CB Hole/Exhaust Concerns

[Adam A]

Hey All,

Very new to the forum, but I need some help and thought this would be the best place to go to.

I'm installing a CB on my 05' Ranger 4x4 automatic XLT and am mounting the antenna on the hood (off to the side). I want to run both the power cables for the radio and the antenna through the firewall to make it look neat.

I was thinking about drilling into the rubber grommet with the other dashboard cables (to the top left of the breaks) and feeding both through. I would then recaulk the gap with silicone. Would that be acceptable? Could it let in exhaust or other nasty stuff into the cab?

Adam

PS - I'm also wondering about connecting it the the battery. I have an auxillary horn connected direct to the battery and have confirmed I can do the same with my CB radio. Does it matter whether I put a plastic washer between the two? Can the two ring wire connectors touch?

 

[RonD]

No that would be fine just make sure there is nothing on the other side of the firewall.

Also have a look at the emergency brake cable, there is often room in that grommet hole for extra stuff.

There is already power in the cab, key on power or key off(24/7) power, check fuse panel both types will be there, and both types are fused in the engine fuse box, with 40 or 60amp, so safe to use, but for sure install an inline fuse between Radio and any power source, even if it is fused already.

The Power Point(like cigarette lighter) has 20amp fuse, and is 24/7 power

 

[Adam A]

No that would be fine just make sure there is nothing on the other side of the firewall.

Also have a look at the emergency brake cable, there is often room in that grommet hole for extra stuff.

There is already power in the cab, key on power or key off(24/7) power, check fuse panel both types will be there, and both types are fused in the engine fuse box, with 40 or 60amp, so safe to use, but for sure install an inline fuse between Radio and any power source, even if it is fused already.

The Power Point(like cigarette lighter) has 20amp fuse, and is 24/7 power

I've heard that wiring into the fuse box adds some extra noise. Is this a myth? Also, how would I wire direct into the fuse box? Just with a tap?

Thanks again for the help and sorry for the rookie questions!

 

[4x4junkie]

No problem on the questions...
Welcome to TRS

Yes, it's true connecting to the fuse box might prove noisy on a 2-way radio (and might not be a sufficiently robust power source for some radios anyway, SSB units in particular).

Best way I've found for wiring a 2-way radio is to run the positive lead straight to the battery (use a fuse sized appropriately for your radio at the battery... most CB units will take a 3-5 amp fuse), then find the nearest ground point for the radio's negative lead (a bolt holding the seat or steering column, for example) and ground the radio to that. Wiring to the battery should be no smaller than 14 AWG.

×2 on the grommets... The one for the p-brake cable has a good bit of room around it to poke some wires thru, or perhaps there might also be a nice big one for the clutch master cylinder that you don't have, which you could run your wiring thru there also.