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AhaBulb: Stuff Everyone Should Know · ahabulb.com/ham-short-heavy-power-wires

Why use short, heavy-gauge wires for a radio's DC power connection?

To minimize voltage drop when transmitting.

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  1. To avoid RF interference
  2. To match the power supply impedance
  3. To minimize voltage drop when transmitting ✔

Why: A radio pulls lots of current when it transmits. Thin or long wires waste voltage, so short, thick wires keep the voltage up.

Huh, didn't know that: A typical 50-watt mobile radio needs about 13.8 volts at 12 amps.

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Why did the thin wire quit? It could not handle the current pressure.
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References

Answer: To minimize voltage drop when transmitting. A radio pulls lots of current when it transmits. Thin or long wires waste voltage, so short, thick wires keep the voltage up.

  1. HamStudy 2026-2030 Technician pool, section T4A hamstudy.org/browse/E2_2026/T4A
    To minimize voltage drop when transmitting
    Checked 2026-10-09.

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