CB radio installation.

Adrock · Post by **Adrock** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 6:40 pm

I've got a 4.5 ft fiberglass antenna, I picked up everything I need today, including a quick disconnect so i'll just throw it on when I use it. I am mounting it front and center on my roof basket, which is basically dead center of the vehicle. Couldn't find an SWR tuner, anybody know where I can get one? the source no longer sells them.

Adrock · Post by **Adrock** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 6:47 pm

and for my final question, where does the little wire coming off the bottom of my antenna get mounted to? In fact i wouldn't mind some instructions as to how the whole antenna assembly goes together, so far working from top to bottom i've got the antenna itself, then into the quick disconnect, then that is screwed into the long nut (same as antenna directly into the nut) then a washer, then the rubber buffer, then my mounting bracket, then the coax connector. I think I had this little wire attached to one of the bolts on my mounting bracket, is that correct?

Thanks.

Green1 · Post by **Green1** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 6:48 pm

just remember to put a fuse inline!

ok, I said this earlier, but in light of an earlier incident today, I feel I cannot stress this enough! MAKE SURE YOU PUT A FUSE AT THE BATTERY

I say this because earlier today I nearly destroyed my Delica. first some background, those radios you see in the picture each have their own fuses on the power cords near the radios, from there the wires run back to the battery where I used to have a self resetting circuit breaker, however it went up in a shower of sparks while I was installing it, so I *temporarilly* decided to leave it out and just have the fuses at each radio bad idea!. I was working in the engine compartment today and dropped the passenger seat and smoke started billowing out from underneath, I got the engine compartment open again and managed to break the connection where things were shorting out, the whole length of the wire from the battery to the front of the engine compartment had burned bare, no insulation left, the wire had also melted itself in to a couple of hoses and some rubber gromets, there were smoldering embers in places along that run... this took about 10-15 seconds total. had I been a little less attentive, or had the wire been running slightly differently, the whole vehicle could have been engulfed in flames very quickly! I was very, very, very lucky... (and I also feel that I was very very stupid!

)

As embarrasing as this was, I felt it worth sharring, because I want to make sure nobody else makes the same mistake, always, ALWAYS ALWAYS put a fuse at the battery end of the power wire.

Green1 · Post by **Green1** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 6:49 pm

I think I had this little wire attached to one of the bolts on my mounting bracket, is that correct?

sounds about right, basically that wire should be grounded, so whatever gives it an electrical connection to the vehicle.

Adrock · Post by **Adrock** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 7:27 pm

Thanks for the tip on the fuse too. Must have just shorted the wire somewhere after the fuse on your radio? I just set mine up and came in to check on the antenna wire question, I guess its off to canadian tire to pick up an inline fuse.

Your embarrassment saved me, so it was worth it.

P.S. my P.A. speaker is really loud. It is going to get me into trouble

Green1 · Post by **Green1** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 7:38 pm

Must have just shorted the wire somewhere after the fuse on your radio?

no, shorted it BEFORE the fuse... the only fuses were 2 inches from the radios, none between there and the battery... so I shorted the wire where I pinched it in the "hood" which was just back from the fuses, so it had just over 2 feet of unfused wire to turn in to a giant heating element (and 10 guage wire as a heating element works pretty well!)

I won't replace the wire until I have a fuse on the battery end of it... and I think I may try to work out a more protected way to run the wire (I will still be comming straight off the battery as the ham radios need a lot of current, but I'll try to get it in a safer spot)

Adrock · Post by **Adrock** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 9:47 pm

yeah sorry, i meant before. I understood whether I said it wrong or not hehe. I'm all set up now. Going to put in the PA horn tomorrow morning, or after 24 tonight if i'm restless.

Thanks for the tips. I am all set except for a tuner. I'll figure something out.

Green1 · Post by **Green1** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 9:07 pm

replaced the wire tonight (this time with a fuse at the battery end, I also ran the wire a little differently too, I found the wire fit through the rubber gromet where the fuel door release lever is, that way it's not getting pinched in the closing "hood" anymore, should be safer now...

Adrock · Post by **Adrock** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 9:26 pm

thanks for the update. I have some tweaking to do with everything... But i am not even getting static on my radio right now, which I sort of expected. I think I need new coax, my old coax was sitting in my truck without an antenna for quite some time and i read that exposure to weather makes it useless. I also need to find some diagrams as to the antenna mount assembly because I am just not 100% sure i've got it right.

PA works great though, oh it is so fun.

Green1 · Post by **Green1** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 9:42 pm

But i am not even getting static on my radio right now,

either your coax is shorted right out... or your squelch is too high... even with no antenna on CB you would usually get some static...

my old coax was sitting in my truck without an antenna for quite some time and i read that exposure to weather makes it useless.

shouldn't... unless it's actually visibly damaged or corroded it should still be ok...

PA works great though, oh it is so fun.

no PA on my CB :( but I plan to install a separate one later

Shepherd · Post by **Shepherd** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 9:46 pm

I figured a guy with that manny antenas on there van would clear up my messy explanation :lol:

Trav

Adrock · Post by **Adrock** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 9:47 pm

shorted out coax? Could that have something to do with my little ground wire not placed properly?

Green1 · Post by **Green1** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 10:05 pm

shorted out coax? Could that have something to do with my little ground wire not placed properly?

no, but it could be kinked, or it could have something to do with the sitting out in the weather too long....

Adrock · Post by **Adrock** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 10:50 pm

I spent too much time studying cb terms and not enough time studying how to set them up...

i'm gonna back off the hammer and rest em up, go horizontal for a couple hours before i put her in the rhubarb.

ok I stole that from a song, and you being from calgary might just be able to tell me what song, or at least who sings it.

Green1 · Post by **Green1** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 4:41 pm

i'm gonna back off the hammer and rest em up, go horizontal for a couple hours before i put her in the rhubarb.

ok I stole that from a song, and you being from calgary might just be able to tell me what song, or at least who sings it.

ummm... not a clue... and why should a Calgarian know this?