I'm using a hand held midland 75-785 CB Hand Held transceiver. I had to unit plugged into the cigarret lighter. When I key the unit, the computer in the jeep goes spastic (dash light flash, windshield wipers start, warning lights for air bags come on, radio resets). I am using he small antenna which came with the unit and plugs in by a bnc connector. I had the unit located next to the passenger side window.
I don't use cb's much, but do use it in the field. Any idea's on this (maybe the transceiver is bad or its the jeep not well shielded)?

 

Have you tried the same test w/o being plugged into the cigarret lighter? Was the antenna outside the vehicle? I wish I had an answer as a few of us have been fighting a similar issue with our HAM radios.

 

nice a ghost in a box

 

I'll give it a try just using batteries.

 

Are you using the switched power or the non-switched power. The switched power outlet (drivers side) you will get problems when you transmit. I used this outlet with a small handheld when I first got the jeep and when transmitting everything went nuts. I used the non-switched power (passenger side) which has larger wire and a better connection the the battery and the hand held worked fine.

Remember when you use one of these small units and broadcast inside the jeep most of the RF stays in the jeep and you can drive the ECU in the center console nuts.

 

Not sure which one I had it plugged into. I think it did it on both plugs, but will confirm.

 

Well, tested the uit again:
1. batteries - no apparent problem (xmit in car)
2. aux pwr (left) plug - when plugged in, sometimes (50%) cpu goes spastic
3. cig pwr (right) plug - when plugged in, usually (90%) cpu goes spastic
4. cig pwr (right)lug - when plugged in and xmit outside of car, cpu goes spastic

conclusion: need a filtering device on the power cable (or a bigger battery on the transceiver), or maybe a direct connect to the car battery?

 

Try a better ground. I've run a regular CB ( external anttena) from the cig lighter power without any problem, but I have a seperate ground.
Tom

 

i run my tweaked cobra 29 off the cig lighter (right) wiring. No problems with it. Somethin is up with the radio! (i also have a midland hand held that doesnt give me problems)