CB Radio Install - where to wire?

[PyrPatriot]

I have been searching and cannot determine where the red/positive power wire from the CB radio goes to. I have read there are ground nuts for the black wire, but if I dont have the aux switch package what wire and where do I connect for power?

also can I test the radio before installing it? Bought a used Cobra 75 for $30. Owner said everything lit up but the microphone didnt work. Which was odd because everything looked like it was still packaged in the box

Sponsored

 

[kd1yt]

If you are new to wiring things in, this will be the best $29 you will ever spend, to get yourself a "+" point of connection for a CB:

https://www.quadratec.com/p/quadrat...De4ChuO-GMPVKpaTg_8YjxZdXe_8Dd_MaAh_CEALw_wcB

Still not a bad idea to connect the negative to a point of connection on the chassis, it tends to help reduce noise generated from vehicle electronics from getting into the radio.

 

[wannajeep]

Yes you can test it before installing it by connecting it to a your battery (make sure there's an inline fuse on the + side, or ideally, on both + and - sides), and make sure your antenna is connected and installed. Don't transmit without the antenna connected because you'll risk damaging the transmitter if there's nowhere for the energy to go.

For permanent installation, the quick and easy route would be the 12 V accessory socket (do they still call those cigarette lighter sockets?), you just need to put the appropriate plug on the end of the CB wires.

For a better install (clean power, no wires showing) bring + and - wires through the firewall and connect directly to the battery (again, always use inline fuses very close to the battery), but getting through the firewall can be a pain. On the JK there was a rubber grommet you could access from the engine bay, in the driver's side corner, where the windshield washer fluid hose went through. I'd guess there's something similar on the JT. You could carefully drill or cut out a section in the grommet for the CB power wires to go through. Fishing the wires down into the cab isn't easy and there's almost no room to work under the dash. There are some sharp metal edges there so you should put some plastic conduit/sleeve material around the wires. This stuff is available at the usual auto parts stores.

 

[SoCalGladiator]

Happy New Years Jeep friends. Here is my CB and CB antenna install. Took only a couple of hours and was around $250.

Sponsored