Quote:
I want to install a elderly but excellent Alpine car stereo head unit in the trailer. I'm wondering if there are any wiring concerns I should be aware of before I go cutting holes in things. Specifically, wiring the radio into the trailer wiring. Everything else is pretty straightforward.
Thanks.
|
Not knowing your particular trailers
electrical circut, I can't be specific, however, assuming your Alpine is needing 12 Volts DC, you should hook up your radio at your 12Volt DC source,(your
battery, or at your inverter if you have one) & not splice it into any existing 12 volt wiring. You should also have a in-line fuse on your positive (usually Red) wire. Your negative, (usually Black), wire should hook up on your negative terminal of your
battery or inverter.
You should go direct to your power source, making a separate dedicated circuit, due to
electrical current requirements your radio may have that may be more than what your existing 12 volt DC wiring in your trailer may be rated for. You risk burning up your trailers wiring otherwise. A separate circut would keep your radio from being damaged by current draws from other items, not the case if it was on a common circuit. If you radio has problems, only the radio would be effected. You know how when one bulb burns out, all the bulbs go out on a string of christmas
lights? It's kinda like that.
Ground your radio at your negative power source, the negative battery terminal, or the negative terminal of your inverter. This again gives you the best current path with the least impediance. It also keeps you from getting spurious noise in your radio which can uccur if you hook up to a common ground point other than at your power source.
Good Luck
ConwayBob
PS, If that is just too much, and you have ready access to 120v AC, get a 12 amp DC power supply (a $25-$35 item) and plug it in. It'll give you all the 12v DC power you need. Just hook your radio up to the pos & neg terminals of the powersupply and you'll be ROCKIN'