2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Wiring help

[ndurbin]

I am relocating my CB to where the overhead console is on my truck and was wondering if I could use the wiring that was already up there for the doom lights. There are 3 wires, black is the ground, red (hot all the time wether door is open or not), and yellow (hot when door is closed). Which wire should I tap into to power the CB, the red or yellow? Or will either of those wires even work to power the CB?





TIA

Nathan

 

[The Adjuster]

Personally I think you would be better off running a new positive and new negative for the CB ... tapping into the factory harness will work, but sometimes you end up with a lot of interference from other electrics using that circuit.



Run a dedicated positive and negative from the battery so it is powered all the time ... just remember to turn off the cb if you are not using the truck for a few days ... there's nothing worse on a cold winter morn than hearing that Rrrrr ... tic tic tic ... Rrrrr ... tic tic tic ... blahhhhhhhhhhhh :{



And remember to keep that coax at 18 foot long ... seriously !!!



Kevin

 

[ndurbin]

18' long? Thats an awful lot of coax to hide.



Nathan

 

[The Adjuster]

Yeppers it is ... what ever you do don't put it in a nice neat little coil either, believe it or not ... just spread it around under the carpet or above the headlining somewhere ... Gary and some of the other Ham Radio members can go into the technical stuff with more detail ... it is all to do with EMF (Electro Magnetic Field) it generates ... or something like that. And yes 18' is has something to do with the physics of it all also.



Kevin

 

[ndurbin]

hmmmm... ... very interesting



Guess I need to go back and uncoil the part under the cab. I planned to just let the extra lay loose above the headliner but until it goes back in the coax is tied up out of the way. I believe I have about 12-15' already.



Nathan

 

[radar doctor]

Nathan, First Welcome to the TDR, I see you are from Kansas. . There are several of us here in Kansas and i hope we can all get together for a meeting some Day. . On the CB, Installation, Don't worry about the length. RF Coaxial Cable is rated in DB loss per 100 ft... The shorter the run the more Power out to the Antenna and the less Signal loss to the Radio on the Receive End... They told you right. You should run your Power from the Battery to the Radio. . Be sure and Fuse the Hot Wire at the Battery Most Legal CB run a 2 or 3 Amp Fast Acting Fuse This would be fine ... . If i can assist let me know. . RADAR DOCTOR, NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS... ...

 

[ndurbin]

Thanks for the welcome radar_doctor. I have met a few members already (Dana, Russell, John, and a few others).



I guess I'll just extend the wiring harness that came with the CB, it already has a built-in inline fuse.



Thanks

Nathan

 

[radar doctor]

Nathan , if you do that you're inviting a possible fire in your truck. That fuse in the line with the Radio protects from the fuse to the radio and if you run wires from the battery to the radio that length of wire is unprotected. . It could short out between the battery and the radio. . If you run the wire from the battery through the Fire wall on the truck or up under the truck , All that wire is unprotected. . See where i'm going here??? I do think it is wise to Run wiring from the Battery to the Radio but i sure would Fuse that Wire at the Positive Post of the Battery. . Tell all the Kansas Gang Hi for me. . Doc.