible. Try the bumper mounting
bolts, or (routing up thru the "D" pillar) one of the bolts that mount
the luggage rack.

Mmmmm, I just re-read your posted question; I'm pretty sure the rear
washer hose runs back along the left sill (in a LHD car anyway ;-).
Disconnect it from the pump, and use it to pull a string thru into the
passenger compartment. Use this string to pull your power cables (and
the washer hose) back thru, but beware of cutting insulation on sharp
edges. I'm pretty sure you can access the open area where the hose
etc. runs by removing the appropriate kick panel, but prepare for
bodily contortions. Removing the front seats will probably help.

73 DE KG0MB


Steve Jernigan KG0MB
Laboratory Manager
Microelectronics Research
University of Colorado
(719) 262-3101

 

[OzSubbie]

Hi Oz!

I have a 2001 H6 Outback Wagon and have over time pulled various
panels off and replaced them aftewr running wiring for DVD players,
Rear view camera etc.. All no problem, however I want to install my
Amateur Radio Icom IC 7000 in the rear of the wagon, close to the HF
antenna, all the other wiring no problems however I have to run the
power cables DIRECT to the battery, [ 2 fuses at battery, both
cables ] and I can get the heavy duty cable routed from the rear up to
the front of the front doors along in the sill gully, but further...
a task.... In the engine bay, there are a number of wires, near the
battery, that go into a hole that goes to the rear, the rear washer
hose goes there too, and looking in the passengers side front cabin
area i see again the washer hose, feeding stiff wire into the hole i
can hear it tap against the frame of the door opening, but HOW to get
that cable less than a metre to the door sill has me stumped. I wish I
had a wreaker near by so i could look at a smashed Outback but they
dont stay in the yard for lonf here in Oz..

Any help, ideas, or alternate suggestions would be greatly
appreciated..

cheers from down under...

You should be able to run the power cables thru the firewall by poking
them thru a rubber boot somewhere; try the boot around the steering
column, or perhaps where the heater hoses come thru. Find a spot that
is reachable from the inside, usually the engine side isn't as bad.

A more elegant solution might be to install a modest sized gell-cell
battery (or even one of the huge hybrid electrolytic capacitors the
high power stereo guys use) in the back next to the radio, with
charging current coming from the accessory power circuit that is
already there. This will provide for the large surge currents
necessary without having to get 2 #6 wires up to the front. But . . .

HF can be a lot more troublesome as regards grounding, than a typical
UHF/VHF installation. Mobile HF antennas are _always_ short, and
radiation efficiency suffers as a result. Failing to provide a very
low Z RF ground for the antenna makes things much worse.

To keep the RF happy, run a length of heavy braid from the transceiver
grounding terminal to where ever you mount the antenna. If you are
using one of the popular "ball" mounts, connect the braid to the
mounts hardware where it penetrates the body. If you are using a
bumper mount, or mag-mount of some sort, get the braid as electrically
close to the base of the antenna as possible. Try the bumper mounting
bolts, or (routing up thru the "D" pillar) one of the bolts that mount
the luggage rack.

Mmmmm, I just re-read your posted question; I'm pretty sure the rear
washer hose runs back along the left sill (in a LHD car anyway ;-).
Disconnect it from the pump, and use it to pull a string thru into the
passenger compartment. Use this string to pull your power cables (and
the washer hose) back thru, but beware of cutting insulation on sharp
edges. I'm pretty sure you can access the open area where the hose
etc. runs by removing the appropriate kick panel, but prepare for
bodily contortions. Removing the front seats will probably help.

73 DE KG0MB

Steve Jernigan KG0MB
Laboratory Manager
Microelectronics Research
University of Colorado
(719) 262-3101

Thank you Steve for your effort in reply, much appreciated, many ideas
to ponder, Again the rain is pouring heavy outside so I have had to
abandon the idea of working on the car. The garage on this rented
property is smallish, and to try to open the doors all the way to work
on it, not good, so I will now wait till Saturday, weather permitting,
AND I will be blessed with having my children, whom can help me too.

The HF antenna is the Terlin Outbacker OB8 and its base I am using,
and certainly aware of the grounding requirements, all the doors have
been earth bonded with braid as well as the bonnet and tailgate. You
guys dont call it a bonnet I just realised, mmm

The power cable and 2m antenna lead is already running, nicely stowed
away, and the car mostly reassembled, along the LHS rail sill, good
abount of space, and its now rolled up on the passengers side floor
awaiting the final step. Still want to go direct to the battery at
this stage however if no go, look at plan B of your notes.

Looking under the dash, near the steering column, well its just jam
packed with wires,looms, hoses, etc, and there is not any real room to
get even to the pass throughts, yet to se one there, and the engine
side there is covered in all manner of apparatus...guess i am lucky i
dont have to put it all back together to go to work, my official works
car sits in the driveway for that, but I cant use it for private /
weekend use.
Will let you know how it all turns out

AGAIN I cant beleive the great responce from all you guys...

buy you guys a drink, ha!

regards
73
VK2HVA
Val