A friend of mine in the USA has recently bought a Linear Amplifier to boost the power of his CB radio.
Thing is he knows absolutely nothing about CBs and could really do with some help wiring the thing up.
The model he has bought is a Zetagi B300P
I spoke with him on the telephone on Saturday and he was asking me if I could help him??
Now I don’t know Jack about CBs so I thought I would put you lot to the test.
I am aware that Linear Amplifiers are illegal to use in this country and that the CB radio is limited to a maximum of 4 watts, I don’t think knowing the info is illegal or passing it on.
My friend just needs some help.
He’s asked me whether the thing can be wired to a dropper?
Does it need powering direct from a 12v battery? If so why?
Should there be in-line fuses?
What are the hazards of wiring the amp directly to the trucks dropper?
A detailed explanation of how these things should be connected would be a great help to a good friend, unfortunately my friend is not contactable through email so any information can be emailed directly to me or posted here providing the moderator allows it.
He’s asked me whether the thing can be wired to a dropper?
Yes, but the Zetagi B300P is a 300w linear, with 300w on FM that would draw a peak current of around 35amps. I dread to think just how much a 24v to 12v DC/DC converter would be with that rating.
Does it need powering direct from a 12v battery? If so why?
That’s the best way, with cable capable of carrying 40amps.
Should there be in-line fuses?
Yes, preferably on both + and -.
What are the hazards of wiring the amp directly to the trucks dropper?
Fire!!
A detailed explanation of how these things should be connected would be >a great help to a good friend, unfortunately my friend is not contactable >through email so any information can be emailed directly to me or >posted here providing the moderator allows it.
With a linear of this size installation is best left to someone that know how to do it right
Well I run a 100w burner on my rig…I just have it wired to my 12v terminals in my Mack and it works fine? My range went from about 5 miles to about 15-20 miles?
Bully:
Well I run a 100w burner on my rig…I just have it wired to my 12v terminals in my Mack and it works fine? My range went from about 5 miles to about 15-20 miles?
Bully
The 100w linear probably needs around 10amps, I guess the DC/DC converter on the Mack could be rated at that. What else do you have that runs on 12v? Phone, radio, CD player etc.? Do the lights on those dim when you transmit with the CB? If they do your exceeding the current limits of the converter…
Further thoughts on this though, as most modern trucks are fitted with several computers and a multitude of electronics I would be more concerned about a high powered CB interfering with the safe operation of the truck! Even on my car the indicators go faster with only 10w from a transmitter -worrying!!
Martin…lol…if you know anything about Mack trucks then you would know that we are talking THE DARK AGES!!! as with most American trucks they are 15 years behind anything in Europe…and yes the lights are always dim…like the guys that design this garbage.
Bully:
Martin…lol…if you know anything about Mack trucks then you would know that we are talking THE DARK AGES!!! as with most American trucks they are 15 years behind anything in Europe…and yes the lights are always dim…like the guys that design this garbage.
A friend of mine runs his burner of similar size direct to his 12v socket in the cab, his lights dim a little when modulating but no fires upto now! You should be OK wiring direct to the vehicle dropper if fitted!
