Stereo install woes

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[jleger98]

Amen Dog!!

[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]

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.

[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.

[dogbert]

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

[jleger98]

ok, fine, you guys guilted me into it. I just bought some 1666 strand 4GA wire, and 80/40amp fuses and holders for 4GA wire (and connectors) Its an extra 80 bux I didn't want to spend, but from what I hear, its all worth it.

So I'll have it by this weekend. Gee thanks guys

[xpjim1]

Thanks. I knew there was a good reason for this

[jleger98]

So I am a complete newbie at this. What is the point of going + from battery thru ACC and to HU and also going directly from battery + to HU?

Basically this allows you to keep your station presets and other settings in your HU. If you don't have this "always on" power, you have to reprogram your HU every time you turn it on.

[spharis]

Only the radio acc wire goes through the ACC switch. A source unit has 2 power leads, one is straight up power....the main power. The other is a turn on wire to turn the unit on. When a source unit gets current on this wire, it powers on. It is a built in relay to control the radio power on/off.

[xpjim1]

So I am a complete newbie at this. What is the point of going + from battery thru ACC and to HU and also going directly from battery + to HU?

[steves1967]

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....