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[PJAYUK]

Hi all

I am a new to all of this so be gentle!

I have just bought my first Jeep its a 2006 Cherokee, 3.7 LTD.  Lovely car so much better than my Discovery or Mercedes ML, in fact its so nice I am avoiding my usual tendency to start taking the tools to it and fitting all manner of aftermarket gear...

One thing I am looking to install is my CB radio.  Its not the usual run of the mill rig though being a large "multimode" that I use for long distance communications.  The radio (Ranger 2970DX) pushes around 150 Watts of output and needs a pretty hefty power supply the manual recommends connection directly to the battery.  I am not planning to do a permanent install just yet as I don't want to drill the dash etc so I am going to mount the radio on a board which I will use to slide between the passenger seat and centre console (--> like this ). This also allows me to remove the radio and use it in my other vehicle when required.

My question relates to powering the radio, as this is a temporary installation I want to avoid permanent connection to the battery or wiring loom.  The Jeep manual suggests that the rear AUX socket is directly connected to the battery so this seems like a great solution.  I am planning to use a simple cigar lighter plug to connect the radio up to this supply, as this appears to be connected directly to the battery it seems like the best way to provide power on a temp basis...

I just wanted to check with you more knowledgeable owners that this approach seems reasonable and wont cause my new car any damage!

Any advice is therefore very gratefully accepted!

[Panic mechanic!]

you need to find out how many amps everything will draw from the battery, generally 12v power supply will only power up to 5 amps so check that first.

[Nosebolt]

cant see any problems with the install in that article, the only thing I would change is to use a slide mount on the added back board so the rig can be removed easily without fiddling with wires every time

[PJAYUK]

According to the manual for the Ranger radio it says that it draws 18 amps at full power, so I am thinking that this would be too much and could do damage...

And good advice about the slide mount that would indeed make life much easier thanks....

[Panic mechanic!]

it will need a more direct power source as the wiring won't take that draw and it will burn thru.

[PJAYUK]

Thats what I thought, could be a leisure battery in the boot then!

[Nosebolt]

why not upgrade the power point from a cigarette type to an Anderson and then you can rewire with suitable cable and have whatever rating you want, these go quite small this one is 50 amps and would make a very usable upgrade, as a supply for air pump, fridge etc.

[PJAYUK]

I like that idea but its not something I would want to tackle myself.  Can you recommend anywhere in the south east that could it for me?

Must kill the battery double quick though running something like a fridge, dont you need to keep the engine running???

[Nosebolt]

wrong side for me, I'm south west, a few over your side might know someone but get the plugs your self and contact a auto electrician rest will be easy

[tim_aka_tim]

Both fag lighters have a 20A fuse, so just do it as you wanted to originally, you can draw
240 Watts.

[Mike Pavelin]

  The existing sockets are rated at 20A.

[Panic mechanic!]

if its 150 watts then it should draw no more than 12.5 amps I would check the wiring personally on the back of one of the sockets before putting that thru it.