I need a switched 12 volt power sorce for a CB & radar det.
Anyone know a good spot to get one????
97 XLT Expedition

Thanks

 

I tapped into the fuse box to add a CB and R. Detector. The company that makes the small spade fuses that you probably have (Little Fuse??--not sure of the name)---they make a "fuse tap"----you basically look for a fuse that goes dead when the ignition is off. Hopefully it will be 20A or less (check the max rating of the tap to be sure you don't select a fuse too high in amps). You then pull that fuse and install it in the correct position of the tap. The tap has a spot for the original fuse AND the new one that will feed your acc. You just have to make sure that you follow the directions and put them in the correct spot on the tap. Coming off the tap is a short piece of wire with a crimp type connector on the end. You simply put your acc wire into the crimp connector and crimp it---this wire is fused by the new fuse you put in the tap---probably around 10A--the CB may draw that much when transmitting. You then plug the tap back into the spot you pulled the original fuse from. The original circuit is fused by it's original fuse and you now have your fused acc line.

Unfortunately when the tap is in place the fuse box cover couldn't be installed---but in my case that was no problem as there is a second cover on the lower part of the dash covering it.

This has worked really well for me for 6yrs---Hope that helps you!

 

Thank You Trucker... That was EXACTALLY what I needed.
Found one at the local auto parts store & it works GREAT.
BTW... CB's use less then 2 amps even when transmitting.
So far I have 2 CB's & the radar detector hooked so they come on when I turn the key on.

 

Ha---well I'm getting old Leader---my CB is an old Browning Barren Single Side Band--was built in about 1975 and still gets out. Not sure what it pulls when transmitting. Maybe 2A. But she is a big one! The new CB's are a quarter the size. Just can't see myself throwing it out if it works.

In any case really glad you had success. Those taps are great---I actually don't even use the crimp on wire end---I cut that crimp on connector off and solder to it and wrap with tape or better yet a heat shrink on covering. I've had some failures with the crimp on type. Soldering is permanent and only takes a minute once one knows how to do it. Funny how soldering scares some people off.

Glad it all worked out for you!

 

The other thing you can do is use the radio wire to energize the coil on a relay and run a fused wire from the battery.

 

I never thought of a relay..... I like that idea.
Hummmm... Could just run this fuse tap to a relay then hook up as much stuff as I wanted.

 

You wouldn't have a fuse tap at all. I am not a big fan of the fuse taps in the first place. You would run a seperate cable from the positive lead on the battery or where it connects to the fuse box and connect that to the relay. Use the switched power from the radio to energize the relay to turn on the auxillary devices you hooked up.

 

Be really careful with using fuse taps. I had one installed in my truck when my cellular phone was installed, They (the phone company) may not have installed it properly, but I had all sorts of problems with the fuse box once they removed the phone later. Fortunately I have a friend that owns a battery and electric repair service and did not charge me for repairs.