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I have a Motorola P.A. speaker from an old state patrol car, and want to hook it up to my CB radio, trouble is, when i have it hooked up and talk into the mic, i can only hear whispers from the PA speaker. I'm just trying to figure out if I need an amp or something to get all i can out of this speaker, cause its pretty heavy duty.

yes, your radio likely doesn't have enough output to drive the speaker, which will be designed for much more volume - although it could also be a mismatch in impedence, check the resistance value of it compared to the regular speaker for the radio

Bill

Thanks Bill, your correct, the radio itself isnt powerful enough, and i KNOW this 400 watt amp i just got will do the trick!

Well, that amp was just a bit TOO powerful, seeing as how I blew 3 CB fuses and somehow turned a set of speaker wire into an arc welder!!!

I've never thought about this, but is it possible to deliver power straight from my battery to the speaker so it doesnt require another source of power like from my CB?

Below are some pics of the Speaker, there seems to be only two terminals, one hooked to the wire going to the CB, and one ground. Maybe I can use another spot on the speaker to ground it and use that free terminal for power? I really know nothing about electronics so I look to you fellas for help, here are some pics.

All I know of the speaker is that it's a Motorola, it weighs about 15 lbs despite its small size, and it came out of a Georgia State Patrol interceptor (not stolen, it was auctioned off).

Overall Picture of the Speaker

Side where the wire to the CB is hooked up

Another side

Side where the ground wire is hooked to the terminal

I'm running out of fuses, unburnt skin and patience!!!

THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!