Should be easy then, if I remember correctly the Red is the power, attach that
to the accessory point on your fuse block, should be marked, what year is your
Dakota?? The Orange should be attached to a point that always has power. The
easiest would be to get a crimp set with spade connectors that will plug in
like your fuses. For this, the easiest would be to get a test light with the
clip and a pin, clip one end to ground and then the probe end into the fuse
box and test the plug in points for which one has power all the time and which
one is turned on with the key. When you get your CB installed, the SWR
(Standing Wave Ratio) needs to be set on the antenna. I have used the antenna
you have indicated, worked ok for me. You need an SWR meter to set the as low
as possible by adjusting the top whip above the coil. You can purchase the
meter from Radio Shack for what looks like $30 or maybe for a small fee they
might set you up, depends on the store and if the staff know what they are
doing.
I found the following on the Radio Shack web page
> Using Vehicle Battery Power
>
> You can power this CB from your vehicle's battery or from standard AC power
> with an optional DC power supply. For information on using AC power, see
> "Using the CB as a Base Station."
>
> Follow these steps to power the CB from your vehicle's battery.
>
> 1. Connect the black wire to your vehicle battery's negative (-) terminal
> or to a metal part of the vehicle's frame that is not insulated from
> the frame by a plastic part.
>
> 2. Connect the red wire, with in-line fuse, to a source of voltage that
> turns on and off with the ignition switch, such as a spare accessory
> terminal in your vehicle's fuse box.
>
> 3. Connect the orange wire, with in-line fuse, to a source of voltage that
> supplies constant positive (+) power, or directly to your vehicle's
> positive (+) battery terminal. This connection is for last-channel
> memory backup.
>
>
>
at the following address
Good luck and enjoy.
DakotaRebel wrote:
> Thanks for the replies :o)
>
> Actually, it's a Radio Shack model (TRC-444) 3 wires (black ground, red and
> orange powered) as it does have the memory feature. (figured it would make
> a decent starting place) The fuses are already inline on the wires. As for
> the antenna, it's another from RadioShack
> (http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=C
> TLG%5F001%5F002%5F004%5F000&product%5Fid=21%2D994) - have it already mounted
> to the roof of my cab right in the middle at the back. I'm a little
> skeptical at having to run a line from my battery into the cab - seems like
> something I should leave to someone with more than a little experience! But
> gladly the radio has not been modified from the original Radio Shack stock,
> so I'm hoping I won't have to do this at least until I have some more
> knowledge of my truck's electrical system.
>
> The ground wire sounds the easiest to deal with - it's the others I worry
> about. I'm looking to install the radio so that I do need the key to power
> it - just like my stereo system.
>
> Thanks again guys!
>
> ~ lora
> -------------------------------------------------------
> DakotaRebel
> DakotaRebel98@yahoo.com AIM: RebelFrst
> http://www.geocities.com/DakotaRebel98/
> -------------------------------------------------------
> Rebel - 1998 Dakota Sport, Deep Amethyst. 2WD, V6 auto
> Flowmaster Dual Exhaust, Mopar Roll Bar, Bed Rails, Drop In Liner,
> KC Lights, Kenwood 10 Disc CD Changer & Stereo, Boston
> Acoustics Speakers
>
> "Car37" <englehart@Sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> news:3BF2D709.1B864EB2@sympatico.ca...
> > There should only be two, maybe 3 wires if it has a memory. A ground or
> > negative, should be black, power(12v) should have a fuse in line and
> should be
> > red or white, you hook to power, either the accessory line from you fuse
> box or
> > always powered if you do not want to have to have the key on when using
> and
> > maybe one the is always powered to save your channel setting. The ground
> should
> > just to to the frame, and some shops also install a fuse on the ground,
> but you
> > don't need to. The power and memory line should be plugged into the fuse
> box
> > with a spade connector and there should be a place for this, if not you
> will
> > have to run a new line from the battery. I would avoid splicing into the
> wiring
> > harness for power and make sure you use a fuse at the battery and inside
> the cab
> > for the radio. Insure you do not hook the radio up backwards, there is
> > protection diode that is suppose to blow the fuse to protect the CB from
> reverse
> > current but often you end up blowing something in the radio. What kind of
> radio
> > is it, if it is a realistic or Cobra, the power wires should be a plug and
> you
> > should be able to go to Radioshack or other electronic store and get
> replacement
> > wires for the radio and they should be able to help you with what wires to
> go
> > where. If the radio has been modified to transmit high power (wattage),
> it
> > would be best to run a new wire from the battery. That is what I did for
> mine,
> > I soldered a heavy gage wire with 30 amp fuse at the battery into the cab
> and
> > then attached the CB, cell phone, and extra accessory plugs with there
> > individual rated fuses to this wire. I do not have any pics scanned in
> yet.
> > Email me and let me know what you have and I will see what we can get
> done.
> > What kind of antenna do you have with it, the antenna also makes a big
> > difference with a CB and is often the item that is not thought of, a cheap
> > antenna can cause many problems.
> >
> > DakotaRebel wrote:
> >
> > > Well, I'll admit... I'm much more mechanically inclined than electrical,
> and
> > > the thought of messing around with my truck's wiring is enough to give
> me
> > > goosebumps... but I've got to learn sometime I 'spose.
> > >
> > > Just bought a CB radio online, and sitting here looking at the
> instructions
> > > they are rather vague. That combined with an inate fear of cutting
> wires in
> > > my cab and going near anything that runs to the battery...well, without
> help
> > > I'm lost :o) Any one willing to help me out and tell me *really* how to
> > > install this puppy? If anyone has pictures from their installation from
> the
> > > wiring end, I would be forever grateful :o)
> > >
> > > thanks in advance!
> > > ~ lora
> > >
> > > -------------------------------------------------------
> > > DakotaRebel
> > > DakotaRebel98@yahoo.com AIM: RebelFrst
> > > http://www.geocities.com/DakotaRebel98/
> > > -------------------------------------------------------
> > > Rebel - 1998 Dakota Sport, Deep Amethyst. 2WD, V6 auto
> > > Flowmaster Dual Exhaust, Mopar Roll Bar, Bed Rails, Drop In Liner,
> > > KC Lights, Kenwood 10 Disc CD Changer & Stereo, Boston
> > > Acoustics Speakers
> >
> > --
> > Shawn Englehart
> > www.geocities.com/englehrt
> > http://www.dakota-truck.net/profiles/dakota/Yfz3JVR3VIJnE/profile.htm
> >
> >
--Shawn Englehart return email: englehart@sympatico.ca www.geocities.com/englehrt http://www.dakota-truck.net/profiles/dakota/Yfz3JVR3VIJnE/profile.htm
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