Hello, I wiring in a cb on my 98 xj. I want to run the power wire to the kick panel fuse box. Can I crimp on the adapter that will slide right into the "Spare Relay" slot? Heres the diagram, Im talking about the diagram on the bottom of the page. http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/...tification.htm
Please let me know, thanks
edit: or how would I go about hooking it up to spare fuse port 13 or 24. Can I wrap the cb power wire around one of the legs of a fuse and stick it in there?

 

communications devices, like a CB radio should be wired directly to the battery...

 

Thanks for the reply. Is it possible to hook it into the fuse box though? Id need to pick up new batt cable ends in order to hook it directly into the batt. If not, I might look into a cig lighter plug in adapter.

 

You can use the existing fuse box. However a few things to check on.

- make sure the "spare" slot is wired.
- make sure the wire ga. Is sized properly (probably not a big issue as CBs shouldn't be more than 7 watts I think it is). Ham Radios are another matter as they can easily be upto 100 watts for some mobile non-amplified rigs. Amps on CBs are illegal)
- make sure the fuse is of the proper size
- male sure the radio is grounded (the fuse box is typically only the positive side)
- use well quality connections and soldier, not just crimp connections.

However, it is better to wire directly to the battery and fuse atthe battery.

 

you can wire to a exiting fuse as long as you hook to the supply side if you remove the fuse and test the connectors one side is hot with key on thats the hot side .

 

using this and in line fuse for cb

 

Thanks for the help guys, Freegdr so your saying I can wrap the cb power wire around one of the legs of a fuse, just wire it to the side that has power with the key on? What amp fuse does it have to be? Turns out the mini slots called the "spare relay" dont have power, even with the key on. However, slot 23 with a fuse in it, although it isnt used, it has power. This is the fuse Id run the wire to. Il have to go check what amperage however the cb positive wire already has an inline fuse, and the gauge of the wire is rather small . If I had to guess it would probably be 16-18ga if this helps determine the needed fuse size to tap into. Much appreciated, looking forward to getting this hooked up. And for grounding, Il run the ground to one of the nuts on the brake pedal assembly.

 

no im saying crimp a connector on the hot wire to cb get a fuse tap stick it under a fuse hot supply side stick fuse back in and connect hot wire to tap no wrapping nothing as for fuse should be supplied with cb .

 

Awesome this makes perfect since, last question. What size fuse should I be tapping into?

 

like this...

 

If you want to hook it directly to the battery you can get these at AutoZone.

 

Thank you for the suggestion, Il have to pick those up next time im at the parts store.

 

I actually would advise against this. This is adding loads to the system that it was not designed for. At the. Ery
East you risk blowing the orig. fuse when that electrical load and the CB are at their maximum duty cycle (say if it waspiggy backed on the headlight fuse, and you have the headlights on and are keying the mic on the CB). Considering the state of older Cherokees being from AMC, and Chrysler themselves, I don't see their electrical systems being robust enough to handle extra load. As mentioned, if there was an unloaded spare, that is different, but itsounds like they were just slots for the extra fuses and not powered. Stick with wiring to the battery then. The little bit of effort is worth it versus taking the (even if slight) chance of burning up your rig.

 

Not all vehicles are purchased fully optioned. There is usually an available slot in the fuse block available.