Cobra 18 help

[MADLUX]

I bought myself a new toy 8) Any way I noticed the power cord has 3 wires instead of 2,( just red and black) like my cobra 19. These are Red, orange and black, the instructions are not very clear on what is what, so if anyone knows, please let me know.

My guess is that the orange is a power sense so the unit shuts off when it notices the key has been turned off.

You should be able to use just the red and black. You can wire it up to any 12v power source but if you want the CB to turn off when you shut the key off you need to tap into a power source that shuts off also or just remember to turn the CB off. In any event, the red and black will get you on the air.

[Uturn2001]

On the 18 the orange is a constant power supply wire so the radio so it maintains its memory. It should be connected to a power supply that is always on.

[Part Time Dweller]

What Uturn said.
If your CB posts are always hot, you can hook both the red and orange wires to the red post. If it is key on only, you will have to find an always on power source for the orange, or the radio will loose it's memory every time you turn the truck off.

[Triple Digit Bob]

I have Cobra with Bell Sti radar detector. It was working very good when I was driving for EH Jb hunt. Police still see me and give me ticket. :sad: I hire attorney and she marry me and we are move to Hungary. AH,I love american woman.

[MADLUX]

Thanks all, she works great.

[Jackrabbit379]

On the 18 the orange is a constant power supply wire so the radio so it maintains its memory. It should be connected to a power supply that is always on.

Dumb question. Why would a CB radio need memory? Does this radio have a clock, or something?

Dumb question. Why would a CB radio need memory? Does this radio have a clock, or something?

I was going to say the same thing but I bit my tongue. I still think it's the power sense wire.

All electronic gear now days does not need power. They use NVR. Non Volatile Ram.

[kc0iv]

Dumb question. Why would a CB radio need memory? Does this radio have a clock, or something?

I was going to say the same thing but I bit my tongue. I still think it's the power sense wire.

All electronic gear now days does not need power. They use NVR. Non Volatile Ram.

From the website: http://www.cobra.ca/cobra/en/faq/ind...e-b45879e4c8ab

When installing my Cobra CB radio where do I connect the three power wires?

· The black wire needs to be connected to a chassis ground.
· The red wire should be connected to a switched +12 volt source, such as the fuse for the radio.
· The orange wire is for the memory retention of your CB radio, and should be connected to a constant +12 volt source such as the fuse for the brake lights.
With the radio wired as above, the radio will turn off when the ignition is turned off. The orange wire will provide power to the radio so that it remembers the channel. If you are installing your Cobra CB radio in an application where you wish to utilize a cigarette plug to power the unit, connect the black wire to the negative lead (side terminal) on the plug. Connect both the red and orange wires together to the positive lead (center tip) of the plug. Your unit will function properly this way but will not retain the channel memory. When power is applied your radio will come up on channel 9.

kc0iv

[Jackrabbit379]

Oh ok. Still confuses me, but oh well.

Well, Steve, I am gonna bite my tongue on this one, too. I am not about to ask what Volatile means. :|

[Uturn2001]

Dumb question. Why would a CB radio need memory? Does this radio have a clock, or something?

http://www.cobra.com/index.php?page=...uct_id=12&id=1

Because, like most of todays am/fm automotive radios it is basically an electronically tuned radio.

[Jackrabbit379]

The orange wire will provide power to the radio so that it remembers the channel.

Now, I got it. I searched this radio, and it's digital. The radio has power all the time in order to stay on the channel that it was on when you turned off the radio. :idea:

[Jackrabbit379]

http://www.cobra.com/index.php?page=shop/flypage&product_id=12&id=1

Because, like most of todays am/fm automotive radios it is basically an electronically tuned radio.

Thanks, Uturn. I got it, now.
You learn something every day. :P

Oh ok. Still confuses me, but oh well.

Well, Steve, I am gonna bite my tongue on this one, too. I am not about to ask what Volatile means. :|

Sorry, some terms are so common place to me coming from the computer field I just assume everyone knows.

Volatile memory means it can't remember without power. Non Volatile retains it's information even after the power is turned off. Like your cell phone has a ton of this type of memory in it. You customize your phone and it remembers all your settings. With a cell phone, you need to keep battery usage at a minimum.

As a side note. All cell phones within the past few years are using power even when they are turned off. The GPS tracking ability is always enabled so if your on the lamb, turning off your phone does no good, they can still track you. This was one of the last projects I worked on before trucking.

[Jackrabbit379]

Ahh, ok.

Makes sense.

[Midnight Flyer]

Ah, those CB radio questions bring back memories of my first CB radio. It was a Sharp 23-channel rig that could reach 20-25 miles and it was stock out of the box and I had a tall-ass, bumper mount super trooper antenna. It was back in 1974 or 75 I think! Oh those good 'ol CB days! 8)