Best radio for Mini Van's Power Outlet

[70cst]

I need to get a radio for a trip in the near future but ... the radio will need to be plugged into the mini van's power outlet. I know amps pulled is the key so what size (watts) radios would work w/o blowing fuses? Thanks

 

[Atlasta]

Typically the power outlet / cigarette lighter will have a 20 amp fuse, so you could run any radio or radio/ amp combo that draws less total current than that. Most barefoot radios pull less than 3 amps on transmit and next to nothing on receive. A 100-watt radio will pull around 10 amps or so on transmit.

In practice and experience I have found that power outlets tend to provide rather noisy power making them less than ideal for any type of radio gear. Also at higher current levels the plug tends to become quite warm.

Remember that the higher the current draw the heavier gauge the wire needs to be.

 

[Brake Weight]

Just something to use on trips and put away until next summer? Maybe a Uniden 520 or similar with a Lil' Wilson.

 

[9C1Driver]

I have been running radio's off the company car cig plug for 12 years now with great results. If this is for a short trip you could run a number of different radio's, pick one that ya like. Anything that draws say 2-8 amps would be a snap.

 

[Grogan]

The budget is important. What is your budget? If you are looking for a stock am radio on a budget I would suggest the Uniden Pro 510XL nice stock radio and I have had good reports. Size is very small with a small Mic. good audio. With the Lil wil antenna you would have a good portable setup after wiring in the cig adapter. The olny problem I had was putting an echo mic on it. The reports I got were good on the stock mic. Also the radio is super small and will fit anywhere:..

 

[70cst]

Thanks all...

My budget is flexible.

Barefoot only.

Will be used on intermittent trips.

But I want descent receive and good TX.

 

[Grogan]

I see you posted in the Export section. Are you also looking for more than 40, Need SSB, And you also want a radio that will take abuse. Any reason you can't leave it in the Mini van.I still like the Uniden Pro 510XL for it's size. I talked 21 miles to my neighbor on the expressway on the way home one night. Barefoot could never get a power or echo mic to work on it. But stock mic sounded good.

 

[hotrod]

Thanks all...

My budget is flexible.

Barefoot only.

Will be used on intermittent trips.

But I want descent receive and good TX.

any stock cb cobra, uniden,galaxy will be fine in the cig lighter socket.
the higher output 10 meter rigs id say no
now theres a chance it could pick up noise this method.

 

[BammBamm]

Just a thought coming from a mechanic here. Why not locate the fuse box under the dash and find a constant power point there (usually marked BATT) and run a fused line under the dash to a cigarette lighter style acc. plug? This way you could put whatever amp fuse you desire in it and run your radio of choice. I use to drive a company truck and I installed/hid a black 3 prong extension cord installed so the small blade side was + the thick blade was - and the ground was to vehicle ground. I wired my radio the same way and used a little wil antenna. When vehicle inspections where due I hid the cord under the dash with the plug tucked by the stock radio. By the way check your cigarette lighter fuse also it may only be a 10 amp.

 

[KingCobra_CDX882]

Most Cars Do Not have 20 am Fuse for Lighter

Keep under 10 amp for radio requirements..
Still you can run most barefoot radios on that