I'm a fire fighter and a fire buff, i have a cdm 1250 that i would like to install in the ford. i have the power cable and antenna. My question is if i install the radio would you suggest wiring the radio straight to the fuse box so that way it powers on when the vechile is powered on, because the radio is mainly for recieving and maybe transmitting once a month? So if anyone has any power ideas please dont be afraid to mention the ideas. i might even install a scanner, so feedback would be great!

 

Have you considered plugging it into your power port?

 

Yes, but you need to fuse it separately.

So find a Key ON circuit in the cab fuse box then pull out that fuse and find which terminal of the fuse is the Power(has 12volts with key on) and which is the Load(won't have 12volts with fuse removed).

Install the "fuse piggyback" so it connects to Power terminal, then install your fused radio wire to the piggyback.
It will still be protected from the engine fuse box fuse for the cab power but won't tax the current fused circuit you are connected to.

Yes the power port is a good one to use, it is already fused.