I've still got my MXT-400 in the box because I'm concerned that I might damage my SUV's electrical system if I plug it in the cigarette lighter plug and then transmit. Any ideas/help?
jimg
Question: How long ago did you buy this radio? Do you have the receipt?
The manual not surprisingly, is absent any details about current consumption. Using the FCC ID, I went to the Timco lab tests and found that a pre-production radio drew 7.2 amps into 50 ohms. I would have to guess the radio has a fuse rated at least 10 amps. But there again, no detail on the power cord ("sold separately"). Hopefully the radio has a power cord and has some sort of fuse.
They do instruct you to "connect the black wire directly to the Vehicles metal frame". In most vehicles the metal uni-body is sufficient.
The red lead they instruct you to connect to the fuse block as being "the most convenient connection point", or to the Accessory Terminal on the fuse block or ignition switch.
Your other alternative is to wire the red lead directly to the vehicle 12V battery positive connection. If you do so, the fuse holder needs to be on the battery side of the vehicle fire wall.
What they do not say is to wire it to your cigarette lighter socket because some of those are fused lightly 3 amps or so.
So without knowing your vehicle, you need to.
1) Confirm it has a 12V (Nominal 13.8 V ) electrical system, not 42V or 300V (electrical vehicle).
2) Read owners manual to see if you have an accessory outlet or terminal rated at 10 amps or greater.
Joe