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Car radio connection diagram. Installation of car radios

Today, the basic equipment of a car does not always include a car radio. But even if you are lucky and you bought a car with an already installed device for listening to music or watching movies, it is not at all necessary that you will like it or be of suitable quality. Based on this, we can conclude that knowledge of how to install a radio in a car will not hurt you. There is nothing difficult in this matter and, if desired, anyone can carry out this procedure if they have a connection diagram, as well as certain knowledge.

In this article we will talk about how to connect a radio to your car without anyone's help, and also give some useful tips and tricks.

Connecting a radio: what types of this device exist?

In order to independently install a car radio, you need to know the meaning of absolutely all the wires and plugs at its outputs. It is also worth noting that there are two main types, which differ in their format, namely:

  • Single block radio. It is more common in the countries of the European Union and here;
  • Two-block. This type of car radio can be found much more often in the United States of America, Japan or Korea. It has a larger size, thanks to which it can have a large number of different multimedia functions.

Before connecting the car radio, you must first select the model of this device that will be suitable for the make of your car.

Connecting a radio: how to correctly distinguish between plugs?

Each plug has markings that comply with certain international standards. ISO marking is installed in the manufacture of car radios and wiring specially designed for it. At the same time, each manufacturer of Audi equipment for cars produces its own adapters for the ISO standard. It is for this reason that today you can find many different types of transition plugs.

Toyota car radio connector pinout

If you are interested in how to connect a car radio, then it should be noted that you must use your vehicle model's own plugs. The fact is that each car brand has its own special types of plugs and adapters, with the help of which you can make the transition to the ISO standard.

If your car has standard wiring, this makes the task somewhat easier for you, since you do not need to select adapters for connection, and you can install the radio directly.

How to connect a radio in a car: connection steps

It's no secret that the main source of electrical energy in any car is the battery. However, it is precisely this that can lead to damage to the car radio or speakers. In order to protect expensive equipment from damage by electric shock, you must be careful not to allow the positive side of the battery to touch the negative side of the player or any of the speaker terminals.

When connecting, it is very important to follow all instructions, namely, act according to the car radio connection diagram, which usually comes complete with the device itself. In order to connect the plus, you must use the shortest possible multi-core cable with a cross-section of at least four millimeters square. Naturally, this wire must be made of copper. You should also install a ten or twenty amp fuse on the positive connecting cable, ensuring good insulation. It is best to install it at a distance of forty-five centimeters from the battery terminals.

As for the negative wire, it is advisable to choose it as short as possible. To avoid confusion later, the terminals must be marked accordingly or be marked in different colors. When routing cables, try to keep them as far as possible from other devices and parts that consume electrical energy. This must be done very carefully and ensure that the wires do not get twisted. Usually the speakers are connected first and only then the car radio itself. It is very important to keep the positive cable insulated until it is connected to the radio.

How to install a radio: connecting speakers

Particular attention should be paid to the process of connecting speakers. When performing all work, be sure to use the connection diagram that comes with the device. This diagram also clearly shows how the speakers should be connected in accordance with the phases. Speaker terminals usually have markings that tell you what the positive or negative terminal is.

It should be noted that very often the positive terminals are significantly larger in size than the negative terminals, since this is a kind of standard of the audio system manufacturer. If there is no marking, then you can determine where the plus is and where the minus is using a battery. In order to do this, you need to connect a regular battery with the corresponding side to the speaker terminals. If the diffuser moves outward, then you did everything correctly.

This is a very important point, since if the speakers are connected incorrectly to the phase, there is a significant loss of sound quality in the car's audio system. This is one of the most common mistakes made by drivers who install a car radio with their own hands. In this case, there is sound, but its power is clearly not enough. And after some time, first the speakers, and then the entire audio system, fail.

But how can you connect a car radio at home if you don’t have a regular battery at hand? This can be done in another way. To do this, you need to turn on the audio system and output the sound to one speaker, while the sound level should be turned up to maximum. After this, the sound should be distributed in half to both speakers. If at this moment the sound power has increased, then everything is fine and you have connected everything correctly, but if not, then you should change the polarity on one of the speakers. In this simple way, you can check not only the front, but also the rear, as well as the tank columns of the car. Also remember to use insulation when working with electrical wires.

How to connect a car radio: selection of wiring

Speaker wires from a car radio also have their own markings. There can be several pairs of them, usually from two to four. A cable of the same tone without a black stripe is a plus, but the same one, but with a black stripe, is a minus. The positive wire must be connected to the wide terminal of the speaker, and the negative wire to the narrow terminal.

If two front or side speakers with a power of up to twenty watts are installed, then they may have one common disadvantage. If we are talking about more powerful speaker systems, then in this case each channel will have its own polarity. Under no circumstances are they allowed to be swapped. Also, you cannot ground the speaker when connecting its minus to the body of the car, as this will have a very negative impact on the sound quality.

Installing or replacing a car radio in a car is possible independently by any motorist who does not spend money on everything. If you have big problems with your hands, then it is better to contact a car service - it will definitely work out cheaper and much faster. The following is an article for those who have “direct hands” and whose last name is not Rockefeller. :) The connection diagram for different radios in different cars remains the same, but there are various nuances and features. Unfortunately, we are still far from universal standardization and interchangeability.
Depending on the installation method, car radios or receivers can be built-in or stationary.

To protect against theft, built-in radios are often equipped with a removable front panel; previously, guide slides with a lock were used to quickly remove the entire device.
Stationary car radios are protected from theft by their original shape and non-standard dimensions. They fit a certain brand of car, which deprives them of versatility. As a rule, such radios are installed by car manufacturers on the assembly line. Containers under the radio in some car models are equipped with a special curtain - the device is quite simple, but very effective against car thieves.

Modern radio tape recorders come in two height sizes - one block and two block (or single-din and double-din). European manufacturers mostly produce 1DIN (single-block) car radios. And the car must have a suitable niche size. Japanese, American, as well as Korean companies present equipment twice as high in height, for a corresponding niche for installation in a car, which is called 2DIN. This is the main thing you need to pay attention to when buying a car radio for your car.

Next are the connectors. Different radios and cars may have different types of connectors. Therefore, you need to look at what connector is in the car before buying a radio. If the connector in the purchased radio does not match the car connector, then that’s okay too.
Option 1 (preferred) - there are a large number of different adapters, the main thing is to choose the right one. Special adapters are also produced that allow you to switch from original pads to the ISO standard.
Option 2 - Unpick the connector and connect directly. An extreme method, but knowing the scheme, you won’t be left without music.

The most common connector for connecting a car radio is ISO 10487. First of all, check its availability in your car.

If you have one, then you just need to make sure the pinout of your connector is correct.

For inputs to the radio, almost all manufacturers adhere to standard color coding of wires.

- Yellow wire(BAT) - to constant +, regardless of the position of the ignition switch, directly to the battery through a 10-20A fuse;

-Red wire(ACC) - to the ignition switch terminal, on which + appears when the ignition key is turned. On many foreign cars there is already a separate wire in the block. You just need to find it (quite simply with the help of a tester or a control light). Or, if difficulties arise, to any terminal where +12 appears when the ignition is turned on.

- Black wire- this is minus or mass, which is the same thing. Connects to the body with a good contact. ( there is a constant minus).

- Blue/white - blue wire(REM) is a control wire that, when the radio is turned on, automatically turns on the car amplifier or active antenna.

- Orange wire car radio (or variations) (ILL) - connects to the light switch terminal or to any other terminal where +12 appears when the side lights or headlights are turned on.

- Yellow - black wire(variations) (MUTE) - this is a remote control that turns off the sound or mutes it. Connects to the corresponding wire of your car Hands. If the kit is missing, do not connect it anywhere. This is an option and does not affect the performance of the radio or the quality of work.

The outputs of the radio are the acoustic wires to the speakers. They have paired colors. A specific speaker is connected to each color pair:

White pair of wires- front left speaker;

Gray couple- front right speaker;

Green couple- rear left speaker;

Purple couple- rear right speaker.

Each pair of speaker wires consists of a solid wire and a wire with a black stripe. The black stripe indicates the negative wire.
It is very important to ensure that the speaker wires are connected correctly, otherwise, if the color scheme is not followed, the balance adjustment will not be correct; if the polarity is not observed, the rear speakers will play in antiphase, which will manifest itself as a lack of bass.

General car radio connection diagram

Schematic, letter symbols found in instructions for connecting radio tape recorders of various brands

Acoustic group:
- R = Speaker right.
- L = Speaker left.
- FR+, FR- or RF+, RF- = Front speaker - right (plus or minus, respectively).
- FL+, FL- or LF+, LF- = Front speaker - left (plus or minus, respectively).
- RR+, RR- = Rear speaker - right (plus or minus, respectively).
- LR+, LR- or RL+, RL- = Rear speaker - left (plus or minus, respectively).
- GND SP = Speaker ground.

Power connector:
- B+ or BAT or K30 or Bup+ or B/Up or B-UP or MEM +12 = Battery powered (plus)

GND or GROUND or K31 or just a minus = Common wire (Ground), battery minus.

A+ or ACC or KL 15 or S-K or S-kont or SAFE or SWA = +12 from the ignition switch.

N/C or n/c or N/A = No contact. (Physically the output is there but not connected anywhere).

ILL or LAMP or sun symbol or 15b or Lume or iLLUM or K1.58b = Panel illumination. +12 volts are supplied to the contact when the side lights are turned on. Some radios have two wires, -iLL+ and iLL-. The negative wire is galvanically isolated from ground.

Ant or ANT+ or AutoAnt or P.ANT = After turning on the radio, +12 volts are supplied from this contact to control the retractable antenna, if one is present, of course.

MUTE or Mut or mu or the image of a crossed out speaker or TEL or TEL MUTE = Input to turn off or mute the sound when receiving a phone call or other actions (for example, reversing).

Other possible contacts:

Amp = External amplifier power-on control pin
-DATA IN = Data input
-DATA OUT = Data output
-Line Out = Line Out
-REM or REMOTE CONTROL = Control voltage (Amplifier)
-ACP+, ACP- = Bus lines (Ford)
-CAN-L = CAN bus line
-CAN-H = CAN bus line
-K-BUS = Bidirectional serial bus (K-line)
-SHIELD = Shielded wire braid connection.
-AUDIO COM or R COM, L COM = Common (ground) input or output of preamplifiers
-CD-IN L+, CD-IN L-, CD-IN R+, CD-IN R- = Balanced linear inputs of audio signal from the changer
-SW+B = Switches power to +B battery.
-SEC IN = Second input
-DIMMER = Change display brightness
-ALARM = Connection of alarm contacts for the radio to perform car security functions (PIONEER radios)
-SDA, SCL, MRQ = Communication buses with the vehicle display.
-LINE OUT, LINE IN = Line output and input, respectively.
-D2B+, D2B- = Optical audio link

If, when connecting a DVR or navigator, interference appears to radio reception, the reason is not in the radio. Remedies follow the link.

    When powering the radio, red and yellow wires are used. Yellow is intended to power the memory, and red is used to turn off the radio and assumes the presence of an output to the ignition switch. This means that after turning off the ignition, the car radio will automatically turn off. The most convenient option is to connect the yellow and red wires in parallel, then the radio will turn off only when you press a button on the radio panel.

However, in this case, problems may arise due to the fact that the radio amplifiers are powered by the red wire, including in standby mode. Therefore, current consumption increases, which means the battery may discharge faster. In order to avoid this situation, you can put a separate switch on the red wire of the radio, then the power will turn off automatically when the car is parked for a long time.
If you have a radio with an internal battery to save settings, then use a circuit with a complete power cut when the radio is turned off. Then your main battery on the car is guaranteed not to be discharged during long-term parking through the receiver.

At the end, we test the sound and correct operation of all functions (front/rear balance, left/right speakers, frequencies, radio waves). If the phasing and installation of the speakers was carried out correctly, then there should be no wheezing or interference during playback.

Many car owners, in particular, fans of high-quality sound, replace standard audio systems with more efficient and high-quality car radios. This is due to the higher functionality of radios that the automotive electronics market offers consumers today. How to connect a radio in a car and what nuances should be taken into account - read more below.

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Connectors and their markings

P When purchasing a new radio, many come with an adapter for a Euro connector.

Before you connect the radio in your car at home, you need to understand the connectors, as well as the colors of the wires. You need to understand that you will be working with a 12-volt network, not 220, if the electrical components are connected incorrectly, this will affect the overall sound quality. If you don’t know how to make a linear output or what cables are used for car radios, then first let’s look at the theory. Today, most audio systems are equipped with two standard ISO connectors, each of the plugs is eight-pin.

One of these plugs is designed to consume current in amperes, respectively, power output A is connected to it. The second plug B is used to connect speakers, as a rule, black wires are connected to it. How many amperes a particular system consumes depends on the car radio itself; this parameter should be indicated on the packaging. Depending on the design features of the vehicle, the machine may be equipped with other types of connectors.

But in most cases, such components are marked according to the same principle, so to solve the problem you can use one of the options:

  1. A more barbaric method is to simply cut off the existing plug and then connect the wiring from the audio system to it. You will use electrical tape to connect the wires. But you need to keep in mind that this method is less practical.
  2. It would be best to purchase a special adapter, in which case you will just need to install it on the section of the circuit between the power from the car and the radio output. You can buy such a device at any car audio store.

As for the connectors themselves, plug A is an output that consumes current in amperes and is used for power supply and antenna installation.

Despite the fact that this output is equipped with eight contacts, in fact only four function in it:

  1. A4. Responsible directly for powering the audio system memory with current in amperes. This memory stores all the necessary data about the device settings. If the output is disabled, the car radio will reset the configuration to factory settings. The red wire is connected to this pin and connects to the battery.
  2. A5. This contact is connected to the antenna adapter; a blue wire is connected to it. This wire also carries a linear current, and if its value is higher than expected, this can lead to breakdown of the amplifier stages. Accordingly, this may affect the functionality of the audio system as a whole.
  3. A7. The yellow wire is connected to this pin and is used to provide power to the audio system. That is, it is through this output that the radio is powered. As a rule, this contact goes to the ignition switch; its circuit is protected by a safety device. Please note that if done incorrectly, this may lead to accelerated discharge of the car battery.
    If necessary, power can be provided via a toggle switch, bypassing the ignition switch. But this option is not particularly suitable, since for each activation and deactivation of the audio system, the car owner will have to activate and disable the toggle switch. The main disadvantage of this method is that there is a possibility that the driver will forget to turn off the toggle switch, which will lead to battery discharge.
  4. A8. This contact is used to connect the car radio to the ground of the car, that is, its body. A black cable is connected to the contact. Much also depends on the mass, so to connect you need to make sure that it is securely fixed to the body.

As for plug B, it is used to connect peripheral devices, in particular speakers. Since most car radios on sale today are designed to connect to a four-speaker system, the connector is equipped with 8 pins. For example, pins B1 and B1 connect to the rear right speaker, with the first being the positive pin and the second being the negative pin.

Photo gallery “Connection diagrams”

1. Standard diagram for connecting an audio system 2. Circuit in the car 3. Layout of the radio, speakers, subwoofer and amplifier in the car

Possible extensions

The circuit should come with the audio system, but the circuit alone is not enough to correctly install the device. You also need to take into account possible extensions that allow you to provide additional functions of the audio system.

Extensions can be different:

  1. Mute. This feature is used to instantly mute the sound, typically when the driver needs to talk on the phone. If a mobile device is also connected to the audio system, the radio will turn on this function itself when it detects an incoming call to the phone.
  2. Ant. This extension will be useful for those vehicles that are equipped with a retractable antenna adapter. Accordingly, if it is necessary to turn on or turn off the antenna, the driver will only need to give the appropriate command.
  3. Illumination. Quite a useful extension that allows you to automatically reduce the brightness of the display while driving and restore it when the engine is stopped. This feature promotes safer driving so that the driver is not distracted by the screen while driving.
  4. Another useful extension, Remote, allows you to provide better sound quality. This extension will be more relevant for large vehicles; practice has shown that it is useless in small cars (video author - Sergey Rybkin).

Nutrition

Power supply to the radio can be provided in two ways. It is possible to connect the radio through the ignition switch or directly to the battery. Two wires are used as power, and each of them has a special insert that allows you to protect the acoustics. If you decide to connect the radio through the ignition switch, and during operation the device encounters problems, then most likely, installing an additional capacitor will solve the problem. Using a capacitor, you can stabilize the power supply to the head unit.

Car radio installation

So, how to connect a car radio with your own hands? Of course, first of all, the connection diagram of the radio should be studied, without this there is nowhere. The audio system may have certain features, which are usually marked on the diagram. In addition, the kit may include installation instructions. Before you begin the task, you need to make sure that you have all the components and fasteners necessary for proper installation (the author of the video is the Auto Electrician HF channel).

How to connect the radio correctly:

  1. First you need to prepare the installation site. The audio system is mounted in a specially designated place in the center console. The exception in this case is old cars in which such a place is not provided, for example, ZAZ or VAZ-2101. If there is no space to mount an audio system, then you can install the device in the glove compartment.
  2. If you already have a radio installed, you will need to remove it to install a new audio system. To remove, use special keys made in the form of metal plates; if you don’t have them, you can use a screwdriver.
  3. Place the new car radio on the seat, but do not fix it yet. Make sure that after installation there are no large gaps between the device and the center console. Dust can penetrate through these cracks, which will not do anything good for the audio system, and they can also cause vibrations.
  4. Next, connect all the necessary plugs - connectors, as well as power wires and antennas. The connection is carried out in accordance with the diagram, but in general there is nothing complicated about it. Then turn on the device and check its functionality - sound quality, all functions, etc.
  5. If everything works fine, then install the audio system in the seat and securely fix it. Finally, install the frame.

You decided to connect the radio yourself, but when you saw the number of wires coming out of it, you were afraid that you couldn’t handle it? In fact, there is nothing wrong with this, and in this article we will figure out how to connect a radio in a car.

What can you encounter if your car radio is not connected correctly?

This is not to say that to properly install a radio, you don’t need to have any skills at all. It is advisable to have at least initial experience in connecting electrical devices, but this is not a prerequisite; following the instructions, a person can complete the installation without any experience. To understand whether everything was done correctly, it is worth monitoring the operation of the radio. A sign of an error will be the presence of the following factors:

  • The radio turns off when the volume is increased.
  • When you turn off the ignition, the radio settings are lost.
  • The radio drains the battery when turned off.
  • The audio signal is noticeably distorted, especially when listening at high volumes.

In very rare situations, it is not the person who connected it who is to blame, but the seller who sold the low-quality product. Of course, this option cannot be ruled out, but you will still need to double-check the connection diagram.

Size and types of car radios

Universal radios have a standard size, it can be 1 – DIN (height 5 cm, width 18 cm) and 2 DIN. (height 10 cm, width 18 cm.) If you change the radio from large to small (from 1 – DIN, to 2 – DIN), you will need to buy a special pocket that will cover the missing din. In terms of connection, these radios all have the same connector, its name is ISO or it is also called a Euro connector.

1-DIN radio

Radio size 2 – DIN

Pocket for installing radio 1 -DIN

Standard radios are installed on cars from the factory and have a non-standard size; in this case, there are two options for installing the radio. The first is the simplest, you purchase the same standard radio and install it, it fits in size and connects to the standard connectors. But the cost of these radio tape recorders is often inadequate. And if you find a budget option, then with 100% probability it will be from China, which is not particularly famous for its sound quality and reliability.

The second option is to install a “Universal” radio in place of the standard one, but for this you will need an adapter frame, which is an adapter from the standard sizes of the radio to the universal ones, i.e. 1 or 2-DIN. the frame plays a decorative role, covering extra holes.


Hint for TOYOTA owners. In most cars of this brand, the standard radio has a size of 10 by 20 cm. In this case, you can look for “Spacers for Toyota radios”, they are 1 cm in size and you can easily install a standard-sized radio, i.e. 2 – DIN, to install 1 – DIN you will still need to buy an additional pocket.

Connecting the radio.

There are many cars, and each of them can use its own set of connectors to connect such equipment. Basically, there are three options:

  1. Option one is the most favorable. You already have a chip in your car to which everything is connected correctly, i.e. All speakers, power wires, antennas are connected to this chip, and everything is connected correctly. This happens but, unfortunately, very rarely. This means that you are lucky, you just connect your brand new radio to this chip, and everything works for you.
  2. The necessary wires are routed and connected, but the socket on the radio is different from the plug on the car.
  3. There is no power lead out or it was done incorrectly.

With the first point, everything is almost clear. When the device socket does not match the connector, you will need to use an adapter. Despite the fact that these connectors are most often individual for each model, many companies practice supplying a separate ISO adapter. If there is no adapter or its format is not suitable in this case, you can either purchase such an adapter or twist the wires yourself. Of course, the second step is longer, more complex and riskier. Only technical centers that have experience in such procedures do this, so before you connect the radio in your car in this way, you need to think about everything very carefully.

Connecting the ISO adapter - Toyota

If you want to do the twisting yourself, you need to check the correspondence of the wires on the radio and the car connector. Only if the colors match can you disconnect the battery and disconnect the car and audio system connectors.

How to connect a car radio without getting tangled in the wires? It is recommended to bite off the remaining part after attaching the connector to the radio. All connections are soldered and insulated. If the wires do not match, you will need to check them using a tester or multimeter, as well as a 9-volt battery; you may also need to lay those wires that are not enough for connection. Ringing is necessary to determine the polarity of a pair of wires. When testing a loudspeaker, the wires are connected to the battery, after which you need to look at the position of the diffuser - if it extends, then the polarity is correct, if it retracts, you need to correct the polarity to the correct one. Thus, each wire is marked.

Connected ISO connector

ISO connector

Decoding the color code of wires

1. The negative of the battery is painted black, the wire is marked GND.
2. The battery positive is always yellow and is marked BAT.
3. The plus of the ignition switch is designated ACC and is red.
4. The wires of the left front speaker are white and marked FL. The minus has a stripe.
5. The wires of the right front speaker are gray and marked FR. The minus has a stripe.
6. The left rear speaker wires are gray and marked RL. The minus has a stripe.
7. The wires of the right rear speaker are purple and marked RR. The minus has a stripe.

How to properly connect a car radio?

First you need to purchase all the necessary wires. The wires must be made of pure oxygen-free copper and have silicone insulation. The yellow and black wires are power wires, the cross-section of these wires should be more than 2.5mm. For speaker wires and AAC (red), wires with a cross section of 1.2 mm are suitable. and more. Try to avoid a large number of twists, the ideal option is where there will be none at all, because... twists add extra resistance and this negatively affects sound quality and volume.

Connection diagram for radio and speakers

All radios have a black wire for the battery negative, yellow for the battery positive and red for the ignition switch positive. The car radio connection diagram is as follows - first it is better to connect the yellow and black wires, moreover, to the battery, which will allow you to get high-quality sound.
You will definitely need to install a fuse at a distance of 40 cm. The fuse must correspond to a minimum value of 10 A. The red wire is connected to the circuit, which is powered after turning the ACC key. When connecting the red and yellow wires together to the battery positive, the radio will not depend on the ignition, but the battery will discharge faster. Powerful radios have four pairs of wires, each of which has its own marking. When connecting a radio to a car, the polarity may be incorrectly determined - nothing bad will happen here, unlike grounding to minus to ground. The speakers have either two terminals, basically the speaker connection diagram is as follows: the wide terminal is a plus, and the narrow terminal is a minus.

If you want to replace not only the radio but also the acoustics, we advise you to read the article “”

Video on how to connect a car radio

Conclusion

We really hope that in this article you have found the answers to your question, please rate the article on a 5-point scale, if you have comments, suggestions or you know something that is not indicated in this article, please let us know! Leave your comment below. This will help make the information on the site even more useful.

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” state. 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.

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