After installing the antenna (Firestik II) and mount (SS mount from Quadratec which includes the FirestiK cable w/ "Fire Ring" fully assembled) while tuning the antenna my entire electrical system would go haywire when I would key-up -the dash lights would go on and off, radio resets, lights blink, chimes.... I could key-up ok 2-3 times before it would happen. I was getting around 1.8 on the SWR meter. The CB is a Midland 75-882 connected to the 12v socket.

Any Ideas??

Thanks!
R7

 

Run your power directly to the batteries.

Disconnect the antenna and key it BREIFLY, does it do the same thing?

Post pics of your antenna mount.



i doubt either are your problem but we need to start there.

 

Also try to get the swr down as low as possible. Loose RF "floating" around (being reflected) and not going out through the antenna, has a tendency to grab ahold of things. When your swr goes down it may get a little better.

 

The Jeep owner's manual says connect the CB directly to the battery to avoid interference with the Jeep's systems.

 

x2 on the direct hookup to battery. You can get away with grounding to the body/frame, but you definitely want positive direct from the battery. Try running a wire in the window first to test before you go penetrating the firewall and sweating over it.
1.8-1 isn't a bad swr, but it isn't great either.

 

I checked continuity in all places. Everything is fine going off of the Firestik diagrams.

I guess I'l have to hard-wire it.

Could I have done any damage to my electrical system??? It shorted out 3-4 times....

Whats the best rout to hard-wire this thing?

Thanks for all the replies!

R7

 

Sounds like you have a ground problem. Don't use the cig lighter for power...go direct to the battery.

Also double check the FireRing...they are known to have issues shorting out. Best way to test is to unscrew from radio, take a multimeter and put one lead on the screw on connector and other lead on center pin. You should have no continuity between the two....if you do there is a short somewhere.

 

Clears throat

 

sometimes I swear half the people never read any of the posts before they decide to......

 

Empty out some of your PM's dave. Your full.

and yes.....