Connecting the radio via a button. Correct connection of the radio. Alternative ways to connect power to the radio

Standard car radios, as a rule, do not shine with functionality and high quality sound reproduction. Often the “native” audio system head unit does not meet the owner’s high requirements. There is only one way out of the situation: replacing the car radio.

Classification of car radios by size

Car head units on the market differ in functionality, sound parameters and installation dimensions.

Developed by German manufacturers, the standard for car head units DIN 75490 was adopted in 1984 as international ISO 7736. It determined the standard mounting hole size for a car radio (1-DIN) - 180 x 50 mm. This size is the 1 DIN size. DIN stands for Deutsches Institut fur Normung - German Institute for Standardization. The abbreviation DIN stands for German standard.

Igor Syroedov

http://steer.ru/node/29859

Unification of installation dimensions expands the possibilities of using various radios in cars of different manufacturers and models. Currently, all radios are produced in accordance with the requirements of the international standard ISO 7736, but motorists prefer to refer to the similar international German standard DIN 75490.

Usually there is enough free space behind the car console, so the standard regulates only the width and height of the radio, without limiting the depth. There are two formats: 1 DIN (178 x 50 mm) and 2 DIN (178 x 100 mm).

In practice, the seat may be slightly wider and higher. In this case, to mask the cracks, decorative transition frames are used, which can be found on sale for almost any car model.

Adapter frames are also used when it is necessary to install a 1 DIN radio in a 2 DIN slot. The reverse procedure - installing a 100 mm high radio in a 50 mm opening - is impossible without significant modification of the console.

Video: choosing a radio by size

Wire markings and topography of ISO connectors

Modern head units, as a rule, are equipped with connectors made according to the ISO 10487 standard. However, you can still find both radios and cars in which manufacturers use connectors of the original design. In such cases, the radios are connected via adapters.

The ISO standard defines the physical dimensions of three pads:

Despite the fact that the standard does not establish the purpose of the contacts, many manufacturers adhere to the same color marking of wires and topography (pinout, wiring) of connectors.

Radio began to sound in cars from the beginning of the 20s of the last century. At that time, there were two ways to improve a car: install a truck engine in a passenger car or install a radio in a car. The difficulty of improvement was equal. Car radios did not exist then, so the problem was solved as best they could. Home radios were converted to fit the 6-volt on-board network of the car, or simply ran on batteries. No one thought about sound quality. The home radio in the car did not last long. The constant shaking did its job, gradually destroying the electric lamps. A huge antenna was located under the ceiling, turning the car into a cage.

Igor Syroedov

http://steer.ru/node/29859

Table: pin assignments and color coding of wires of a standard ISO connector

The information given in the table is not exhaustive and completely reliable. You should check the markings of the wires and the purpose of the connector contacts in the documentation before connecting the radio.

Video: topography and disassembly of the ISO connector

Connecting the radio

When both the head unit and the car are equipped with standard ISO connectors with the same pinout, connection takes a matter of minutes. This is the simplest case. All work comes down to dismantling the old radio, connecting a new one to the same connectors and assembling the console.

Connecting a radio in the absence of a standard ISO connector

If there are no ISO connectors in the car or radio, then the best solution to the problem is to buy an adapter corresponding to the model of the head unit and the car and connect through it.

Video: ISO adapter

An alternative option is to cut off the standard cable and the cable that came with the new radio, and then connect all the wires in accordance with the connection diagram, making a homemade adapter.

When connecting in this way, special attention should be paid to the reliability of the contacts and insulation of the wires. They are connected using twisting, soldering and clamping clip connectors. It is better to insulate the places of twists with heat-shrink casing, discarding the adhesive tape.

Connection without plug

In some cases, desperate experimenters try to connect a car radio without a plug, soldering wires to the connector pins. If you assemble the circuit without errors, then the radio will, of course, work. But the reliability of such a connection is very low.

At best, such experiments lead to periodic mutes. At worst, there may be a short circuit of the fallen power wire to the housing with unpredictable consequences.

In 1959, Blaupunkt-Werke released its millionth car radio - the best proof that radio had become truly accessible.

Igor Syroedov

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Alternative ways to connect power to the radio

In standard mode, the +12 V supply voltage is supplied to the radio via two wires. Red (signal circuits) is connected to the battery through the ignition switch. The presence or absence of voltage on it is determined by the position of the key.

The yellow wire constantly powers the radio's memory, where all settings are stored. Therefore, it is constantly connected to the positive terminal of the battery directly. When the battery is disconnected from the vehicle's on-board network, the individual settings of the head unit are lost. If there is control voltage at the signal input (red wire), +12 V from the yellow wire is supplied to all blocks of the device.

Some vehicles have a lock position marked ACC. In this mode, the ignition is turned off, but power is supplied to individual devices, including the red wire of the radio.

If there is no ACC mode, the signal wire is connected together with the ignition. In this case, the radio will not be able to work autonomously.

The need for alternative power connection schemes arises when the owner wants to use the radio without turning on the ignition.

Connecting the radio to the battery, bypassing the ignition switch

Connecting the signal (red) power wire directly to the battery positive (in parallel with the yellow one) will ensure the ability to turn on the radio at any time, regardless of the position of the key in the ignition switch. To minimize the consequences of short circuits, a separate fuse is included in the circuit.

Connecting a radio via a button

It should be remembered that even when turned off, the radio consumes the energy necessary for memory operation. Current consumption may increase due to leakage if the red power signal wire is constantly connected to the battery, which negatively affects the battery charge level during prolonged periods of inactivity.

The simplest way to eliminate this drawback is to include a button or toggle switch in the circuit, which forcibly breaks the control circuit.

Automatic power off of the radio when the alarm is turned on

More complex ways to save energy when connecting a radio, bypassing the ignition switch, involve the use of relays that respond to the activation of the car's security alarm.

In the diagram above, the relay that turns off the power to the radio is triggered by a command coming from the alarm unit.

There are many other similar schemes. The choice of a particular option depends on the signaling capabilities.

Connecting the radio to the cigarette lighter

Connecting the radio to the cigarette lighter is a type of direct connection to the battery, bypassing the ignition switch.

When connected via a plug, the red and yellow wires are connected together. For long periods of parking, it is better to disconnect the plug from the cigarette lighter. This will save battery power, but will lead to loss of radio settings.

Turning on the head unit via a plug makes it difficult to use the cigarette lighter for its intended purpose. The disadvantage is eliminated by connecting the radio without a plug directly to the wires of the cigarette lighter socket.

The red and yellow wires of the radio connected together are connected to the red wire of the cigarette lighter, which is supplied with +12 V from the battery. If the head unit is not protected by a built-in fuse, it will not hurt to install an additional one in the power circuit.

Some people are misled by the similar color coding of the radio and cigarette lighter wires. Without thinking, they are connected red to red, yellow to yellow. The radio will turn on anyway, but using the signal lights will disrupt normal operation.

The head unit consumes a current of about 10 A. A fuse of approximately 15 A is installed in the cigarette lighter circuit. You should check the current values ​​and fuse ratings in the technical documentation before connecting the radio to the cigarette lighter. It is possible that the fuse will not withstand the additional load when the radio and cigarette lighter are turned on together.

Connecting the radio via diodes

Diodes are used when there is no ACC position in the lock so that the radio does not turn off along with the ignition.

The diagram for supplying power to the control input of the radio through diodes is shown in the figure. The yellow main power wire is connected, as usual, to the battery positive. Red (power supply for control circuits) - to the anodes (pluses) of two diodes. The cathode (minus) of one of them is supplied with power through the ignition switch. The cathode of the second is connected to the blue wire - the ANT+ contact of section A of the ISO connector - of the radio or (if available) to the REM signal output to turn on an additional amplifier.

After turning on the ignition, +12 V is supplied to the ACC input via the red wire through the lock and the first diode. The radio turns on, voltage appears on the blue ANT+ wire and goes through the second diode to the ACC input.

Now the head unit will remain on even if the ignition is turned off. You can turn off the radio using the built-in controls. To turn it on again, you will need to turn the key in the ignition switch again.

Video: connecting a radio via diodes

Connecting a second (additional) radio

Two radios in a car are not a typical case. As a rule, if the owner is dissatisfied with the quality or capabilities, he changes the head unit to a new one. But when the standard radio does not just reproduce sound, but also performs other important functions for the car, it is difficult to find a full-fledged replacement.

Some owners prefer to solve the problem not by replacing, but by installing an additional device. In this case, it remains possible, for example, while playing music on the new radio, to use the on-board computer and listen to the radio using the old one.

When installing an additional radio, you have to solve two main problems: placing the second device in the cabin near the driver's seat and connecting the speakers independently.

Not all car models have free space in the console for additional devices. Therefore, for the sake of the second radio, they sacrifice low-value cavities: coin drawers, compartments and shelves that are in the area accessible to the driver’s hands. Often you have to adjust holes in plastic parts or cut new ones. Sometimes special podiums are arranged. Unfortunately, an extra device does not always fit organically into the interior of the cabin.

Gallery: examples of placing an additional radio in the car interior

Installed on the dashboard, the additional radio attracts attention 2 DIN seat allows you to place two 1 DIN radios The radio in the glove compartment is invisible, but it is not very convenient to use Sometimes to install an additional radio you have to cut out additional holes

If connecting the power to the second head unit is not fundamentally different from the case with one radio and usually does not cause any special problems, the acoustics require more attention.

Speakers cannot be connected in parallel to both devices at once. This significantly reduces the sound quality and can easily lead to malfunction of the final stages of the radio. Speaker systems must be connected one by one, that is, switch between outputs manually or automatically.

To implement this method in practice, various automotive relays are used. One of the possible schemes with manual control of switching acoustics using a button is shown in the figure.

Removing and installing the radio

Before installing a new one, you need to remove the old factory radio. The sequence of actions required for this may differ depending on the car model. The exact description can be found in the manufacturer's service instructions.

The first radio and tape recorder with stereo sound was introduced in 1969 by Blaupunkt, and another 3 years later they released the first stereo radio.

Igor Syroedov

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Typically, the radio is held in place by two or four plastic latches. Access to them opens after removing the decorative frame covering the gaps around the radio. To release the latches, use special pullers in the form of strips or pins. You can purchase them, or use homemade devices.

When removing the radio, be careful and do not apply significant force. If the device does not come out, it means that one or more latches are not yet open or some extraneous obstacle is preventing the movement. Brute force will not help matters; it will rather harm.

Removing the radio

To remove the radio you will need:

• pullers or homemade devices that replace them;
• thin screwdriver;

List of operations for removing the radio

1. Before starting work, de-energize the vehicle by disconnecting the battery.
2. Using a thin screwdriver or knife, remove the front panel of the device (if provided for by the design) and the decorative frame.
3. Insert the flat pullers into the technological holes along the edges of the radio until you hear a characteristic click.
4. Insert round pullers into the four technological holes along the edges of the front panel.
5. Using the pullers as levers, carefully lift the radio out of the niche.
6. Disconnect the cables.
7. If necessary and if available, remove the metal frame of the radio (sled). When the old and new radios are equipped with the same mounts, there is no need to change the frame.

Video: removing the radio

Installing a radio

To install the radio you will need:

• screwdriver,
• side cutters (nippers),
• adapter from ISO connector to standard connector,
• decorative frame.

List of operations for installing a radio tape recorder

1. Check the electrical diagram of the car and the radio to ensure that the connector contacts correspond to the intended purpose. If necessary, move the pins of the connectors to the correct places.
2. Disconnect the battery by disconnecting the negative terminal.
3. Remove the old radio.
4. Install the radio in a metal frame (sled) and try on its position in the console.
5. Remove the radio and, bending the petals, secure the frame in the intended position. If available, use standard fasteners.
6. Pull the cables with connectors for connecting the radio from the console out through the frame.
7. Connect the connectors to the radio. Use adapters if necessary.
8. Install the radio into the metal frame without fixing the latches. Turn on the battery and check the functionality of the device.
9. Press down on the radio to secure the mounts.
10. Place the decorative frame and secure its position by pressing.

Video: installing a radio

To install a radio, it is not necessary to turn to professionals. Doing the work yourself, although it will require preliminary preparation, is within the capabilities of any car enthusiast.

To begin with, it is worth noting that incorrectly connecting the car radio can lead to low-quality sound of low power or damage to the speaker system. If such a warning does not scare you and you have a great desire to do everything yourself, then let’s try to figure out this issue together and understand how to properly install the car radio. To complete the job you will need electrical tape, a tester and a screwdriver. The entire installation process can take from 5 minutes to several hours. The following recommendations are applicable in 85% of cases of radio assembly.

Standard ISO connector for modern radios

The car has several configuration options with special connectors and conductors for installing an audio system:

1. The conductors in the car are routed to the rear and front speakers, while the power wires come from the battery, and the positive cable is equipped with a separate fuse. The wires are connected to a special connector, which is identical to the socket in the radio. The cord from the antenna is also brought out and fits to the installed audio system.
2. All the necessary wires for installation are supplied and connected to the connector, however, the plug does not fit into the car radio socket.
3. There are no speaker wires in the vehicle, and the power wires are not routed out. Also, the wires may be present, but not connected correctly.

We will not dwell on the first option in detail, since everything is clear here and you only need to connect the existing power wires and insert the connector. In any case, it is necessary to check whether everything is ready for the new audio system and make sure that the wiring and speakers correspond to the output power of the radio.

Consider in detail the second option, when the car wiring connector does not match the audio system socket. The problem is that almost every company installs individual types of connection connectors on its radios. Different models from the same manufacturer may have completely different outputs. In this case, most often the car radio is supplied with a separate adapter for the ISO standard.

Before performing any actions to resolve the problem, you must finally make sure that the adapter is not included in the kit or that it does not fit. There are two ways to get out of this difficult situation:

To prevent confusion, connect the connector to the radio and bite off the remaining part. The connection of the audio system and car wires is carried out in accordance with the color marking. It is best to solder the connections and then insulate them using heat-shrinkable cambric.

In the case where the colors of the wires are different and do not match, they will need to be tested, and, most likely, the missing wires will need to be routed. To perform this action, you should arm yourself with a tester or a special multimeter with a beeper and a separate 9-volt battery.

Attention! Any manipulations with the wiring are carried out only with the battery disconnected!

We will not dwell in detail on the process of dialing with a multimeter. Let's look at why a battery is needed and how it is used.

If you ring the speakers and do not disconnect the wires from them, two wires should ring. This will be a pair for a specific speaker. It is to determine their polarity that you need a battery. It is connected to a pair of wires, and then you need to monitor the movement of the speaker cone.

If the diffuser moves outward, then the polarity is selected correctly. The wire that was connected to the plus of the battery is marked as “+”, and to the minus – “-”. If the diffuser retracts, it means that the polarity is chosen incorrectly and the wires must be marked in reverse. The battery is connected to the speaker for just one second.

Marking and color coding of wires

Installing a car radio with your own hands will require knowledge of wire markings:

• Black (indicated by GROUND or GND). Minus battery;
• Red (ACC or A+ marking). Plus ignition switch;
• Yellow (designated BAT or B+). Plus from the battery;
• White with stripe (marked FL-). Minus front left speaker;
• White without stripe (designated FL+). Plus front left speaker;
• Gray with stripe (marked FR-). Minus right front speaker;
• Gray without stripe (designated FR+). Plus the right front speaker;
• Green with stripe (marked RL-). Minus left rear speaker;
• Green without stripe (designation RL+). Plus left rear speaker;
• Purple with stripe (marked RR-). Minus right rear speaker;
• Purple without stripe (designation RR+). Plus the right rear speaker.

In addition to the main wires, an audio system may have additional ones, say blue with or without a white stripe, which is intended for connecting an antenna, orange for turning on the backlight, and others.

How to connect a car radio

Consider in detail the option when installing and connecting the audio system needs to be done from scratch. At the first stage, you need to buy a complete set of wires to connect speakers and power. The length of the wires depends on the characteristics of the vehicle and the chosen installation method. It is best when they are as short as possible and do not have additional twists. A good solution would be to purchase stranded copper wires with silicone insulation. Their thickness should be sufficient to ensure the most efficient operation of the audio system. Power wires with a cross-section of 4 mm. sq. Suitable for car radios with power up to 120 W. In this case, the wires to the speakers have a cross-section of 1-2 mm. sq. quite enough.

The positive power wire must have a thickness of at least 4 sq. mm. and be equipped with a fuse

Often, the same set of speakers contains connecting wires that do not meet the required thickness.

Connecting speakers

Modern audio systems are most often designed to serve 4 speakers. These are two rear speakers and two front ones. Radio tape recorders that produce a power of 30 W or more per channel have four pairs of wires. Each pair has its own color marking. Also in each bundle there is a wire without a stripe (plus) and with a stripe (minus).

You should not confuse the polarity, although this is not so bad. It is strictly forbidden to ground the wire with the strip (minus) that comes from the radio to ground, since it has absolutely nothing to do with the total mass of the car. The speakers themselves are equipped with two terminals (one narrow, the other wide). Low power radios may only have one positive wire per speaker. In such a situation, the minus of the speakers must be connected to the common minus of the audio system. The positive wire coming from the car radio is attached to the wide terminal, and the negative wire to the narrow terminal.

When connecting speakers, pay attention to the polarity, this will allow you to achieve better sound.

Correct phasing should be given special attention. If the pluses and minuses are connected correctly, then you can expect that no problems will arise and the audio system will work properly. In this case, a situation may arise when the sound quality does not meet the required expectations. There is sound, the volume is excellent, however, the low frequencies are practically not felt, and increasing the bass does not change anything at all.

The described circumstances are a sign of incorrect phasing. It will be necessary to check the connecting wires very carefully and reconnect them in those places where necessary.

There is another simpler way to track the correct phasing:

1. The sound needs to be transferred completely to the front speakers, and then set the balance to one speaker, for example, to the right. The volume must be increased to maximum levels or until noticeable distortion appears.
2. Next, the balance should be moved to the middle position, thereby distributing the volume evenly between the left and right speakers. If phasing is done correctly, the overall volume will increase significantly. A slight increase in volume, no increase in volume, or complete disappearance of low frequencies indicates incorrect phasing. Then you need to swap the wires on one speaker. The same procedure should be repeated on the rear row of speakers.

Almost all modern car radios use three wires of yellow, red and black to supply power. The battery negative corresponds to the black wire. Yellow is a plus of the battery and powers power consumers. If for certain reasons the yellow wire has deteriorated, it is necessary to completely replace it with a new one of the appropriate cross-section. The red wire is the positive wire for the ignition switch.

Detailed car radio connection diagram

First you need to figure out how to connect the black and yellow wires. Many motorists connect the black wire to the first free ground bolt, and the yellow wire is connected from the ignition switch or cigarette lighter. In fact, this method is wrong.

By connecting these wires to the battery you can get high-quality, high-power sound. It is best to take multi-core copper wires with a thickness of 4 square meters or more. mm. Having retreated 30-40 cm, a 10-20 A fuse with good insulation is installed on the yellow wire. The red wire also has a positive value, however, it must be connected to the ignition switch. And to be very precise, it connects to the circuit that is energized in the ACC key position.

It happens that car enthusiasts connect the yellow and red wires together. The advantage of such actions is that the audio system is constantly working and does not depend on turning the ignition on or off. Of course, the downside in this case is that the radio is in standby mode all the time. This will affect battery performance. The battery drain rate will increase. This indicator depends on each individual radio, so it is quite problematic to specifically calculate how quickly the battery will drain.

Antenna connection

External view of an active interior car antenna

The antenna comes in passive and active types. Connecting a passive antenna is very simple. To do this, you just need to insert the plug into the appropriate socket. But installing an active antenna requires a little work, since power needs to be supplied to it. Most modern car radios have a special output. It is a blue wire with or without a white stripe and is labeled REM, ANT, or AMP. Sometimes there are two such wires. They are responsible for turning on devices that operate only when the audio system is being used. In our example, it is the antenna that is such a device.

The raised question of how to connect a radio and the direction of car audio is not just the topic of a separate article. In fact, this is a whole science, for the study of which there is a huge amount of manuals, information and books. In this article, we tried to dwell only on the most important aspects and details of installing an audio system.

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Connecting the radio and installing it can be done in different ways. This procedure will not cause any particular difficulties.

How to install a car radio

Installation of a car radio is most often carried out in a standard place on the front panel of the car. Otherwise, installation of the radio is done using a special mount that you can make yourself. Since 1 DIN radios are the most common, the seats have a height suitable for installing these devices. For 2 DIN sizes, additional modifications to the dashboard will be required to install a player in the car.

You should check the package contents of the device before installing the car radio to make sure you have all the necessary parts. Installation of the standard radio is done using a special frame that is included with the device. It is used to fix the radio in the car. First, the box for small items is removed, which is located in the standard place for installation. Then the metal is inserted
personal frame.

Using the supplied special tool, pick up and bend the fixing tabs.

The next stage of installing a car radio with your own hands is securing it to the seat. Some devices have a threaded hole on the back wall. A pin is screwed into it, with which you can further secure the player. To do this, attach a special strip to the back of the dashboard.

To install a non-standard radio, you will need to check which mount is used and whether it fits the seat. If there are threaded holes on the side walls of the device, then installation of the radio on the car is carried out by screwing it to the dashboard with bolts.

How to properly connect a car radio

Connecting the car radio is done in several ways:

• Using an ISO connector.
• Without using chips by splicing wires.
• By directly connecting the power wires to the battery terminals.
• Via the ignition switch or a separate switch.
• Through a security alarm.

Car radio diagrams, which help with the correct connection, are printed on a label on the top cover of the device. They indicate the color marking of the wires established by the generally accepted standard:

• red - power management;
• yellow - power supply to memory and amplifier;
• black - mass;
• blue with a white stripe - power supply to the antenna with amplifier.

In the case of individual radio connectors, you can buy either an adapter connector for ISO, or cut the wires and connect them to the individual connector block according to the diagram (which is not recommended; in extreme cases, you should use heat-shrinkable tubes and precautions).

An important point when connecting the radio is to correctly connect the positive wire. To connect the radio, it is better to take it directly from the battery through the fuse. The diameter of the wiring must be no less than that of the radio connector. As a last resort, connect the radio from the cigarette lighter.

Example: Diagram of the standard connection of the radio to reduce leakage:

Black- Earth
Yellow— power supply +12 volts, from the battery
Red— signal to turn on the radio (from the ignition switch), low-current +12 volts (logical “1”).
Blue— turning on the Antenna or other devices (low-current +12 volts when the radio is on)
Diodes- any, sufficiently low-current type KD522B

To connect the radio, you need to apply plus to two wires (red and yellow):

1. Yellow- responsible for powering the radio memory (settings)
2. Red— (power) turns off the radio.

For owners of VAZ 2110 cars, in order not to pull the wire to the ignition switch, you can connect to pin 5 of the BSK block:


However, such a connection has its drawbacks, for example, you need to leave the ignition key with the passenger so that he listens to music, and even when the ignition is on, power consumption increases.

To prevent current leakage, place a button in the cut of the red wire:

1. Button in the section of the red wire of the radio;
2. The button switches between constant “plus” and after ignition;
3. Through the alarm.

With the first option I think everything is clear: just a regular on/off button is hung in the cut of the red wire on the radio. Thus, your radio always works, but if you decide to leave the car in the parking lot for a long time, then simply turn it off. button to supply current to the radio.

Second option, when an emergency button is used instead of a regular button. You will use the second emergency button to switch the power mode of the radio:

1. The button is pressed - power is supplied to the radio through a constant plus
2. The button is not pressed - power is supplied to the radio through the plus from the ignition

Example of connecting a car radio:

• The radio backlight wire to the cigarette lighter backlight wire.
• Plus after ignition from the clock block (orange wire)
• A permanent plus with a battery or cigarette lighter.
• Ground "-" from the cigarette lighter

Third option: you can mount a simple circuit that will supply a plus and disconnect it automatically from the alarm.
If your car has a two-wire solenoid that operates to close and open by changing the polarity for each of these operations, then it should work like this:
When the doors are opened, a positive pulse from the solenoid is sent to relay P1, and the relay will operate and actually go into self-pickup mode, providing power from the battery through the terminals of its contacts and relay P2 and connecting the radio to power.

If there is a positive pulse during closing, relay P2 will be triggered, and the power supply circuit of relay P1 and the radio will break, the radio will turn off, and the relay will go into a de-energized state. But this scheme also has a minus - it is increased power consumption due to the additional relay P1, which will always be turned on along with a working radio.

Conclusion

Now, taking into account all the subtleties of connecting the radio, you can try to connect it yourself using one of the proposed schemes. Insulate the wires well to avoid short circuits in the future. See also (archive password: lada2111.rf).
You can determine the battery leakage current after connecting the radio using:

Over the entire period of operation of the car, the owner changes a lot in it. This can range from various small accessories to more serious purchases. The most important purchase is the purchase of a car radio. It’s probably hard to imagine a car without an audio system now. It especially helps when traveling long distances; it helps drivers at night not to fall asleep while driving.

Connections and installation of car radio

Even when buying a new car, a budget version of the audio system is already installed from the factory, but there are also cars that are not installed. And if you purchased a used car 10 years old, then there is probably an old radio that does not meet your requirements. In a new modern car radio, you can not only listen to music from such media as:

• optical discs CD/DVD;
• SD drives;
• USB flash drives;
• support for synchronizing and connecting your phone as a player;
• aux input.

Also, more expensive models have an LCD display, support for watching videos, watching TV channels, a navigation system and many more interesting functions. Of course, such audio systems are quite expensive and you will need the help of specialists to make the connection. But many car enthusiasts cannot afford to buy such radio models and choose a more budget option. If you have an idea about the electrical equipment of a car, connecting wires and a little accuracy in work, then you can make the connection yourself.

How to connect a radio in a car or replace it with a new one?

To carry out this type of work, you will need a screwdriver, pliers, a multimeter, insulating tape and care when dismantling the decorative panels and installing the radio itself. There should be no difficulties when replacing an old car radio with a new one. The speakers are already installed in the appropriate places, the wires are stretched and connected. All you have to do is check all the wires for integrity, the connections of the audio speakers and replace the radio itself in the car panel.

When replacing Difficulties may arise when connecting a new radio, since the connectors may be different, you will have to buy a special adapter. Today there is a wide variety of all kinds of adapters on the market, so you won’t have any problems with this. In most cases, you can buy an adapter in the same place where you bought the car radio itself. Also included with some models. After you have connected the radio, you should check everything again and turn it on for the first time to see if everything works.

When connecting a radio from scratch, you should prepare more carefully. First of all, you need to decide on the wiring. It should be specifically for acoustics with oxygen-free copper with a cross section of 2 - 4 mm kV. Install the speakers in specially designated places provided by the manufacturer. If there are no such places, you will have to make holes for the speakers yourself. And finally, install the car radio in the car panel and connect it itself.

Connecting a car radio: connection diagram

Let's look at the basic car radio connection diagrams:

• connection method using the ignition switch;
• connection method directly from the battery;
• radio connection diagram when using a button instead of a lock;
• connection diagram through the alarm control unit.

Practically Every radio has two positive wires., they most often come in two colors: red and yellow. The first wire is the yellow “memory wire”, responsible for the settings and memory of the radio. Usually it is connected to the negative terminal of the battery directly. Red - “power wire” is used to turn the radio power on and off. There is also a negative wire, usually it is black, it is connected to the negative wire, most easily to the body of the car.

Connection diagram using ignition switch

This method is recommended in the instructions for the car radio, it's more secure according to experts. But it also has a drawback: you can listen to music only when the ignition is turned on or the engine is running. To connect using this scheme, you need to connect the yellow wire (positive) directly to the positive terminal of the battery. Connect the black wire, which is responsible for turning on the radio, to the ignition switch, and connect the negative wire to the vehicle ground. With this method, the car radio does not drain the battery in standby mode during long-term parking.

Connection diagram directly to the battery

Such the method most often used when connecting a car radio. We connect the black wire to the ground of the car, and connect the yellow and red wires together and connect them to the positive terminal of the battery. With this connection, you can listen to music even when the ignition is turned off. But this method leads to battery discharge even when the car radio is turned off. The radio consumes from 0.2 to 1 A/h in standby mode. Therefore, if you are not a music lover or have an old battery, then it is better to refrain from this connection method.

Connection method using a button instead of the ignition switch

With this method, we make the connection as if using the ignition switch. The difference is that we connect the red wire not to the ignition switch, but to a button that connects to the battery positive. The advantage of this method is that You can turn off the power from the radio when parked for a long time to prevent current leakage in the battery. And you can listen to music with the ignition off.

Connection method using alarm

Often the driver wonders whether I turned off the music in the car or not when I was parked. The principle is that the radio is turned off and on by the alarm. This method also reduces current leakage, since when the alarm is on, the radio is disconnected from the power supply. To connect, you will need two five-pin relays and a pair of diodes. A more detailed diagram can be found on the Internet specifically for your car, alarm system and radio, since different cars have their own color scheme of wires.

In any of the above methods It is necessary to connect a fuse to the circuit 10-20 And if, of course, it is not already provided when purchasing the radio.

Connecting speakers

This procedure should be handled responsibly and carefully. After all, if the connection is incorrect, the sound of the music will deteriorate. In the best case, the speaker may fail; in the worst, the radio itself may fail.

To connect the speakers, you should choose a special multi-core speaker wire with a diameter of 2-4 mm 2. Speakers, as a rule, have two terminals: one wider, the other narrower. The one that is wider goes to the plus, the one that already goes to the minus. Keep the wires to a minimum length, as they have resistance that distorts the sound. Be sure to connect according to the instructions that came with the car radio. Do not make unnecessary twists of wires, use special connectors for connecting wires to speakers. Basically, 2X2 acoustics are often used. That is, two large speakers in the back and two small ones on the sides of the doors. If connected correctly, you can enjoy pleasant sounding music.

Antenna connection

Of course, now there is a wide range of music and some people simply do not use the radio. But there are car enthusiasts who like to listen to their favorite radio station in the car.

If your car does not have a standard antenna, then the best option is to buy an active antenna, since installing a passive antenna will cost you a pretty penny. Installing an active antenna is quite simple. You just need to stick it on the windshield of your car. It also needs to be connected to a special wire at the output of the radio; it is usually white and labeled AMP or REM. The active antenna also has a button to turn on and off the power to the amplifier. This means that there will be no problems with signals in the city and outside the city.