Tankerblade

Well its time to install my little $40 Cobra CB. Now I plan on putting it on either immediately under the the glove box closest too the trans tunnel or on the trans tunnel next to the shifter. Now my question is, i would like to run it to the fuse box. Can i run it to the fuse box inside the cab by the passenger's feet? or do i have to run it to the one in the engine bay? If i can run it to the inside box how would i make that work?

Thanks for the help

prerunner1982

You could run it to the interior fuse box. You would need a flat spade connector to plug into an open terminal. There should be some single ones to use with accessories. Make sure there is a fuse in the hot wire. Getting power this way may cause some engine noise in the CB. If this is the case I would run the power directly to the battery.
This is how I did mine, except I didn't want it to be on all the time so I included a relay.

I have a Cobra 19... I like it except it reverts to channel 9 every time you turn it on. This isn't a problem if you only use it on the trail, but I like to have mine on all the time and it gets real old having to change the channel every time I get in it.

Tankerblade

What exactly is an open terminal?

prerunner1982

http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/...8_fuse_box.jpg

You see in the top right hand corner, it says ACC and has a "square" hole below it. Those are where you place the spade connector. They should be switched power, but some may be constant.

Tankerblade

HOw would i know if its constant power or switched power? and whats the difference? i assume its as simple as the names suggest?

prerunner1982

A test light or multi-meter would confirm if it is constant or switched (via ignition). You would put one end in the "spot" ground the other end. With the key off if the light comes on (or voltage reads on the multi-meter) it is constant. If the light does not come on, turn the key on (not all the way) if the light now comes on it is a switch power.

The difference? If it is switched your CB will go off when you turn the vehicle off.. constant your CB will be on, even if the vehicle is off and the keys aren't in it. You would have to physically turn it of.

Tankerblade

Awesome thanks!! now do i need a fuse the second i put it in? or can i test to make sure the CB works by putting it in seeing if it powers on? This is a secondhand CB i got for free i just want to make sure it powers on

prerunner1982

I would go ahead and wire in a fuse, you never know.. something could be wired wrong and blow that free CB.

claygrassmann

by physically turn if off you mean just the **** on the cb right? or unplug it?

prerunner1982

If it is wired constant you would have to turn the **** to turn it off.

Tankerblade

OK stupid question, what setting do i put the multimeter on?

prerunner1982

Volts. There is probably multiple settings within Volts as well, 200m, 2, 20, 200, 1000. You will want 20. You are looking for it to say 12volts.

Tankerblade

Ok sweet thanks, i'll give that a shot

prerunner1982

good luck...

Tankerblade

Well i found 2 slots, and for both of them im not getting any kind of readings...