Which is better radio on with key on or hot all the time?

[SAVAGESAM]

Was told it makes no difference. Does it? Or is it just a matter of personal preference?

[THUMPER]

Was told it makes no difference. Does it? Or is it just a matter of personal preference?

it is just a matter of personal preference !

i like to run it hot that way truck off or not i dont have to have my keys to turn on the cb

[Duck Commander]

i personnally like THUMP said like mine hooked directly to the battery so you know your gettin good juice to da cottonpicka all da time.

[Shaft]

The only problem with leaving it powered hot all the time is if you forget to turn it off and that could run the battery down. However, I've left my Galaxy 77 powered on all weekend and didn't drive at all and my four wheeler truck started up no problem. I've always left mine hot so that I can use it without the keys being in it.

[Duck Commander]

i always leave mine turned on unless it is lightning real bad i turn it off and unhook the coax. I dont think a radio pulls very much juice just turned on you would probably have to leave it on for a long long time to run down a good battery thats just my thinkin tho.

[EC 174]

it is just a matter of personal preference !

i like to run it hot that way truck off or not i dont have to have my keys to turn on the cb

That's about says it fore me too

[BigBubbaBD]

Mine is wired hot all the time.

[231]

Typically it's best to run the power supply directly from the battery. It's the cleanest source for power no two ways about it. It would take literally weeks for a regular CB to drain a battery. I've left both the radio and amp on for days without it being a problem. They only draw alot of power when keying down. So as long as you aren't doing a DK, then it should be fine. All my radios are wired hot to the battery.

[SAVAGESAM]

This guy (the installer) hooked it up from my fuse panel and I'm wondering if that's why I can hear my fan motor through the speaker? Can someone tell me how to rewire it IF I need to? Make it in PLAIN simple English, I'm no tech. T.I.A.

[Gadfly]

If you want to be technically correct it should be taken to the battery thru a relay so that, yes, it is "hot" all the time when you turn the radio on/off with the switch, but when you start the vehicle, the radio momentarily shuts off. Most of the time, however, it doesn't matter......until that ONE time you get a voltage spike which could ZAP the radio. Not often that would happen, but it COULD. Most of us won't ever have that happen, tho, so it's a toss up!

73

Gadfly

[058hamer]

On all the time which minimizes thermal cycling which minimizes solder breaks between board and chassis components 73 058hamer

[316]

HOT ALL THE TIME!!! FOR ME.

[fxstsirider]

Positive wire directly to battery with in line fuse near battery. Negative wire to frame. That's how I run mine. Sam have you read in the intro to radio section? The grounding 101 is great info. And if you are going to get that amp. Read the How to wire amp. Both great information if you haven't read yet.

[SAVAGESAM]

Will read right both now. Thank you for the pointer.