CB problem/ question

[philzilla]

i just got a new cobra cb,after installing the wiring for the antenna i tried to turn it on but it wont work, i am running it through the cigarette lighter, is there a problem that it wont turn on if it doesn't get enough draw ?

my cigarette lighter does work
i tried the wiring both ways (+,-)


i am returning it tomorrow if i cant figure it out

[85_Ranger4x4]

Check if the radio has a fuse in it, if you reversed the wires you might have fried something. You might also try a different power source.

[exbass94]

Try connecting the positive and negative wires directly to the positive and negative posts of your battery. You can hook this up temporarily, so it shouldn't be too much of a pain. (Run two wires out the door and under the hood to the battery, doesn't have to be a clean install, its only to test it out.) If the fuse is good and it still doesn't work, then you know the radio is no good.

[Wicked_Sludge]

if you reversed the wires you definitely fried something. if your lucky you blew the fuse to your cigarette lighter or the inline fuse to the cb (if there is one).

from now on, red = hot and black = ground.

[BDAB]

if its a cobra 19, 23, 25, 29, or 148. Then the fuse is external. either in the cig plug or the in the wire harness (round white thing) if the cig plug came from the box (or if bought seperate) then you cannot wire it backwards. (unless you are color blind) the supplied wire harness from cobra only plugs into the radio 1 way.

I had a problem with my Saturn. The cig lighter worked, but the CB did not work plugged into it. I wired it to the power source for my stereo and it worked fine (also how its wired in my Suburban)

[philzilla]

it has an external fuse ( i looked and its still good...) and i did the wiring right the first time but switched it later just to double check, so directly to the batter wont fry anything ? or im thinking maybe to the stereo ?


i have this CB http://www.cobra.com/index.php?page=shop/flypage&product_id=417&id=1



also_
my friends CB is hooked up to his cigarette lighter, i hooked it up the same way and it doesnt work in his truck either...

[Boomer]

sounds like it's toast...but some radio's (not all) need the coax hooked up...have ya done that?

[Jspafford]

Some need the mic hooked up too. Mine would come on but do nothing without the mic.

[philzilla]

ok so heres the deal, i tried it directly to my battery and it worked, someone mentioned hooking it up to it, what precautions do you need to take if you want to hook it up that way,

also, my final option would be to hook it up to the stereo

MAYBE the cigarette ligher wasnt getting it enough power ?

[philzilla]

ok guys thank you for all your help i got it all installed and it works great

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have the same radio and the same problem, what did you end up doing to fix it?

[Black06S197]

You can hook it up straight to the battery, but you MUST remember to turn the CB off because it will always have power and nobody wants a dead battery.

[camodown]

You can hook it up straight to the battery, but you MUST remember to turn the CB off because it will always have power and nobody wants a dead battery.

They don't use much though, I've accidentally left mine on a few times over night and never had a problem, but I don't know if some use more power then others.

[Bill]

Parallel Polarity Protection


There is a diode between the positive and negative leads that is used to protect the radio, should someone decide to bypass the inline fuse and hook the radio up backwards. In fact, it is the diode the "shorts" the leads if you cross polarity. This short will blow the inline fuse. It is a cheap an inexpensive fix. It is just a matter of finding someone to replace it if you aren't capable of doing it yourself.

[85_Ranger4x4]

I am pretty sure I got the wiring right, but the dumb thing just won't turn on. Tomorrow I am going to check the antenea ground and see if that helps.

[philzilla]

I am pretty sure I got the wiring right, but the dumb thing just won't turn on. Tomorrow I am going to check the antenea ground and see if that helps.

try connecting straight to the battery, or make sure your wires have a clean connection

[85_Ranger4x4]

I got it going a long time ago, I had by some stupid move reversed the wires (yeah I know I was almost positive I had them right) and popped the fuse. Wired it up right and it still works great. Thanks for your help anyway though.

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