CB install trouble

Just putting the finishing touches on my first CB install but am having an issue blowing fuses.

I have a Midland 1001lwx installed on the side of the console. Its connected to a 4' Firestick. Its wired positive to the battery and the negative to the ground for the inverter I side the console. I used an inline fuse holder near the battery and waited to add a fuse until everything was wired up. Inline fuse holder is 12ga wired via ring terminal to the positive battery terminal then spliced to a 16ga wire running i to the cab through the boot in the firewall and then to the radio.

Finished up install this evening and went to pop in a 3 amp fuse and as soon as I touched the contacts in the holder it popped. Repeated the process with a 5 amp just to see if it would blow too and again as soon as I touched the contacts in the fuse holder it smoked the 5 amp too.

I've double checked the connections and everything seems good. I cant figure out what the issue may be. This isn't my first automotive wiring project and have not had an issue before. Am I overlooking something basic? Suggestions on what to check? This is pretty dang basic but I am obviously missing something.

Thanks!

 

Can you just jump power to the CB. Avoiding all of your new wiring. Trying to determine if the CB is the issue or the installation.

 

CB's don't use fuses, wire straight to batt.

 

The factory wiring included a 2.5amp glass fuse and holder inline. I simply removed that one was it conflicted with my intended mounting and replaced it with a mini fuse holder closer to the battery.

 

This is terrible advice! Do this and your 16ga (or whatever size) wire becomes the fuse and in the event of a short (which you seem to have), can start a fire.

If you have a multimeter, with the fuse removed, check the resistance between the positive wire and ground. It should be infinite. That wire is probably shorted somewhere. Maybe it got pinched for cut on something sharp. Also make sure you don't have the polarity reversed.

 

Short in your power wire, cb, or your ground you're using isn't actually a ground.

 

Do you have a multimeter? You have a short in your hot lead. Run a new one.

 

I was wrong, my bad, wasn't thinking clearly, it's millers fault.

 

If your sure your wiring is good simple to check .

I would guess the radio has a internal short.


The idea that a add on electrical device would not have circuit protection was interesting !!

 

Thanks all. Going to run a new hot.

 

Use a 15 amp glass fuse... use a fuse or you lose, plain and simple