Problems when installing CB...

[MudPlugger]

I've just finished fitting my CB after finding a spot in which I like, I've mounted it to the rear of the courtesy light on the plastic as I wanted to put it in a spot where it is visible and accessible from both sides.

Because I have mounted it there I have taken a feed from the courtesy light for the power source, now I have problems. Basically when I connected the cb up it blew the fuse checked the CB radio fuse and it was popped so I replaced it along with the interior light fuse plugged CB in again and yet again it went pop.

So I've replaced the interior light fuse witha 10A one. the interior light no longer goes pop...but I have no power to the CB, any ideas as to what it could be?

[piper5]

depending on the cb it will have an inline fuse or possibly an internal fuse, again depending on the rig they can draw from 10amp to 25 for a modded one with ssb. it really should have its own supply and good practice is to fuse the ground wire as well which helps against reverse polarity in the wires

[Disco Matt]

Having seen the wiring for the interior light I really wouldn't risk adding a CB to the load on it! Putting an uprated fuse in is not a good idea as it can cause the wire to melt, short, and/or catch fire before the fuse blows.

Do you have an electric sunroof? If not, you will probably still have the wiring harness in place for it which can be tapped into for the CB. I installed a new live feed and used the sunroof earth.

Mine is fed by the same fuse as the radio aerial motor. I've not altered the fuse at all and it has yet to blow.

[thermidorthelobster]

If the CB is popping BOTH fuses you need to work out what's wrong with it.  If the CB fuse is gone, then the interior light fuse won't go again because the CB is not drawing current from it.  If you then get the CB working again, and you've put a bigger fuse on the interior lights, then you may blow your interior lights wiring.

Once the CB's working, why not just run a fused +/- cable up the A post and above the head lining?

[lee celtic]

I made a steel mount a work so I could mount the rig in the middle of the dash . Looks good too

[sMUDge]

Not much help I'm afraid, but you could save yourself a lot of drama's  :D

I've got a hand held unit , with an external magnetic mount  :)   It simply plugs into the ciggy lighter to charge up & if I need to leave the vehicle (on a foot recce etc) I just unplug & take it with me  :D  Which means I still get comms with the rest of the group  :D

Plus for security (  ) when I'm not in the car, I can remove it  :D

[lee celtic]

when I'm not in the car, I can remove it

me too .... Slide mount ;)

[sMUDge]

when I'm not in the car, I can remove it

me too .... Slide mount ;)

Ah, but can you walk away from your vehicle & group & keep talking to them  ;)  :roll:   :D

[lee celtic]

Only in the pub :lol: :lol: :lol:

[sMUDge]

 :lol:   OK   :clap:    :lol:

[MudPlugger]

Do you have an electric sunroof? If not, you will probably still have the wiring harness in place for it which can be tapped into for the CB. I installed a new live feed and used the sunroof earth.

No I don't have the electric sunroof and I don't think I have the wiring harness in place, I have looked and all I have is the wiring for the lights and the wiring for the perimeter sensor or whatever it is (the blue plastic box type thing above the courtesy light)

So now I have holes in my roof and nowhere that I know to take a feed from, anyone know where I can get a live feed to tap into as I'm now looking to find somewhere else to mount it to make things easier...

As for the hand held CB...I think I will be getting one very soon if I can't get this to work properly the unit itself is working I stuck it straight on the battery earlier and it powered up fine so it's not the CB...just the sparky that's fiddling about with it I think 

[Disco Matt]

It isn't difficult to run a couple of wires up there - just unclip the A pillar trim and feed it behind the headlining. Wear gloves, as the fibreglass splinters are very annoying if they get into your skin!

[MudPlugger]

It isn't difficult to run a couple of wires up there - just unclip the A pillar trim and feed it behind the headlining. Wear gloves, as the fibreglass splinters are very annoying if they get into your skin!

Now how on earth do I do that...tried it this morning, fed the wires in a treat even found somewhere to take a live feed from...but haven't a clue how to get hold of the wires  :doh:

[Disco Matt]

I unscrewed the sun visor and the plastic map pocket trim. That gave enough "give" in the headlining to feed wires through. It can be annoying but you just have to keep trying. It helps if you straighten the wire first and look at how much you've fed in - that way you won't keep feeding wire in with no sign of it appearing at the other end!

[nzoliver]

Agreed!
Sunroof power is definately best! Plenty big current available. I wonder if you didn't reverse pol the CB? Has it an internal protection fuse? :-k

[MudPlugger]

Agreed!
Sunroof power is definately best! Plenty big current available. I wonder if you didn't reverse pol the CB? Has it an internal protection fuse? :-k

I don't have the sunroof harness, or I can't find it...take your pick.

I have had the visor thing off to have a look inside to see if I can find it but I can't see it, I took the A pillar cover off to see what wiring there was and I have got a huge amount of wire in there but I can't seem to track any of it back to there the sunroof should be.

As for reverse polarity, I think I could of but am not sure on that count, have checked the CB out straight from the battery and it works fine...although there didn't seem to be any sound coming out of it, though I might just be too thick to get it right :-k