New head unit

[GrantGam]

Morning guys!

I've bought a new head unit and sub to install in my '94 ABY S2 Coupe.

-Pioneer DEH-4500BT
-Pioneer TS-WX120A 150W

Currently I have an old Alpine head unit (not at my cehicle to give you the model); which I believe is connected to a permanent live as I can power it up with the ignition off and key removed. This setup doesn't cause my battery any problems as my car can sit for two weeks and start no bother.

However, with the new Pioneer DEH-4500BT am I going to need a switched live to prevent battery drain? I've read that some newer type head units are demanding for the battery and especially with the sub connected? I'm concerned this will act as an extra permanent load?

Also, I'd like to place the sub under the passenger seat and would like to know everyones opinion on this and where to route the cables...? I believe it's positive from the head unit, RCAx2 from the headunit and negative (fused) from the battery?

[BLAMM0]

Positive from the battery, negative somewhere to the chassis, remote (blue with white strap) from the head unit, and as you already mentioned - RCAs.

As for the head unit, they come with "banana" connections, so you adapt them to your car, sometimes a car has only single 12v lead, sometimes it has constant 12v and 12v from the ignition.



Hope I put it clearly

[newsh]

Find a thin red wire on the back of the ignition switch use this as the switched live, it will stay poered up till you pull the key out, then en the radio will go to sleep but keep it's memory. I have a similar Pioneer unit, my second one, they sound pretty good

[GrantGam]

Positive from the battery, negative somewhere to the chassis, remote (blue with white strap) from the head unit, and as you already mentioned - RCAs.

As for the head unit, they come with "banana" connections, so you adapt them to your car, sometimes a car has only single 12v lead, sometimes it has constant 12v and 12v from the ignition.



Hope I put it clearly

Thanks a lot, great help!

I'm presuming that Red(+) and Yellow(-)?

Also, running the cables to the sub from the head unit: where is the best/easiest route to go?

[Bowie69]

They are normally labelled, but yellow is normally ignition live, and red permanent live! check the manual that came with the head unit

Black is ground or negative.

[Ironman80]

Also, I'd like to place the sub under the passenger seat and would like to know everyones opinion on this and where to route the cables...? I believe it's positive from the head unit, RCAx2 from the headunit and negative (fused) from the battery?

Positive (fused) from battery, negative from battery (better) or chassis. Remote and RCA from HU. Positive and negative wires must be same gauges.

[GrantGam]

Positive (fused) from battery, negative from battery (better) or chassis. Remote and RCA from HU. Positive and negative wires must be same gauges.

Can you please explain why the negative from the battery is better please? And what gauge of wire should I be using (in mm please)?

[Ironman80]

Can you please explain why the negative from the battery is better please? And what gauge of wire should I be using (in mm please)?

It's better, but not necessarily. All consumers desirable grounded at one point. This will avoid possible ground loops and interference. Noises may appear, but maybe not as lucky.
And if you use chassis grounding, you must increase the cross section of regular ground wire, or make additional.

Gauge of wire must be calculated according to the table.

Длина в метрах - wire length in meters. ТОК, Ампер - current in amperes.
Table mm to AWG:


You must know current cosumpcion and wire length, then you will know which cable you need.

I apologize in advance, English is not my native language

[BLAMM0]

Dont route power wires and rca's next to each other, because that produces noises most of the time. I'd route the power and the "remote" wire through the passenger door side, the rcas near the gearbox tunnel.


Currently my routing looks like this: Drivers door side - power wire, gearbox tunnel - RCAs, passengers door side - speaker wires.

[GrantGam]

It's better, but not necessarily. All consumers desirable grounded at one point. This will avoid possible ground loops and interference. Noises may appear, but maybe not as lucky.
And if you use chassis grounding, you must increase the cross section of regular ground wire, or make additional.

Gauge of wire must be calculated according to the table.

Длина в метрах - wire length in meters. ТОК, Ампер - current in amperes.
Table mm to AWG:


You must know current cosumpcion and wire length, then you will know which cable you need.

I apologize in advance, English is not my native language

Thanks a lot,

Luckily my sub came complete with all the wiring which has saved me a few calculations

[GrantGam]

Dont route power wires and rca's next to each other, because that produces noises most of the time. I'd route the power and the "remote" wire through the passenger door side, the rcas near the gearbox tunnel.


Currently my routing looks like this: Drivers door side - power wire, gearbox tunnel - RCAs, passengers door side - speaker wires.

Hey man,

Can I stick them under the carpet or will they be on show?

[BLAMM0]

Yeah, you can hide them wherever you want Just not sure about the wires coming out from somewhere under the seat without cutting the carpet :/

[GrantGam]

Yeah, you can hide them wherever you want Just not sure about the wires coming out from somewhere under the seat without cutting the carpet :/

Got the stereo in, working fine (although like the old one; no ignition live - just permanent). So as long as I keep remembering to power down I'll be alright?

Will need to have a hard think about the cables as I can't see somewhere that I can tuck them away from sight...

[newsh]

New head unit

Double post

[newsh]

There's a plastic trim across the bottom of the door, if you pull this up and remove a screw under the rear bench you'll be able to tuck them under the carpet.