getting ready for SWP GEN LEE wiring question.

[BigBlue 442]

[ external image ]
OK this is the way I plan to run everything. I just want the experts to let me know if I have missed anything.
I will add pics of the final job when I get it done.Just as soon as the G Lee gets here...

[BigBlue 442]

Just as a side note I have run 1/4 braided cable from the cab to the frame at two points and checked all other factory ground straps. All seems to be good to go. I use a meter to check that they were all doing their job. Needless to say cab is ground 110%.I also have 1/4 braided cable running to the ground off my frame so that it slaps the road as I drive(may not be needed but I like the way it looks). My antenna is a mag mount Wilson 5000. It may seem like over kill but I want the job I do hooking this up to be as good of a job as Mike does setting up my G Lee.

[danoj77]

So you have a ground strap that is connected to your frame that is rubbing on the ground/road??

I don't know what that will do exactly. But buses and other big vehicles have chains hanging down that rub across the ground and this keeps static down so that when fueling up you don't get a spark and go boom.

[BigBlue 442]

sorry it was part truth and part inside joke. As I was adding the ground straps from the frame to the cab when a friend of mine that drives a Big Rig ask me if that was what I was doing with the 1/4 cable. So I told him I liked the way it looked (one end was not attacked yet and hanging down). Guess I should have left that part out. So other than the static draggier hows the wire setup look?

[QuickSilver 112]

nice pic wrks for me

[danoj77]

LOL

Ok,

Yeah looks good, but in my opinion you don't need to run your negative wire all the way to the battery. Just ground it out as close as you can to the frame or body. And of course run ground straps all over the place...

[SlowNeasy]

I would Fuse each side..!

Reason - I had my car battery (older type with a green dot, etc.) short out one time and because both sides were grounded I didn't loose my CB t a FRY but did loose every lamp in the vehicle, my computer brain, and my am/fm radio...

All fried..!

Just an extra protection...

SlowNeasy

[Shaft]

There's no need to fuse the negative side. Running two fuses is the right thing to do. One of them needs to be as close to the battery as you can get it. The other next to the radio.

[danoj77]

That Means I need to install another fuse....
What amp fuse would be recommended?? Same as radio's?

[Loudmouth]

Hey BigBlue,

Just my two cents ....

I ran 10ga wire for my General. It might be a little overkill, but you don't want to starve that radio of power.

The quick disconnects aren't really needed since the wiring harness that will come with the radio plugs (and unplugs) into the back.

Run that neg wire straight to the battery just like you have it shown.

So long as the bracket that holds the radio is screwed into metal, you probably won't need that extra ground strap from the radio.

Grounding is good, and doesn't hurt anything and a lot of guys say ground ground ground .... the fact is (and this is from Mr. RA himself) if you don't have a problem, why fix it? I didn't ground anything on my truck and I have ZERO engine noise, or any other noise for that matter. If I had noise, then I'd start grounding stuff .... but I saved myself a lot of time by waiting to see how it worked without it first. And it's FINE!

Good luck! You're gonna love that GL!!
LM

[Idaho Annie]

What size fuses should go on that positive side? I may as well buy 'em know...I wanna be ready to install my General as soon as it knocks on my door! (Well, I assume the UPS driver will knock on my door, not the radio itself, but you know what I mean)

Annie

[T1g3rEyz3]

My General Lee came with the power cord and in-line fuse in the same package. Yours will too. That's all that's needed unless you're gonna run an amp with it.

[Idaho Annie]

Thanks T1g3rEyz3, but aren't these guys talking about adding an extra fuse? You don't think I'll need it if I don't have an amp? Well, that makes life easier!

Annie

[Duck Commander]

no mam you shouldnt need another fuse and RA usually puts a bigger fuse in there to handle what the G. Lee
dishes out for ya

[T1g3rEyz3]

Not knocking the advice of the others, just stating what is needed. The guys on this forum are very knowledgeable, and have the best of intentions (setting your radio up so that you'll get top performance). However, as far as running power/ground lines, many often go overboard and over engineer. Kinda like loading a gun for bear, when you're going rabbit hunting. Adding extra fuses won't hurt anything and will provide extra protection in the event of an "emergency," but I doubt seriously you would see any benefit from it in your setup (barefoot radio).

I'm running a barefoot, SWP General Lee and am only using what RA sent me. Excellent RX/TX signal and no noise. I've been able to reach ~12-15miles loudly/clearly, which I've heard is hard for many radios to do with power.

As Duck Commander stated, you won't need anything other than what RA puts in the box, if you're running barefoot. Mr. RA takes good care of the members here and wouldn't steer anyone wrong. When/if you start thinking about running power, then you'll want to consider adding extra fuses (on positive and negative).

One other thing... as someone stated, you won't need the quick disconnect either - the plug is easy enough to disconnect at the radio itself - unless you plan to locate it where you can't easily reach the back of the radio.

[Loudmouth]

Also not knocking anyone else's advice ......... this is only my humble opinion ...

I didn't use an extra fuse either. In fact, at Mr. RA's advice, I didn't even bother using a fuse on the lines for the Dave Made. He said he never bothers, and that I didn't need one. (although I am thinking of adding one .... just in case ... )

You see, the only reason for putting a fuse close to the battery, as a lot of guys do, is in case the hot (red) wire shorts out to ground somehow, it will blow the fuse and terminate the connection. Now the only way it's gonna short to ground is if the insulation gets cut through some where along the way. If you run you wires correctly, this should never happen.

If you ...

Make sure to use rubber grommets where ever the wire(s) run through metal (i.e. the firewall) to keep them from getting chafed.

Use plastic flex shield over the wires where ever you can, especially under the hood.

Dress and secure the wires so they do not interfere with any moving parts, or move around.

Make sure the wire(s) aren't pinched by anything along the run.

.... then the chances of it shorting out are very slim. On the other hand, if you want to be safe, it doesn't hurt a thing to stick a fuse in there.

btw - since the Neg (black) wire is already connected to ground, it makes no sense (IMHO) to put a fuse on that wire.

LM

[oknaz]

I grounded my Galaxy 88 twice heavy Ga went to the steering colume mount and i have an extra ground from the radio chassis to the firewall . But my HOT is straight to the battery and it still has engine noise but i deal with it .

[Loudmouth]

I grounded my Galaxy 88 twice heavy Ga went to the steering column mount and i have an extra ground from the radio chassis to the firewall . But my HOT is straight to the battery and it still has engine noise but i deal with it .

oknaz,
Is your Neg (black) wire run to a metal ground? If so, run that sucker straight to the Neg post on the battery.

[BigBlue 442]

Thanks for all the great advise. I put the fuse at the battery for prep for an amp at some point. Also the quick disconnects are so I can move the radio from one vehicle to the next or even inside. I am kinda nuts about stuff like that I mean you never know when the trucks going to be in the shop. And I am waiting like an addict for this radio may have to make room for it next to my pillow for the first few nights after it gets here....OK maybe I shouldn't have typed that last part out loud, but I am sure you guys know how I feel.

[BigBlue 442]

OK its all done! Truck is all wired up as shown on diagram. Would have put up pics but there is nothing to see. All the wires run into the firewall through a factory wire boot then out under the dash to the center floorboard. Clean as a whistle the way I like it. I will put up pics once the G Lee is in to show off my work . I have also made a custom floor board mount for my radio and ext. speaker out of an easy to find removable center console(I didn't know I could just buy one). Now I am ready for the radio just 13 days 10 hours 25 min for the radio to be ready for me...... LOL

[Loudmouth]

Wicked funny Frank .... and yes ... we do know how you feel.

[Idaho Annie]

Ummmm I'd say something but some places are best left unexplored...heh

Annie

[BigBlue 442]

Hey I told Mike on another post that I would dance at his next birthday party wearing a tutu and singing I'm a little teapot if it would get my radio here sooner. AND I WILL DO IT TOO if you are listen Mr.RADIOACTIVE!!! I will wait as I want him to take all the time he needs. although the thought of me in a tutu might send him into a working frenzy as he tries to get the picture out of his mind.

[Loudmouth]

Ummmm I'd say something but some places are best left unexplored...heh

Annie

Awww go ahead and spill it .... no secrets here ..

[T1g3rEyz3]

OK its all done! Truck is all wired up as shown on diagram. Would have put up pics but there is nothing to see. All the wires run into the firewall through a factory wire boot then out under the dash to the center floorboard. Clean as a whistle the way I like it. I will put up pics once the G Lee is in to show off my work . I have also made a custom floor board mount for my radio and ext. speaker out of an easy to find removable center console(I didn't know I could just buy one). Now I am ready for the radio just 13 days 10 hours 25 min for the radio to be ready for me...... LOL

I've got my General Lee in a metal police radio console - real clean install, on an angle and only the face is showing. I added a big pocket in front of the radio, which can be removed should I need/want to add additional equipment. I need to take some pics of it one day, for posterity.