Directions recommend installing on Ignition accesory fuse block (on and off with ignition, makes sense.) It says must be a negative ground system (it is, right?) Also, the directions state to connect the ground directly to the frame, why can't i connect it to a negative terminal if its negative ground??

So bascially.. any help with this would be good. Where on the fuse block do i put the wires.. how hard is it to get to, do i put them in the back, etc. I've never installed a CB.. or worked with electrical stuff for that matter before so... any hep is appreciated.

 

What are you putting it in?

 

2000 f150 w/5.4 supercab, 4x4, xlt.

 

I just used a fuse tap to hook mine up. Basically it just a terminal end that clips into the fuse block between the fuse and the fuse holder. the auto parts stores sell them. Just find a good negative ground on a screw somewhere under the dash. Most CBs only use about a 1 amp fuse, so have this in the line between the fuse block and the radio. use a test lamp to find a fuse that is keyed on and off. I always use the hot side of the fuse clips (pop the fuse out and check both clips to see which side is hot with the ignition on). FYI, dont key the mike til you have the antennae installed, you might pop an internal fuse in the radio. At least thats what my instructions said. Breaker Breaker.

 

The following is Personal Opinion -Get the radio mounted, then locate a point under the dash that's hot with ignition on only. Run a wire from there to the coil on a relay located conveniently (say next to the battery on the fender well, for example). Other side of coil to ground. Run a 12 or 14 gauge wire directly from the + battery terminal to one of the remaining contacts on the relay. Now - the odd part. Get enough 12 gauge wire to reach from the radio to the remaining terminal on the relay. Cover this with the outer braid stripped from a length of coax cable. Hook the #12 wire to the radio +12 in, and the braid to the chassis. At the other end under the hood, hook the #12 wire to the remaining terminal on the relay, and the braid to the nearest ground point.

You can put an inline fuse either at the relay, or at the radio, I prefer it at the relay in the short wire from the battery + terminal to the relay. At the radio, grounding the braid to the dash may or may not improve noise rejection. Try it both ways. JMHO. Good luck.

 

Thanks for the info guys.

Just to make sure i'm understanding correctly - the fuse tap is just a fuse that plugs in and then has wires coming off of it to the CB? The cb came with an inline fuse so i don't have to worry about adding one of those. Also, how do i know if a screw is a ground or not?

 

I have mine mounted vertically on the floor close to the dash on custom mounting brackets. I got power from the fuse box with a fuse tap, you'll need one for mini fuses, and I ran my ground wire down to a seat bolt. I took the bolt out and ground a shiny place on it to get a good connection, then tightened the bolt down pinching the wire. Seems to work pretty good. East bound and down!!!

 

FYI, the fuse tap is a small metal part that (in this case) is used to "tap" an ignition switched circuit into your CB radio power circuit. When I installed my CB, I put the fust tap around just such a fuse in the fuse box (fuse diagram on box cover will provide info on what fuse to use). Then I ran the main power line from the CB, with the in line fuse installed, to the connector on the fuse tap. The tap does not act as a fuse so you do need to have the inline fuse in the circuit.
Also, a good ground is very important to get good reception and transmission from the CB. I ran mine directly to the frame and all is good. If yours works well now, great. Just some advice.

Keep on truckin....

 

I got the CB connected, mounted and it turns on and i get some noise from it.. but i haven't heard anyone yet. I used a fuse tap that plugged in where a fuse was, and had to spots for fuses - one for the fuse you just took out and the other for the device you're hooking up, pretty cool little thing. There is an extra wire coming off of the antenna box that is just hanging in the back seat. Does the antenna have to be grounded? The directions for the antenna didn't mention this wire at all so i just left it hanging there. It is one of those antennas that oyu stick one side to the inside of the glass and the other to the outside.

thanks,

Paul

 

Are you talking about one of those antennas that attach with double sided tape on each side of the glass? If so, there shouldn't be another wire hanging. At least I haven't seen that on any of the few dozen CB's I have put in. And I am sure you aren't talking about the antenna coax itself.

 

Another item......Cobra makes a nice CB that is entirely hidden except for the mike that has all the controls. Just a thought. Anyone try this one before?

 

Lots of rigs are made like that. Most ham radioes are made with "extender" kits that put the guts in the trunk (of a car) or under the seat and the head is mounted on the dash or wherever.

Those center consoles have LOTS of room if you take out the pop bottle holder and center try and put the guts in there.

 

I just installed a CB in my 97 F150 recently. There is a large terminal block mounted on the firewall that the +12v runs through. I tied into that terminal block with a crimp eyelet and ran #12 wire to a blade type fuse holder and then through the firewall. I mounted the radio on the bottom side of the dash just over the transmission hump and type the ground to the frame connecting the dash to the floor by drilling a 1/4" hole and screwing down another crimp eyelet with a 1/4"-20 screw. By running a direct circuit to the battery you're avoiding any additional line noise, voltage drops, and increase in line resistance you might get otherwise.

Also, stay away from glass mount antennas. They are no good good. Don't use any coax smaller than RG-58 and keep it as short as possible. The best place to mount an antenna is in the middle of the roof. I used an NMO mount and put it in the center of the roof. You'll have to remove the headliner but the results will be much better. The other alternative is a magmount which work just as well if placed in the center of the roof.

Just my .02 cents. Good luck!

 

Already got the glass mount antenna on there, i just haven't grouned the antenna which is the reason (i'm hoping) that i can't talk to anyone more than 50ft away.

 

As already stated, the glass mounted ones are junk for CB's. A mag mount or anything mounted on the roof will work 20x better. For best results you antenna A) needs a good ground plane (like the middle of your truck) and B) needs to stick about 1 1/2 to 2 foot above the roof. I have two 4 foot antennas on my toolbox and it works great, you could also mount them inside the bed in the front. If you like the look of big ol dual whips (or the cost) a single on the roof works and looks good too!!! It sounds like you're on the right track.....so what brand/model radio is it???