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White COE Positive Ground

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by Powder Joints, Aug 14, 2014.

  1. Aug 14, 2014 #1
    Powder Joints

    Powder Joints Subjective Prognosticator

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    I installed a Cobra 148 into a old White COE. Mounted a plywood board, then the radio to it being careful not to allow anything metal from the radio to come in contact with the tractor. Positive red wire to the frame, black negative to the fuse box with a fuse, also added diodes to both leads for added protection.

    The antenna I used id a 4' Shakespeare made for marine, no ground needed. Wrapped the mirror bracket with a rubber inter-tube piece.

    Amazingly enough SWR 1.2 on 1.3 on 40. Seems to talk, air check about 4 miles away.

    Anyone else run into weird situations installing radios.
     
    Powder Joints, Aug 14, 2014
    Powder Joints, Aug 14, 2014
    #1
    Neverready Thanks this.
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  3. Aug 14, 2014 #2
    Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Yep, I have a landrover which is positive ground, I had to isolate the am/fm radio in order to install it.
     
    Ridgeline, Aug 14, 2014
    Ridgeline, Aug 14, 2014
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    Neverready Thanks this.
  4. Aug 20, 2014 #3
    Neverready

    Neverready Medium Load Member

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    My Grandfather's 69 and 71 frieghtliners were positive ground. I didn't pay much attention to the wiring of the radios at the time. I have wondered about that in recent years as I keep the idea of finding a freightliner of that vintage to restore some day. Thanks for shedding some light on the subject.
     
    Neverready, Aug 20, 2014
    Neverready, Aug 20, 2014
    #3
  5. Aug 21, 2014 #4
    Powder Joints

    Powder Joints Subjective Prognosticator

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    Rosamond, SoCal
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    The old commercial Radios like Motorola Motrac thru Syntor radios had conversions from positive, also did the GE Masters and RCA . When transistor under dash came along out the window went radios that could actually switch between positive and negative ground.

    There as a negative to positive ground converter available back in the day, but you'd be hard pressed to find one now.

    There were some of the music radios that could be switched, one of them were made by Bowman Industries in Downey, CA.

    Now all we can do is isolate the radio or convert the truck to negative ground.
     
    Powder Joints, Aug 21, 2014
    Powder Joints, Aug 21, 2014
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    Neverready Thanks this.
  7. Aug 22, 2014 #5
    Neverready

    Neverready Medium Load Member

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    I do have a 6 to 12 volt converter I bought for my 38 Chevy years ago I seem to recall it could be used positive or negative ground it is very light duty only about 6 amps. I got it with the thought of putting a radio in the 38.
     
    Neverready, Aug 22, 2014
    Neverready, Aug 22, 2014
    #5
  8. Aug 22, 2014 #6
    Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    They still make them ... I forgot about it.

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/231304735108?lpid=82

    The only issue may be with the antenna but with the right isolator (converter) it won't be an issue.
     
    Ridgeline, Aug 22, 2014
    Ridgeline, Aug 22, 2014
    #6
  9. Aug 23, 2014 #7
    Neverready

    Neverready Medium Load Member

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    Dug out a Realistic TRC 418 cb radio.. According to label on back it was designed for either positive or negative ground. Hooked it up to power supply and dipole, it still receives but no modulation so needs to be checked out. Manual is long gone so don't know yet what would have to be done to use it on positive ground system, Always used it on negative ground vehicles back in the eightys. Likely I never noticed the pos. or neg. label at the time just took it out of box and hooked it up.
     
    Neverready, Aug 23, 2014
    Neverready, Aug 23, 2014
    #7
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