14 replies to this topic

[Big Guns]

Hi all. Pretty much as the topic says. I'm not electrically minded (being colour blind! lol) but can do simple things. My clubby has NEVER has a radio/cassette/cd etc in it!! Weird I know. I'm putting a descent head unit in along with 2X 4" speakers in the dash, 2X 6"x 9" and 2X 2" tweeters. Cool, I've no problems there but......can I wire the head unit direct to the + and - terminals on the cars battery? There is an in line fuse.

Cheers.........Dave

[bunch1980]

Hi all. Pretty much as the topic says. I'm not electrically minded (being colour blind! lol) but can do simple things. My clubby has NEVER has a radio/cassette/cd etc in it!! Weird I know. I'm putting a descent head unit in along with 2X 4" speakers in the dash, 2X 6"x 9" and 2X 2" tweeters. Cool, I've no problems there but......can I wire the head unit direct to the + and - terminals on the cars battery? There is an in line fuse.

Cheers.........Dave

I will be doing the same myself to on my Sprite as far as i know there is no wiring at all on it for a stereo/radio.

From what i know it is not the norm to wire direct to battery at all but to use + live 12v feeds permanent and then switched live feeds so radio goes off with
ignition etc. The - being ground to chassis/body.
The 12v permanent feed can be taken from a spare fuse in fuse box and switched feed from igntion wiring but i have yet to get mine and look closely as this im
sure someone will be along to help more soon, there is also a guide in faq for installing a radio from scratch!

[Big Guns]

Thanks for that. I have in years gone by wired direct to battery but it was over 25 years ago so wondered if things had changed?
Cheers.........Dave

[bunch1980]

Thanks for that. I have in years gone by wired direct to battery but it was over 25 years ago so wondered if things had changed?
Cheers.........Dave

You could still do i think, but then it would be on all time or have power going through ti even when you leave car etc or need a switch etc, but then you would lose radio settings each time so thats why it best to use a switched + also as well as permanent one.

[dsgoody]

As bunch1980 said, whatever you do you have to take a switched feed from the fusebox (unless you don't want your radio to turn off with the key). While your doing that it easy just to take a constant from the fusebox but some others take it from the started solenoid where the main battery cable comes in (this is normally a good idea if you want to run other accessories too). Obviously ground it on the cars chassis.

Heres a handy little diagram showing you what goes where on the fusebox:


@bunch1980 Is your car on a K plate? I'm pretty sure you should have the wiring already there unless someone has cut it out.

Dave

[Bungle]

i would take the power off the starter solenoid (fused) as the fuse box isn't really up to much, pointless wiring to the battery when it's in the boot

if you don't want to head unit on a permanent supply just add a relay switch from a switched supply from the fuse box

[bunch1980]

As bunch1980 said, whatever you do you have to take a switched feed from the fusebox (unless you don't want your radio to turn off with the key). While your doing that it easy just to take a constant from the fusebox but some others take it from the started solenoid where the main battery cable comes in (this is normally a good idea if you want to run other accessories too). Obviously ground it on the cars chassis.

Heres a handy little diagram showing you what goes where on the fusebox:


@bunch1980 Is your car on a K plate? I'm pretty sure you should have the wiring already there unless someone has cut it out.

Dave

Thanks for diagram dave will be a great help for when i come to add mine, then if like you say wiring there be even easier. I havent had a chance to look closely as i not got mini until sunday,
i have asked at like somerford minis if it would have loom for radio or if i could buy it but they said it be easier to add my own, it is on a k plate 1275cc carbed sprite be nice if wiring is there and can get an iso converter then i think to switch it from rover loom to iso!!!

[Darkscamp]

I've done several stereo upgrades in Rovers, 2 of them being minis and they already had an ISO loom. Just depends when they started using ISO connectors.

[bunch1980]

I've done several stereo upgrades in Rovers, 2 of them being minis and they already had an ISO loom. Just depends when they started using ISO connectors.

This what i was hoping but no one seems to know or be sure if mine would have it still will look tommorow be nice if there is some wires there already!!!

[Darkscamp]

does it have a cage for a stereo under the dash on the passenger side. the wiring is normally tucked up around that area. thats unless you have a original full dash

[bunch1980]

does it have a cage for a stereo under the dash on the passenger side. the wiring is normally tucked up around that area. thats unless you have a original full dash

No has nothing like that at all, there is a bung on the wing for aerial etc, from what i been told if it was sold with radio there wont be no wiring for it, will when i get it tommorow!

[bunch1980]

I had a better look when i got it yesterday all i can find is lots of connectors under to left of steering column but these all have connectors in them and dont look like an ISo block.
I havent figured out how to look ant where else yet its standard open dash no dashboard as such where would an ISo loom be if i had one??

[dsgoody]

If you had one it would be floating around the above the switches in the middle (that's where I normally find them anyway). As you say there is no aerial fitted so there’s a strong chance that it might have been cut away by the previous owner.

Assuming your car is Carb and not injection you may have a glass fuse holder floating around the by the steering column somewhere with a little light green wire either end, this is the fuse for your stereo.

Dave.

Edited by dsgoody, 23 March 2010 - 12:38 PM.

[bunch1980]

If you had one it would be floating around the above the switches in the middle (that's where I normally find them anyway). As you say there is no aerial fitted so there’s a strong chance that it might have been cut away by the previous owner.

Assuming your car is Carb and not injection you may have a glass fuse holder floating around the by the steering column somewhere with a little light green wire either end, this is the fuse for your stereo.

Dave.

I shall have a look further and try and remove switches etc to get a good look, I dont think anything has been cut or modified from stock as before it was one lady owner for 16 years, i just think is there was no radio to start with then perhaps theres no wires for it at all!

I had a look round there before but didnt go to mad or remove any bits so will look further next time to thanks!

[Big Guns]

Hi all. Big thanks to Dave!!! Got it up and running now. My clubby estate has no back seats (guess that makes it a van with windows really!) and the back has been "customised". I put a direct feed to the battery and linked in the accessories wire too. Yes, I have to turn it on/off manually but that's no hardship. The diagram is great to by the way. I'm considering putting a DVD in so I'll probably use it for that.
Thanks again