Cb (11m) questions

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L

lugueto

10 Year
Joined
Sep 20, 2011
Threads
31
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650
Location
Caracas, Venezuela.
Ok, so I bought a new CB Radio, Midland (Alan) unit with a Midland magnetic mount antenna.

Now, the unit uses a 12v socket adapter to power it, I want a permanent installation and dont want to use up the 12v sockets as on trips I need cell charger, ipod charger, gps constant charge, etc on it (Even though I have a socket multiplier). Plus Its already a mess of cables, looks tidier on a permanent installation

Is it ok to just cut the adapter and link the fuse box's accessory slot??


Thanks, Luis.
 
Yep. Well at least on using the cable/harness supplied (or at least I would). Not sure on your accessory box, but should be ok.
 
retrofive said:
Yep. Well at least on using the cable/harness supplied (or at least I would). Not sure on your accessory box, but should be ok.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure either, Think I'll run it off of the battery using its own fuse on the cable. Ill figure it out, didnt want to chop the adapter to then realize itll only work that way
 
lugueto said:
I'm not sure either, Think I'll run it off of the battery using its own fuse on the cable. Ill figure it out, didnt want to chop the adapter to then realize itll only work that way
Click to expand...

Shouldn't. What make/model?

Two of my past CBs didn't come with anything other than bare wires to wire in yourself (NIB). I had to go to radio shack and pick up a cig lighter plug in to get myself running before I decided what to do hard wiring it.

Only thing I had to sort out was the acc and power side of things so the CB would retain memory when I turned it back on.
 
No, its not a handheld! It an Alan 199A. Similar to the 1001z I had on my previous TLC, basic unit.

Difference is this one has a cigarrette socket instead of just two split wires for power.
 
not knowing specifics of the radiao...generally speaking...


does not matter.....the power is the same. You could cut the cig lighter adpater off the harness and wire your own connections to a suitable sourece of 12volts and ground. Most radio manuals say run the wires directly to the battery using appropriate size awg wire.

Assuming the radio power cord is a simple two wire configuration.
 
Elbert said:
...
Assuming the radio power cord is a simple two wire configuration.
Click to expand...
Not really a safe assumption, many electronics have a voltage regulator built into the adapter.
 
rusty_tlc said:
Not really a safe assumption, many electronics have a voltage regulator built into the adapter.
Click to expand...

cb radios fall into that group? IF so thats a new one to me.... absent guessing from teh mfg...then I would email or call the mfg of the product.

I know on many CB radios the power cords are interchangeable...and or they simply make what I call "jumpers" and the end user has to run the wire to the battery.

Good advice....

I don't want a CB that is limited to only power through a cig adapter.
 
Sure chop the power adapter up.... oh wait if you did that to a Garmin Nuvi you would have nuked it.

Should double check the voltage needed by the radio then decide. On a CB it is prob 12v and you'd be fine but double check to make sure there is no voltage change up in the plug.
 
Well, I knew it was meant for 12v use. Plus I have basic electric/electronic knowledge. The adapter didnt seem to have much in it. Cut the adapter off and linked it to a dead-end wire leaving the cigarrette lighter socket that was labelled "!2v aux light output" or something like that I cant remember the exact words. Strapped the + wire to that, grounded the - and what do you know we have a functioning CB radio!

No problems whatsoever. Couldn't find any voltage regulations for the radio so I'm guessing itll be fine. If not, I got it for DIRT CHEAP, so ill consider it a lesson, but im certain ill have no issues with the installation.

Thank you all for your help!!
 
Elbert said:
cb radios fall into that group? IF so thats a new one to me.... absent guessing from teh mfg...then I would email or call the mfg of the product.

I know on many CB radios the power cords are interchangeable...and or they simply make what I call "jumpers" and the end user has to run the wire to the battery.

Good advice....

I don't want a CB that is limited to only power through a cig adapter.
Click to expand...
Midland and Cobra both make units similar to the one in the link I posted. They can be used as a mobile or hand held unit and use 6 (?) AAA batteries for HT operation. :meh:

Bottom line if I have something that has a cig lighter adapter I'm going to pop the adapter open and look for a voltage regulator inside before I hard wire it to 12V.
 
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