How or why does a linear-amp cause a truck to burn down

[Rebel Patriot]

How does a linear amplifier or similar device installed in a truck cause it to catch fire?

I've heard stories about it, but never any real info on it.

I'm assuming a decent installation. Direct to battery or fuse panel, heavy gauge wire, fused and grounded. Good air circulation on linear or CB w/internal amp.

Tips? Suggestions? (besides don't do it)

[Carolina Thunder]

Poor ground or a hot wire rubbing the plastic off and arcing on metal will do it. I almost burnt up the inside of a 95 Chev truck because of that very thing!

[tiredtruckdriver]

Originally Posted by Rebel Patriot

How does a linear amplifier or similar device installed in a truck cause it to catch fire?

I've heard stories about it, but never any real info on it.

I'm assuming a decent installation. Direct to battery or fuse panel, heavy gauge wire, fused and grounded. Good air circulation on linear or CB w/internal amp.

Tips? Suggestions? (besides don't do it)

Most problems with installing amps, people don't use big enough wire to hook it up. They also don't fuse them properly.

My tip to you is to find a qualified shop to do the install for you, that is how I have always done it.
They know, how to do it, and what to use to do it with.

[AB8RU]

As a Amateur Radio Operator RF Amplifiers uses a Heavy Gauge Wire but some of you people probably heard some of us hams who drop in advise you on the Rules and Regs but I will say anything over 4 watts on AM is a No No !

Engineering wise a 100 Watt Amplifier improperly wired, installed etc will cease to function properly ranging from wires catching fire because of a fuse was bypassed ( Number one problem ) a internal short in the Amp itself, another and also someone gets into the amp not knowing the correct proceedures in setting it up will actually cause the Tubes or Transistors to fail.

a Amplifier CAN and WILL go into what we Techs call Self Oscillation and the tubes will self destruct.


Yes we do reccomend anyone wanting to get into the Hobby of Amateur Radio about getting a License, you may have heard it before , but before you launch off heres the trade off ..

Since 2007 the FCC eliminated the CW or 5 wpm MORSE CODE REQUIREMENT getting a Technician Class ticket just got easier the exam consist around 25 Questions in Electronics Theory, FCC Rules, Radio stuff.

If you pass at 72% you now only wait approx 1 week for a license.


Well it gets better you have several channnels ranging from 50 Mhz to microwave and for HF you get 28.300 Mhz USB to 28.500 Mhz Voice ONLY.

to run that 10 Meter Section full band requires the next step General Class again more theory , rules, and another exam , pass that and you get 28.300 Mhz to 29.700 Mhz Voice By the way CW Section is 28.000 Mhz to 28.300 Mhz.

FYI I operated on SSB someplace talking less than 25 PEP USB to Grand Turk Island.


This is a Invitation to try Ham Radio I can run a Channel on 2 Meters at 5 watts mobile to mobile and not be bothered by someone .


the Technology is constant change and BTW there are truckers in the 20 Meter band around 14Mhz I can talk Legally all over the USA, CANADA and right now the Band openings you will hear on CB .


Also did I metion that Electronics can be fun ? as well a Career ?


you may be able to run that amp legally on 10 Meters but not on 11 M CB


Licensed on Ham since 1993 was on CB since 1968
Commercial licensed 1976