Connection diagrams for a car radio in a car. Car radio connection diagram, radio connector pinout, speaker polarity for dummies Standard wiring for radio

Surely every car enthusiast has come up with the idea of ​​using a car radio, in addition to the interior of the car, whether in the garage, in the country, or even in the space of his room.
Well, why not? After all, even the most standard car radio, the price of which is not comparable to the price of a music center, has normal output data and is not from the most famous manufacturer, is capable of “boosting” home speakers without loss in sound reproduction quality.
And if, in addition, the car radio has a multi-channel output, then by connecting all the provided acoustics to it, we end up with an almost complete home theater, assembled with our own hands.

Selecting a car radio

Since by default, to create a homemade one, we will use a device lying around idle, any car radio will suit us.
But this “any” should still have a minimum set of functions:

• At least two-channel output with a power of 40 W each;
• Tuner;
• CD/DVD/MP3 disc player;
• USB – connector for reading information from flash drives.

In addition, you should pay attention to the sound card of the device itself. Some radios can even surpass most modern music centers in terms of purity and sound quality.
And although, due to the fact that the car radio does not have large and capacitive capacitors in its “arsenal”, due to which it loses in the reproduction of low frequencies to powerful stationary acoustic systems, it is definitely at its best in the reproduction of the high-frequency range. Another definite advantage of the car radio is the presence of a multi-stage frequency-separate equalizer, while most stationary music centers are equipped with only standard presets.

Creating a home speaker system

So, the essence of the issue is clear to us. The car radio with speakers (see) have been lying nearby on the table for a long time and are “asking for battle.” Now we are the only ones who don’t understand how we can “connect” 12-volt equipment with a 220-volt alternating network?
I must tell you that this problem has several solutions, which are contained in the instructions below on how to connect a car radio from a 220 network.

Method one: connection via a homemade step-down transformer

This method is the most complex and time-consuming. Although the level of modern electronic technology allows us to completely abandon it, due to the fact that we are considering all the ways to connect car radios to 220 V, we will still pay due attention to it.

Preparation

So, before connecting the car radio to the 220 network, we will have to create a transformer that steps down to 12 volts with our own hands.
Why do we need:

• A similar (see photo) transformer that converts the standard network voltage to a lower one (in our case, 36 volts);
• Insulating material;
• Wire of suitable cross-section and length;
• Multimeter/voltmeter;
• A calculator, although the calculations are not at all complicated, you can get by with a piece of paper and a pen.

Creation

In order to make the task as easy as possible and not disassemble the transformer winding itself, we use the free space of the magnetic core area. We wrap the free area of ​​the magnetic circuit with insulating material and wind a piece of the wire of our choice onto it of any length.
Let's say we got seven turns.
In order to calculate the number of turns and wire length required to reduce the voltage, we need to perform the following procedures:

• We assemble a circuit for switching on a transformer using a piece of wire wound around a magnetic conductor and measure the output voltage;

• The multimeter gave a value of 2.9 volts. This means that we have 0.41 volts per turn of the secondary winding. From this ratio we obtain the number of turns required for an output of 12 volts: divide 12 by 0.41 and get 30 turns;
• We measure the length of the wire spent on the experimental seven turns, we get 126 centimeters. That is, there are 18 centimeters per turn (126 divided by 7), which means that for 30 turns we will need 540 centimeters of wire.
• Next, we wind this whole “thing” onto a magnetic circuit, assemble the circuit and check our calculations with a multimeter.

For aesthetics and convenience, we attach an additional block to the bracket and connect the leads to it.

Don’t flatter yourself, in addition to the work done, we will need to connect a diode bridge to the resulting device to rectify the current and remove its ripple (you can take the most common diodes - D226). Then connect with the load, in series, a choke with high inductance (can be from a tube receiver or from a 402-watt LDS) and in parallel two capacitors K50-18 50 volts, 10,000 µF each.
As a result, the whole scheme should look something like this:

Advice! All of the components listed can be found in a discarded tube TV.

The diode bridge can be made from individual diodes...

...so in the form of a monolithic structure (assembly)...

...which is preferable due to its low cost and compactness. The only drawback can be considered its complete non-repairability, since if one diode fails, you will have to change the entire monolith.

Connection

Next, we assemble the entire circuit, place the resulting structure in a pre-prepared case, connect the car radio with speakers and enjoy the music with friends. At the same time, as if by chance, he uttered the phrase “homemade music center” in a conversation with them)))

Method two: connection via a stationary power supply

As we previously found out, all car radios are “powered” by direct current and require 12 volts for their needs, no more and no less. Just these output parameters have stationary uninterruptible power supplies and various network adapters.

Selecting a power supply

When choosing this device, you need to pay attention to the output current, it must be at least five amperes. It should be borne in mind that at maximum loads, the car radio can consume up to 10-15 amperes, but I repeat - only at maximum loads!
Of course, there are also more powerful power supplies on sale, created specifically for these purposes, but their price is such that the entire feasibility of creating a homemade speaker system is nullified.

Connection

We cut off the standard connector of the car radio, which is intended for connection to the car, and strip the ends of the power wires to connect them to the network adapter or uninterruptible power supply. The speaker wiring can be left in the old connectors and the acoustic circuit can be assembled using standard “connectors”.
In general, the car radio connection diagram looks like this:

Naturally, instead of a battery, we mean an uninterruptible power supply or a network adapter, which produces the necessary stable 12 volts at the output. As you can see from the photo, the connection is not complicated: we connect the radio as usual and enjoy pleasant music.

Method three: connecting via a power supply from a desktop computer

Since the topic of the article has already been fully covered and the meaning of the third method is already clear, let’s get straight to the point.

Preparing the power supply for operation

The advantage of this method is that finding an old and working computer power supply is not difficult at all, and the demand for used devices is so low that it can be purchased at any radio market or in a computer workshop for almost nothing.
Although, in most cases, used power supplies from personal computers are in working condition, before connecting to the car radio, it must be checked, and if it needs to be prepared for operation:

• First, turn on the power supply and check its output voltages;
• Even if the power supply has started, the output voltages are in order and its fan is spinning, it is still worth opening its case, clearing out all the dust and inspecting the contacts of the printed circuit board for poor soldering;

Attention! Before each opening of the power supply, it must be disconnected from the network!

• Particular attention should be paid to the electrolytic capacitors of the current output rectifiers. If they have a broken serif or are swollen, they should be replaced.

Attention! High voltage electrolytic capacitors have a residual current charge sufficient to cause a mild, very unpleasant electric shock.

Advice! Before you begin repairing the power supply yourself, you need to discharge the high-voltage electrolytic capacitors of the output current rectifier by connecting a resistor with a resistance of 100 or 200 kOhm in parallel to the capacitor contacts for a few seconds.

Well, to complete the preparation of the computer power supply, for greater solidity, it can be painted from an aerosol can with spray paint (available for sale at any car store) to match the color of the interior of the room or the entire speaker system.

Preparing to connect an AT type power supply

Each computer power supply has several power harnesses with output connectors, where the black wire is negative or common, and the yellow wire supplies the 12 volts we need.

Since the AT format computer unit does not have a standby power supply “+5” or otherwise known as “Standby” and an output voltage of 3.3 volts, when it is turned on, its outputs “+12V”, “+5V”, “-12V” ", "-5V" voltage appears immediately. Therefore, if you have an “a-tech” power supply (AT), the necessary wires are “bitten off”, and the entire above acoustic circuit is connected to the power wires of the car radio.

Preparing to connect an ATX power supply

In the case of an ATX power supply, some modification is required. The fact is that this type of PSU (power supply) is equipped with a standby current source with a voltage of +5 volts (Standby).
This standby current source operates constantly when the power supply is connected to a 220-volt network and puts the entire system into “sleep” mode. Therefore, if you want the specified voltages “+12V”, “-12V”, “+5V”, “-5V” to appear on the output channels immediately after turning on the power supply. “+3.3V”, you need to close its connector contacts by installing a jumper on the black and green wires.

Connecting to the car radio power supply

You probably already know that the car radio also has sleep and operating modes, and as soon as the driver closes the electrical circuit by turning the ignition key, the car radio automatically switches from the “sleep” mode to the “active” mode.
It follows from this that if we connect the main wires of the car radio, black - minus (Ground) and yellow - plus (Battery), to which the voltage of the car’s on-board network is connected, to the corresponding terminals of the power supply, the car radio will not turn on, it will be in “sleeping” mode. mode. In order to eliminate this misunderstanding, we will have to find the red wire marked “ACC”, which in the standard circuit is connected to the ignition switch, and connect it to the yellow wire of the car radio, after which the car radio will start immediately when voltage is applied to it.

This concludes the instructions on how to connect a car radio from a 220 network with your own hands. In conclusion, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that for the “home” version, car radios with a remote control are very convenient.
Agree, in a car the remote control mostly lies idle, but at home it’s not very convenient to get up and go to the radio every time to change the track or adjust the volume. With the remote control, the process of listening to music will be much easier and more comfortable.

Cars have become a part of our lives and today they are not just a means of transportation, but a place where we spend a lot of time. On the way from work, to work, during vacation and fishing trips, all motorists are faced with such a common phenomenon as traffic jams. During the grueling hours of standing in traffic jams for many hours, there is nothing better than listening to music or watching a movie. Modern radios have everything you need for a comfortable pastime. The cost of such units can range from several thousand rubles to hundreds, and the choice here depends on your financial capabilities. You can save a lot on installing the device if you have at least the slightest knowledge of electrical engineering.

Before installing the equipment, you first need to familiarize yourself with the standard dimensions of the radio, which may differ depending on the selected model of audio installation.

On the box with the radio, many car enthusiasts notice hitherto unseen symbols and designations. For example, a 2 DIN car radio with Android navigation. Everyone knows perfectly well what navigation and Android are, but 2 DIN is less common in life. In fact, there are two sizes of sockets for car radios, namely:

• 1 DIN - dimensions 178 x 52 mm;
• 2 DIN - dimensions 178 x 100 mm.

In addition, there are now 1 DIN devices on the market with smaller dimensions of 178 x 52 x 159 mm. Such models are much cheaper due to the fact that they do not have a CD drive, instead of which USB ports are installed on the front panel.

If we talk about the differences in the main standard sizes, then 2 DIN products are equipped with a large display and large buttons. Thanks to this, such radios are easy to control. In addition, such devices often have a large number of functions, turning into full-fledged media receivers.

If you are the owner of a car radio with a retractable display, then most likely the overall dimensions of the device will correspond to the 1 DIN standard. Such devices are distinguished by their compactness, and thanks to the large display, you can watch DVDs in the car, use the Internet or a navigator. 1 DIN car radios with a retractable screen are installed in the same way as other tape recorders. The main thing is that everything is done in accordance with the recommendations given below in the article.

If your car has a 1 DIN car radio socket, but you want to use a more multifunctional device, then there are special adapter frames for 2 DIN car radios on sale.

If we talk about the depth of radio tape recorders, then this value is usually 160 mm, regardless of the standard size. Once you have determined that your radio corresponds to the socket provided by the manufacturer, or you have purchased an adapter frame or made it yourself, you can begin installing the device.

Installation Features

Before starting work, you need to pay attention to the connectors of the car radio and the car. If they don't match, it's okay. Now on the market you can purchase any necessary adapter that allows you to switch from the original speakers to the generally accepted ISO standard. The best car stereo connector is ISO 10487, so if your vehicle has one, the installation process will be much easier.

Before installation, you must purchase a set of all the necessary wires to connect power and speakers. It is better to choose shorter wiring without unnecessary twists. Multicore wires with silicone insulation are considered the most reliable today. In addition, check whether you will need an adapter frame for a 2 DIN car radio.

Healthy! The diameter of the wiring should be 1.5-2 times thicker than that on the car radio connector. Experts recommend using special acoustic wires with a cross-section of 1.5-4 mm square.

After this, you can proceed to the connection.

Marking of wires and their connection diagram

Almost all car radio manufacturers adhere to the same standard for marking input wires:

• BAT/B+ - yellow wire to the permanent positive of the battery. When connecting, a 10-20A fuse is used;
• ACC/A+ - red wire to the ignition switch terminal;
• GROUND/GND - black wire indicating minus or ground;
• REM - blue or white-blue control wire, responsible for turning on the car amplifier or antenna;
• ILL - orange wire to the light switch terminal;
• MUTE is a yellow-black wire responsible for remote muting or completely turning off the sound. If it is not included in the kit, then there is no need to buy such a wire.

There is another connection scheme when the red wire is connected together with the red one. This allows the audio system to operate regardless of whether the ignition key is turned on or off. The only disadvantage of such a scheme is that the tape recorder will always be in standby mode, which has a detrimental effect on battery performance. Its discharge rate can increase significantly.

For the radio output, the following wires are used, going to the speakers. They always come in pairs:

• FL- and FL + - minus and plus of the rear speaker (white wires);
• FR- and FR+ - minus and plus of the front speaker (gray wires);
• RL- and RL+ - minus and plus of the left rear speaker (green wires);
• RR- and RR+ - minus and plus of the right rear speaker (purple wires).

In each pair, one wire will be plain, and the second will have a black stripe. Striped means minus. Carefully read the color scheme of your radio and follow the sequence of wires.

Connecting speakers

The process of connecting speakers requires special attention, so be sure to check the instructions. Usually there are plus and minus markings on the speaker terminals. Most often, the wide terminal is positive, and the narrow terminal is negative. If your car does not have such markings, use the simplest tester - a battery. Connect its + and - to the speaker terminals and if the diffuser moves outward, then you have determined the phasing correctly.

There is another way to determine phasing. To do this, transfer all audio to one of the front speakers and increase the volume to maximum until there is noticeable sound distortion. Balance the sound by evenly distributing the volume between the left and right speakers. If the phasing is done correctly, the overall volume will increase noticeably. If the sound does not become louder or the changes are barely noticeable, this indicates incorrect phasing and the need to swap the wires on one of the speakers. You can also check the rear speakers in the same way.

Important! Be sure to carry out a test, since if you connect incorrectly, you risk losing up to 80% of the sound quality or completely destroying the radio over time.

If your radio has low power, then it will only be equipped with positive wires for each speaker. In this case, the minus of the speakers is connected to the common minus of the audio installation.

You will know that the radio is connected incorrectly or in an “undesirable” way by the following signs:

• when parked, the battery will discharge very quickly, to such a state that it will be impossible to start the car;
• while listening to music, you will notice that the tape recorder constantly “stutters”, and when the volume increases, the car radio “turns off by itself”;
• When the power is turned off, all settings disappear.

If you notice such problems, it is better to check that all wires are connected correctly.

Antenna connection

To connect a passive antenna, simply plug its plug into the corresponding socket. If you are installing an active device, then things are a little more complicated. The fact is that in this case you need to supply power to the antenna. Usually this can be achieved using the blue REM wire, which either comes with the radio or is prepared by you in advance.

Other possible contacts

You may also encounter other markings on the product, so it will be useful to know them:

• AMP - contact responsible for turning on the power to the external amplifier;
• DATA IN/OUT - data input/output;
• LINE IN/OUT - linear input/output;
• ACP+/- - bus lines (most often used in Ford cars);
• AUDIO/R/L COM - common wire (ground), responsible for input/output for preamplifiers;
• SEC IN - additional input;
• ALARM - used to connect an alarm system (very often present in PIONEER radios);
• D2B-/D2B+ - optical communication lines.

In custody

If for some reason you need to remove the radio, this can be done very simply. First, press the RELEASE button and unclip the front control panel. Next, using two flat keys, pull the radio out. As you can see, installing a car radio with your own hands, the video of which you will find below, does not require much time and effort, the main thing is to do everything according to the appropriate connection diagram.

Active music lovers replace their radios more than once, for various reasons. Sometimes the radio simply breaks down, sometimes obsolescence occurs, and sometimes the car owner just wants to get high-quality sound. And if you buy a car from scratch, each “option” for filling the car costs tens of thousands of rubles. If you don’t want to overpay for a car, you have the right to purchase a car without a car radio, and then, yourself, purchase and install the radio model that suits you perfectly. But for each job in a car service you have to pay a considerable amount, and if you are not a complete “felt boot”, you can install a new radio with your own hands. This article will help you on how to install it. Just sort out all the wires at the output of the radio and decide on the plugs.

Installation of a radio tape recorder, what format of radio tape recorders are present on the automotive market

Depending on the make of the car, the format of the car radio is selected. European automakers produce cars with single-block or single-din (1DIN) car radios.

Car manufacturers in Japan, Korea and the USA are focused on the production of two-block format radios (2DIN).

Naturally, since in Russia there are many cars made in Japan and Korea, two-unit radios have become quite in demand.

Car enthusiasts fell in love with 2DIN radios due to the expanded size of the case, which allows the installation of additional multimedia functions.

Installing the radio, ISO plugs

There is an international ISO standard for the production of radio tape recorders.

Therefore, if you do not want your music system to break, do not use car radio wiring that does not comply with international standards.

Modern radio manufacturers equip all radio adapters with ISO standards.

Each car brand uses its own plugs to create a transition from the original plug to the international standard; adapters have been produced.

Adapters have a wide range and you can choose the right one for any occasion.

If the car has standard wiring, this makes connecting the radio easier and removes all difficulties.

Installing a radio, the easiest way to install a car radio

Car enthusiasts know that the easiest way to connect a car radio is to cut the wire from the plug of your radio or car wiring.

Using electrical tape, you just need to connect the wires in accordance with the color of these wires.

The method, of course, is far from aesthetic, everything is done “clumsily” and the electrical tape itself is not a reliable fixation when the outside temperature fluctuates - this can lead to a short circuit.

If you decide to use this method, we recommend using heat shrink tubing or clamp terminals - this method is more reliable. If you don’t like noisy music and are not going to constantly change radios, you can stop there.

But if you like changes and know that you will change the radio in the future, then you should work hard once and install the ISO contacts.

The next time you replace, you simply pull out the old radio, disconnect the plugs, connect the plugs to the new radio and install it in the niche.

Installing a radio, do-it-yourself connection basics

Any equipment operates from a source of electricity.

A car battery is a source of electricity, but at the same time it poses a danger to radios and speakers.

If you confuse the plus and minus of the radio, or confuse the speaker terminals, you can destroy the equipment.

But at the same time, it is necessary to connect from the battery and not from the cigarette lighter or ignition switch.

If you want clear sound and good power from your music equipment, you must connect to a battery.

An important point is to use short wires.

When connecting the plus, use stranded copper wire with a cross-section of at least 4 mm2.

There should be a 10-20 A fuse on the positive wire of the battery; the fuse should be well insulated and installed from the battery terminal at a distance of at least 40 cm.

Sometimes the manufacturer installs the fuse themselves.

The negative wire should also be as short as possible.

Why do they pay attention to the length of the wires?

But because the short wire can be laid neatly, without twisting and to prevent intersections with other consumers.

The wires are connected to the radio itself after the connection to the speakers has occurred.

To prevent the positive wire of the battery from being exposed, this wire must be well insulated until the moment when the car radio can be powered with the positive wire.

Installing a radio, how to connect speakers

A very important point is to connect the speakers to the appropriate phases.

The terminal on the speaker is marked, a wide terminal is a plus, and a narrow terminal is a minus.

If an old car has speakers without terminal markings, the markings can be determined using a regular battery.

The speaker terminals are connected to the plus and minus of the battery and if you guessed correctly, the diffuser will move outward, if you didn’t guess, the diffuser will move inward.

Remember, if you connect the speaker phases incorrectly, you will lose 80% of the sound quality, and then the speaker and radio may break.

The most common mistake that leads to loss of speaker power and sound quality is incorrect speaker phasing.

If you don’t even have a battery at hand, turn on the radio at full power, outputting the sound to one speaker, then distribute the sound equally to both speakers, thus setting the balance to 0.

If after these actions the sound power and low frequencies increase, your actions are correct.

And if no changes occur, change the polarity.

Do the same work on the rear and side pair of speakers.

Of course, if an elephant has stepped on your ear and you don’t see any difference in the sound, it doesn’t matter to you, leave everything as it is.

Installing a radio, how to choose wires

Speaker wires also have their own markings.

The positive wires have a solid color, and the negative wires have the same color plus a black stripe.

This means that a solid-colored wire connects to the wide speaker terminal, and a wire with a black stripe goes to the narrow speaker terminal.

The negative wire for a pair of speakers of an acoustic system located on the side or from the front, with a system power of up to 20 W, can be common.

And if the system has a power of 30 W. and more for each channel, each channel has its plus and minus.

It is forbidden to confuse or swap wires.

It is forbidden to connect the minus to the car body to ground the speaker.

This procedure results in loss of power and distortion of sound.

If the radio has low power and manual tuning, there may be two or four speaker wires with a plus and not one wire with a minus.

In this case, for all speakers, the minus is connected to the main negative wire of the radio; it must be routed to the car body or to the minus terminal of the battery.

Almost all speaker systems, when purchased, have connecting wires. But these wires are testing and not installation.

Since the cross-section of these wires is very small, no higher than 0.5 mm2, it is not capable of transmitting all the power to the speakers without loss.

Such wires can only be used for speakers whose power is not higher than 20 W, and the diameter of the speakers is not more than 13 cm - such speakers can only create auxiliary acoustics.

Powerful speakers from 40 to 100 W, with a speaker diameter of more than 16 cm, are connected with special speaker wires.

The wires are made of oxygen-free copper and their cross-section is from 1 to 4 mm2.

On such wires there are arrows indicating the correct direction from the car radio to the speaker, and the direction of the coil of the copper bundle significantly affects the sound.

Installing a radio, what kind of insulation should be on the wires

High-quality insulation ensures uninterrupted reliable operation.

The insulation on modern wires should be silicone; silicone is not subject to changes under the influence of external temperatures.

To have high-quality sound, in addition to high-quality insulation, the following is not allowed:

• twisting the wires (therefore the wires should be as short as possible);
• Do not lay wires near the wires of other consumers;
• the wires should not rub against each other;
• It is unacceptable for your feet to touch wires or cargo in the trunk;
• in doors, the wires must be pulled through a hard cambric.

Installing a radio, how to position the speakers

Before connecting the radio, install the rear main speakers. The short axis of the speaker should be directed diagonally across the cabin.

The rear left axle is directed towards the passenger and the right axle towards the driver.

If the speakers are in the trunk, do not block the sound with boxes or drawers. Place the tweeters on the windshield pillar, the sound from the driver's tweeter should go to the passenger.

The sound of the passenger tweeter should go to the driver.

During the period of use of your car, the car radio is changed several times. There may be various reasons for this. Someone wanted better sound quality, for someone it simply broke down, and someone follows fashion and simply wants to update outdated equipment.

To install a new radio, many people have to pay for a service at a car service center. However, you just have to find out the purpose of all the wires at its outputs and the purpose of all the plugs, and how to install the car radio will no longer be a difficult question.

Radio format

They come in single-block (or single-din) and double-block (double-din). These formats are designated as 1DIN and 2DIN, respectively. In Europe, single-din ones are common, but in America, Japan and Korea - double-din ones.

Recently, the need for two-block radios has increased, because The size of the case allows for additional multimedia functions. It is worth considering that.

Plugs with ISO markings

ISO marking is an international standard established for the production of car radios and vehicle wiring. In order to prevent equipment damage, it is prohibited to use the car and radio wiring for purposes other than their intended purpose. Almost all manufacturers of audio equipment equip these contacts with an adapter to the ISO standard.

There are various adapters for connecting and installing vehicle electrical networks to the ISO standard.

Each car brand uses its own plugs. In addition, adapters are produced, thanks to which you can switch to the ISO standard from the original pads. There are many adapters for connecting car electrical networks to the ISO standard. Adapters are also available for switching from the original car radio pads to the ISO standard.

Often, manufacturers of car audio equipment supply it with individual plugs, regardless of the international standard. But still, companies that respect their brand make sure that they have adapters for ISO standard plugs. If the car has standard wiring, everything is much simpler: all you have to do is use it to connect the car radio.

DIY car radio installation

There is one slightly “clumsy”, but very simple way to connect a new car radio. You are cutting the wires from the plug of your car radio or from the car wiring. Next, using electrical tape, connect the wires in accordance with the color pinout on the reel. The disadvantages of this method are that it is not entirely aesthetic. In addition, electrical tape is not a very reliable fixation for winter cold, as a result of which a short circuit may occur.

The use of heat-shrinkable tubing or clamp terminals in this case can protect against problems.

However, if you still work hard and install ISO contacts, it will pay off in the absence of “headaches” during subsequent car radio changes.

You will only need to pull out the old car radio, switch the plug from it to the new one and install the new car radio in the niche.

Types of format according to the size of radio tape recorders

According to the size format, car radios are divided into two types: single-block and double-block. Since the international standard defines their designations as 1DIN and 2DIN, they are also called single-din and double-din. European car manufacturers mainly produce cars with niches for single-block car radios. Manufacturers from Korea, America and Japan specialize in two-block niches. These niches are 2 times larger than single-block ones. Two-unit car radios have a clear advantage in terms of multimedia functions. In this regard, the demand for them is constantly growing. Unfortunately, not everyone can install a two-unit car radio on their car, because... defines the corresponding type.

Basics of connecting a radio

So, the source of electricity is the battery. At the same time, it is also a source of danger for the radio and speakers. Under no circumstances should its plus be allowed to touch the minus of the car radio or any speaker terminal. In this case, it is recommended to power both the plus and minus from the battery. Often, car enthusiasts neglect this rule by using power from the cigarette lighter or ignition switch. Yes, this is probably easier, but... In the first case, we give the speakers the absence of interference and interference, as well as the ability to drive at full power.

The wire for connecting the plus requires a stranded copper wire with a cross-section of 4 m² or more.

It should be as short in length as possible. A fuse must be installed. It should have a face value of 10-20. And good insulation. It is installed at a distance of forty or more centimeters from the battery terminal. Sometimes the fuse is already installed by the manufacturer. The “—” wire should also be as short as possible.

The wires are laid carefully, avoiding twisting, at the greatest possible distance from other consumers. They are connected to the car radio after the speakers are connected. Do not allow the exposed positive battery cable to touch anything. It must be insulated until the last moment, when all that remains is to power the car radio with plus.

Connecting speakers

A very important point is the installation diagram of the car radio and the correct connection of the speakers according to the phases. The speaker terminals are marked, so you can easily figure out where the plus is and where the minus is. Usually the wide terminal is positive, the narrow terminal is negative.

It happens that cars from previous years have speakers that do not have terminals with markings. Then to determine the poles you need a regular battery. Connect its “+” and “-” to the speaker terminals. If the phasing is correct, the diffuser will move outward, and if it is incorrect, it will move inward.

Incorrect speaker phasing causes a loss of 80 percent of sound quality.

It can also lead to damage first to the speaker, and then to the car radio itself. If installed incorrectly, this is the most common mistake. It would seem that all the speakers are functioning, but there is no power or quality.

Let’s say that you don’t even have a battery on hand to check the phasing. Then, turning on the radio, output the sound, say, to the front left speaker, turn up the volume almost until hoarse, and then distribute it equally to both (i.e., set the balance to zero). If the sound power and low frequencies have undoubtedly increased, then the phasing is correct. Otherwise, you need to change the polarity on one (!) of the speakers. The same actions must be performed with the rear pair of speakers, as well as with the side pairs (rear left - front left and rear right - front right).

When, after making balance adjustments, the difference in sound is not noticeable, then do not suffer, leaving it as it is. Apparently, your hearing doesn’t really need this correctness.

Selection of wiring

The speaker wires from the car radio also have their own markings. As a rule, there are two or four pairs of them. A solid color without a black stripe is a plus. The same color, only with a black stripe - this is a minus.

A solid color is connected to the wide speaker terminal, a black stripe is connected to the narrow terminal.

The disadvantage for a pair of front or side speakers in an acoustic system up to 20 W can be common. In systems rated at 30 watts per channel or more, each channel has its plus and minus. It is prohibited to confuse them or swap them. It is also impossible to ground the speaker by connecting the minus to the car body. This will cause sound distortion, and the power cannot be increased beyond 30 percent. In low-power radios that have manual radio tuning, there may be 2 or four colored wires (acoustic with a plus) and not a single pair with a black stripe (negative). In this case, the “minus” for all speakers is connected to the main negative wire of the car radio (black), which, in turn, must be routed to the car body. (And even preferably on the negative terminal of the battery).

Almost all speaker systems are equipped with connecting wires. But these are not installation wires, but test wires. They are included so that you have something to check the speakers upon purchase, and not for use in a car. Their cross-section, as a rule, does not exceed 0.25 - 0.5 m²m. It is too small to pass the power supplied by the car radio to the speakers without any losses. These wires can be used only when the power of the installed speaker is no more than 15-20 W, and its diameter is 10-13 cm, that is, for auxiliary acoustics.

For main 40-100 W speakers with a diameter of 16 cm or more, special speaker wires are required. These are oxygen-free copper wires, directional. Their cross-section is from 1 to 4 m², depending on the power of the radio and its speakers.

For perfect sound, even the direction of the coil of the copper bundle is of great importance.

In addition to the text, which is written on transparent insulation, arrows on such wires also indicate the correct direction to the speaker from the car radio.

Insulation requirements

The wires must have a good insulating layer, preferably silicone (the silicone layer does not burst in the cold). They also need to have a cross-section corresponding to the power. They need to be placed correctly around the cabin (not near the power wires of other consumers). It is necessary to prevent them from twisting (they have absolutely no need for extra length). They must be laid closed throughout the cabin.

The wires should not fray. They must not be easily touched by feet or come into contact with cargo in the trunk. In a door from its post, they need to be pulled through a hard cambric so that the hinge (of a fairly large diameter) moves in the body behind the door post (not in the door itself), and certainly not between the post and the door.

Speaker placement

Let's say for the rear main acoustics, oval speakers (16x23 cm) were purchased. Then, before installing the car radio and connecting it, so that the short axis of the loudspeaker is directed diagonally across the cabin (that is, the rear left one is towards the passenger, the left one is towards the driver). Do not cover speakers in the trunk with boxes or crates. They must “breathe” freely, and in a fairly large volume.

It is better to place tweeters (or tweeters) on the windshield pillars. The further you are from the low frequencies, the brighter the quad effect. Direct the sound from the driver's tweeter to the passenger, and from the passenger tweeter to the driver.

Video - installing a new radio

Conclusion!

Two-component systems are increasingly becoming fashionable. It is better to place their woofers not in the panel, but in the rear shelves or doors. And tweeters need to be placed further and in front. Tweeters sold separately, which do not require crossovers, can be paralleled with front or rear speakers, as they say, to taste. They have different powers - from a subtle squeak to real support for the entire spectrum of mid-high frequencies. Other speakers cannot be connected in parallel. If you really can’t bear to plug in a couple more, then install them in series with the existing ones.

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How to connect a car radio yourself?

How to connect the radio yourself?

If this warning has no effect on you and you have a great desire and are determined to install an audio system in your car yourself, let’s try to find out how to do it correctly. Just “get acquainted”.

It is advisable to have a tester, screwdrivers and electrical tape. Installation time usually takes from 5 minutes to 5 hours.

The car in which the audio system is installed may have the following configuration options with conductors and connectors for the car radio:

1. In the car, all conductors to the front and rear speakers are connected and routed. The power wires are routed from the battery and the positive wire has its own separate fuse. All wires are connected to the connector and this connector coincides with the socket in the installed radio. The cord from the antenna is brought out and has a plug that also fits the installed radio.
2. All the necessary wires, both power and loudspeakers, are installed and routed into the car. All wires are connected to the connector and this connector does NOT fit the car radio being installed.
3. There are no conductors for the speakers in the car, the power wires are not routed out, or all the wires are there, but they are not connected correctly or have a lot of wear, tears, etc. In general, everything is bad here.

First option We won’t look at it, all you need to do here is connect and insert. It should only be noted that it would not hurt to check whether everything is connected as required by the new radio, and whether the wiring and speakers correspond to the power for which the new radio is designed. If something doesn't match or doesn't match, read on.

Second option. The car wiring connector does not match with the radio socket. The fact is that each manufacturer equips its audio devices with individual connectors for connection. And even different models from the same manufacturer have different connectors. However, a separate adapter for the so-called ISO standard is often supplied with car radios.

Therefore, before taking any action, make sure that the adapter is missing (which happens very rarely) or it also does not fit.

Then you can get out of this predicament in two ways:

The first, and most correct, is to purchase an ISO adapter for the electrical wiring of your car. There are a great variety of adapters on sale now, and you shouldn’t have any problems purchasing them.

The second method is undesirable and unreliable, but the most common among car enthusiasts and, unfortunately, among some technical centers. This method involves biting off the connectors and connecting the wires directly with twists. The first thing you need to do is make sure that the wires on the car connector (or connectors) match the color of the wires from the car radio adapter. If the wires match, disconnect the battery, and then use wire cutters to cut off the car connector and the connector included with the car radio.

You have to be careful with the car radio connector so as not to bite off the wrong thing. To avoid confusion, connect the connector to the radio and bite off the part that remains unconnected. We connect car wires and wires from a car radio according to color markings, and it is advisable to solder the connection points and insulate them with special heat-shrinkable casings.

If for some reason the colors of the wires do not match, then the next, very important step will be to test the wires and may have to connect the missing wires.

To do this, we arm ourselves with a tester or multimeter with a beeper and a 9-volt battery.

Let us remind you that all manipulations with the wiring must be carried out with the BATTERY DISCONNECTED!!!

We will not dwell in detail on the dialing procedure here, we will only say why a battery is needed here.

The fact is that if you ring the speakers without disconnecting the wires from them (and it’s so lazy to pull the plug again), you should have two wires ringing.

This is a pair of corresponding speakers. But to determine which of them is plus and which is minus, you will need a battery. Connect the battery to this pair, one wire to positive, the other to negative, and notice where the speaker cone goes.

If the diffuser moves out, then the polarity is correct, the wire that was connected to the positive of the battery is marked as positive, and the one that is connected to the negative is marked as negative. If the diffuser is pulled inward, then you need to mark the wires the other way around. You need to connect the battery to the speaker for no more than 1 second.

Wire color

Wire functions

Wire designation

minus battery

GND or GROUND

plus battery

B+ or BAT

plus from the ignition switch

A+ or ACC

White without stripe

plus front left speaker

White with stripe

minus front left speaker

Gray without stripe

plus front right speaker

Gray with stripe

minus front right speaker

Green without stripe

plus rear left speaker

Green with stripe

minus rear left speaker

Purple without stripe

plus rear right speaker

Purple with stripe

minus rear right speaker

In addition to the main wires, the radio may have additional ones, for example, blue or blue with a white stripe (ANT, AMP or REM) - turning on the active antenna, orange (ILL) - connecting the backlight, etc.

Third option. Everything in the car needs to be installed and connected from scratch or anew. The first thing you have to do is purchase a set of wires for supplying power and connecting speakers.

The length of the wires is calculated individually, depending on the car and installation method; they should be as short as possible (but not too much of a stretch) and not have unnecessary twists. It is advisable to purchase copper wires, stranded in silicone insulation. Their thickness, namely their cross-sectional area, must be sufficient to provide the full power of the audio system. For an acoustic system up to 120 W, the power wires must be at least 4 mm. sq. and the wires for the speakers are 1-2 mm. sq.

It should be noted that connecting wires are supplied with the speakers and, as a rule, they do not correspond to the thickness required.

Connecting loudspeakers (speakers). Most modern car radios are designed to operate 4 speakers. Two front and two rear. For radios with a power of 30 W per channel or more, four pairs of wires come out of the connector. Each pair has its own color (see table). Each pair has one wire with a stripe along its entire length (loudspeaker minus) and a wire without a stripe (loudspeaker plus).

It is not advisable to confuse a minus with a plus (although not fatal) and it is strictly forbidden to ground the negative wire coming from the radio to ground (the minus that goes to the loudspeaker is its own minus of the output amplifier of the radio and has nothing to do with the total mass of the car) . On the speakers themselves, there are two terminals; one is narrower, the second is wider.

The positive wire from the radio is connected to the wide terminal, and the negative wire to the narrow terminal.

I would like to dwell in more detail on the correct connection of plus and minus (correct phasing) of loudspeakers. If all the pros and cons are followed correctly, no problems should arise, it will “bang” as expected.

But it may happen that your hearing turns out to be excellent and you are very picky about sound quality, and what comes out of the speakers confuses you. There is sound and the volume seems to be good, but somehow everything is wrong, and the “bass” is almost not felt. When you try to increase the low frequencies, instead of a mighty “bang”, a pathetic “fart” appears.

With everything described, there is an incorrect phasing. To properly phase the loudspeakers, you need to double-check all connecting wires and, if necessary, ring them.

However, you can take a simpler route; transfer the sound to the front speakers first and turn the balance to only one speaker, for example the left one. Increase the volume until distortion appears or to maximum volume.

Then move the balance to the middle position, that is, distribute the volume evenly to the right and left speakers. With correct phasing, the overall volume will increase significantly.

If the phasing is incorrect, the volume will increase insignificantly or not at all, and the low frequencies will disappear almost completely. In this case, you need to swap plus and minus, but ONLY ON ONE SPEAKER!

The same procedure must be repeated on the rear speakers.

Connecting the power supply to the car radio. The vast majority of modern car radios use three wires to supply power, usually black, yellow and red.

Black – battery minus.

Yellow – battery positive, all power energy consumers are powered from this wire. Therefore, if for some reason the yellow wire has become unusable, you should not stretch the remaining stub of it to the first fuse you come across or replace it with the first wire you come across from a Chinese phone charger.

Red - positive from the ignition switch.

Let's first deal with the yellow and black wires. The most common connection method is a black wire to the first ground bolt that comes across, and a yellow wire from the cigarette lighter or from the ignition switch. But this is not the right way!

The greatest power and minimal interference can only be achieved by connecting these two wires directly to the battery. Wires, as mentioned above, need to be stranded, copper, with a cross-section of at least 4 square meters. mm. At a distance of 30–40 centimeters, an additional 10–20 A fuse in good insulation is installed on the positive wire (yellow).

The red wire is also a plus, but it should be connected to the ignition switch. Or rather, to the circuit into which voltage is supplied when the ignition is turned on.

Some car owners connect the red wire together with the yellow one. The advantage of this connection is that the radio will turn on in any case, regardless of whether the ignition is on or not. The downside is that the radio will be in standby mode all the time, that is, partially turned on all the time, even if you turned it off with the “POWER” button. Of course, your battery will not be happy about such an event. In this case, the rate of battery discharge depends on the specific car radio and, unfortunately, we do not have data on which model and how quickly your battery will drain.

Antenna connection. An antenna can be active or passive (just an antenna). The passive antenna connects without any difficulty, just plug the plug into the corresponding socket. With an active antenna, the situation is a little more complicated, since power needs to be supplied to it. Almost all modern radios have a separate output; this is a blue or blue wire with a white stripe, which is designated as ANT, AMP or REM.

There can be two of these wires. They are designed to turn on devices that are needed only when the radio is operating; in our case, this device is an active antenna.

The topic covered is the whole science of car audio, and this article is by no means an exhaustive guide in this area. Moreover, we have not touched on all the basics, which more than one car acoustics specialist cannot do without. In this article, we tried to give the minimum that will allow you to correctly connect the radio and speakers, while obtaining quite acceptable sound quality.

The main goal of this article is to reduce the flow of grief from car owners who tried to connect the radio themselves and got something wrong. Of course, most incorrectly connected radios can be brought back to life, but it is still not uncommon when repairs are no longer practical.

How to connect a car radio yourself? How to connect the radio yourself?