Stereo install woes

[dogbert]

We're just here to help.....you part with your money

[chpthril]

Hey real quick- I noticed you said LOWES was closed....(guessing that is where you are getting your wire) house wire and audio wire aren't really the same thing. You want wire with hundreds of strands in it, not the house wire which has 7-8 strands in it. House wire is too stiff and after awhile will break- had it happen to me in my car a long time ago. Not sure of battery cables- but if you really want to do it right head over to your local stereo shop and get good power cable....

I buy all my speaker wire at Lowes. They are much cheaper than Best Buy or Circut City.

[jleger98]

No worries. Its just money. When this is pounding away out on the lake this summer, trust me, 80 bux won't matter. Especially after paying that much to just to fill the tank.

[dogbert]

No worries. Its just money.

You can always make more. The best use of money is when you use it to eliminate stress so you can finally relax! I ask myself this question whenever I'm about to drop some $$ on my toys or a vacation.

[jleger98]

Amen Dog!!

[jleger98]

Hey, I was just reading my owners manual for my HU, and it states there is an orange/white lead "To lighting switch terminal"

What is that for? can this HU turn lights on/off?

Also it does state that there is a blue/white for "To system control terminal of the power amp or Auto-antenna relay control terminal (max. 300mA 12 V DC)", so that part will be fine.

[chpthril]

Hey, I was just reading my owners manual for my HU, and it states there is an orange/white lead "To lighting switch terminal"

What is that for? can this HU turn lights on/off?

Also it does state that there is a blue/white for "To system control terminal of the power amp or Auto-antenna relay control terminal (max. 300mA 12 V DC)", so that part will be fine.

Might be for turning the back-light on when the nav/anchor lights are on or work on a dimmer like in an auto.


The blue-wt sounds like it would work for either an amp or antenna. Like Philwsailz said, some "antenna" leads turn off when you switch to CD or AUX.

[spharis]

Hey, I was just reading my owners manual for my HU, and it states there is an orange/white lead "To lighting switch terminal"

What is that for? can this HU turn lights on/off?

Also it does state that there is a blue/white for "To system control terminal of the power amp or Auto-antenna relay control terminal (max. 300mA 12 V DC)", so that part will be fine.

Orange/white is an illumination wire. Usually this would be connected to the headlamps, or dash lights, so at night the radio lighting will dim. It cannot be used to control anything, as it is a sense. When it gets current, it dims the Source Unit. If the owner's manual says the blue/white can be used for a relay control, then you can use it. If you have a dedicated remote power, you should use it for standards reasons.

[Domsz06]

Just for the record, I used a premium Rockford Fosgate wiring kit. The power/ground was 2/0. The ground was only like 1' long, so I had to get a 2/0 battery cable made.

Better safe than sorry with electricity.

I always use over kill on the power wire. I realize I'm chiming in late here but I would for sure use 0 gauge. I'm using it on mine, and may have to find a bigger then 0, not sure though where to get it, but guess we will see how 0 goes.

[Domsz06]

ok, on a side note to ask a question regarding this instal. Since I"m running six amps I should relay the amp turn on lead? IE, from the head unit, to the relay, then to the amps?

Thanks.

[spharis]

Yes, you should relay anything over 2. Remote turn ons are usually very low amperage. So low that the draw to send signal to 6 amps would cause issues....might as well take care of it while you are in the hatch vs. having to go in again.

[Domsz06]

Sweet, ok. I'll do that. That wouldn't create an issue with amps running hot would it? as I have one split into four amps now would it?

[philwsailz]

Sweet, ok. I'll do that. That wouldn't create an issue with amps running hot would it? as I have one split into four amps now would it?

Good mornign everyone!

Dom-

You should have no overheating issue at the amps caused by your remote turn on wiring.
The biggest concern you have is messing up the HU's remote turn-on circuit. Not saying you will, but following Spharis' advice regarding using a relay is a prudent thing to do.

Most all of them will not handle a load of more than half an amp, and lots of them will only handle 300 mA

[Domsz06]

cool, thanks for the good advice. Sorry to kinda of get it off of your topic Jl, I"ll quit now.

[jleger98]

No prob dude.