I need CB to be on with Ignition Off

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by Makeajump, Jul 19, 2019.

  1. Makeajump

    Makeajump Medium Load Member

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    I changed trucks now am in a '17 Pete 579. The Ignition has to be on for the CB to be on, I need the CB Power to be hot all the time so I can hear it without the key being on.... I looked at the fuse panel to see if I could change it there, but don't see a circuit for the CB. Anybody know the easy way to get the CB Power Wire to be hot all the time? The fuse panel was found behind the clutch. It has a diagram identifying the fuses, but CB isn't listed. It appears to be a factory installed power wire, but I can't find where it originates. Any body here know how to put it on an always hot circuit without having to run a new power wire?
     
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  3. buddyd157

    buddyd157 Road Train Member

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    cb is not always marked on a fuse panel. you can try the curtousey lights/dome light circut, or power accessories circut or cig lighter circut. many cb's wiring in the over head console have a contunious hot wire. mine did. you need a test light, to check for hot wires.
     
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  4. Makeajump

    Makeajump Medium Load Member

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    Ok I’ll check that....Thanks!
     
  5. jessejamesdallas

    jessejamesdallas Road Train Member

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    Just run the power wires from the CB straight to the battery...problem solved.
     
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  6. Makeajump

    Makeajump Medium Load Member

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    Right. Easier said than done. It’s built in wiring. I was hoping for the easy solution. I would like to find the end of the wire and move it to a always hot circuit. Thanks!
     
  7. OldeSkool

    OldeSkool Road Train Member

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    Makes your radio work better too. I always do that.
     
  8. Lowboy456

    Lowboy456 Light Load Member

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    One solution I found was to buy a short wire with a fuseable link. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Painless-Wiring-Fusible-Link-70438/282652366181?epid=236658358&hash=item41cf64d565:g:ga4AAOSwLmlbNEB2
    Then find a 12V power source in the panel or elsewhere that stays hot with the key off.
    With proper connector on the end of the fuse link I make it hot with the empty power source in the fuse panel.

    Then take the CB fuse out of the panel and plug the other end of the all time hot fuseable link into the side that is not hot with the switch on.

    I did it that way because I wanted my banana jacks to work in the dedicated CB area without having to run new wires up to the overhead console.
     
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2019
    Makeajump Thanks this.
  9. Makeajump

    Makeajump Medium Load Member

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    3E8C99A4-C1B0-450B-BCD6-4B135F6D3A3E.jpeg

    I pulled it out and found 3 wires. Ground, hot always, and ignition switched. I moved the cb hot wire over to the orange always hot and “problem solved”....Thanks all.
     
  10. sixmark

    sixmark Bobtail Member

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    If your running any kind of power on your radio I would suggest a thicker gauge wire. The wires you found orange/black/red seem to be a carryover from the days when some of the radios had memory options.
     
  11. skellr

    skellr Road Train Member

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    Modern radios will remember preset settings even if they are disconnected from power. well, most of them. Cheap Cobra radios won't...
     
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