Power source for radio

Night Stalker10 · Apr 8, 2023

jdchet said: ↑

Slowmover got tossed off this forum and others. Tended to get a little too wound up regarding politics. It's a shame because he did have good info on installs in different company trucks.

JD
Click to expand...

Oh, sorry to hear that.

dltdamien · Apr 8, 2023

jdchet said: ↑

Cascadia is easy as far as power is concerned. Mount radio on dash using stock radio mount and HD Velcro.
View attachment 462007
Different radio, same size.
Next, pull passenger side dash panel off to get to breaker panel. Hook power wires with proper ends and fuses to battery feeds on breaker panel.
View attachment 462008 View attachment 462009
This is much easier than trying to run power direct from the batteries, especially if your truck has the batteries mounted between the frame rails behind the cab like the truck I had.
The antenna system will take some care getting something decent. Freightliner Cascadia body panels are made of aluminum (not plastic, dummies!) and are bonded, not welded together. It makes getting a good RF ground a little more challenging! Ground doors to cab and cab to frame. Cab to frame is easily done by running a ground strap from top to bottom bolts of rear cab shocks.
View attachment 462011

These ground straps work well along with some star lock washers to bite into the paint.
Amazon.com
This is how I mounted the antenna......
View attachment 462012
The antenna mount is readily available at many truck stops. The antenna is a 6 foot Skipshooter. I never ran a piece of PVC on the bottom and it held up well. They will get real wild if you run into freezing rain a lot. Not found in most truckstops but Walcott does carry them.
Good luck in your endeavors!

JD
Click to expand...

Pulled the panel today to look at the terminals. They have orange glue around them. I don't know if it's a factory thing or something the company did to know if it was tampered with. It seems easily removable just with a pair of pliers.

Ridgeline · Apr 8, 2023

dltdamien said: ↑

Pulled the panel today to look at the terminals. They have orange glue around them. I don't know if it's a factory thing or something the company did to know if it was tampered with. It seems easily removable just with a pair of pliers.
Click to expand...

Factory

jdchet · Apr 8, 2023

I probably wouldn't worry about it unless your company is real anal about any mods to their trucks. What would @Ridgeline think? He does have a bit of experience on the management side........lol!

JD

dltdamien · Apr 8, 2023

jdchet said: ↑

I probably wouldn't worry about it unless your company is real anal about any mods to their trucks. What would @Ridgeline think? He does have a bit of experience on the management side........lol!

JD
Click to expand...

Well if they are super anal about it then a orange hot glue stick will solve everything.

dltdamien · Apr 9, 2023

jdchet said: ↑

Cascadia is easy as far as power is concerned. Mount radio on dash using stock radio mount and HD Velcro.
View attachment 462007
Different radio, same size.
Next, pull passenger side dash panel off to get to breaker panel. Hook power wires with proper ends and fuses to battery feeds on breaker panel.
View attachment 462008 View attachment 462009
This is much easier than trying to run power direct from the batteries, especially if your truck has the batteries mounted between the frame rails behind the cab like the truck I had.
The antenna system will take some care getting something decent. Freightliner Cascadia body panels are made of aluminum (not plastic, dummies!) and are bonded, not welded together. It makes getting a good RF ground a little more challenging! Ground doors to cab and cab to frame. Cab to frame is easily done by running a ground strap from top to bottom bolts of rear cab shocks.
View attachment 462011

These ground straps work well along with some star lock washers to bite into the paint.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000C7WSMY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
This is how I mounted the antenna......
View attachment 462012
The antenna mount is readily available at many truck stops. The antenna is a 6 foot Skipshooter. I never ran a piece of PVC on the bottom and it held up well. They will get real wild if you run into freezing rain a lot. Not found in most truckstops but Walcott does carry them.
Good luck in your endeavors!

JD
Click to expand...

Do you know of any pre-made power cord that will work or would I have to assemble and solder myself?

jdchet · Apr 9, 2023

No soldering necessary. Use crimp connections. They'll work fine. Your not dealing with a lot of power. I actually run my radio in the Volvo off the factory cb posts and it works fine. I did the Freightliner that way because that was the easiest way to power it on top of the dash.

JD

dltdamien · Apr 9, 2023

jdchet said: ↑

No soldering necessary. Use crimp connections. They'll work fine. Your not dealing with a lot of power. I actually run my radio in the Volvo off the factory cb posts and it works fine. I did the Freightliner that way because that was the easiest way to power it on top of the dash.

JD
Click to expand...

Okay, I found a pre-made on walcott didn't know if running 16 awg to the fuse terminal would work though. Seemed kind of overpriced as well.

dltdamien · Apr 10, 2023

dltdamien said: ↑

So if you've read my other threads you'll know I've purchased a anytone 5555 N II. I am currently a company driver and have a older truck that will be switched out sometime before the end of the year. I was going to use a cigarette lighter adapter with a 15 Amp fuse and figured that should suffice for now until I get in a newer truck I'll be in a while to run direct to battery. Will this work without popping fuses or damaging the radio? Bought a cigarette adapter with a 5 Amp fuse prior for my cobra but don't know if that will work with the at quad 5. Currently in a 2020 freight shaker. Company also has a no tolerance on altering equipment but they give some leway when it comes to cb set up as long as I can take out what I put in and don't drill any holes.
Click to expand...

Update everything ordered and on the way, radio and antenna came in today waiting on my mounting bracket and a couple other items. Both excited and intimidated will post pics once I'm finished setting it up whenever I get a chance to get home and get it done. Thanks everyone for all the advice and help really appreciate it.

jdchet · Apr 10, 2023

dltdamien said: ↑

Okay, I found a pre-made on walcott didn't know if running 16 awg to the fuse terminal would work though. Seemed kind of overpriced as well.
Click to expand...

If your radio came with the same power cord mine did it's already a HD power cord, probably better than the one you bought.

JD

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