... Because that's the way we've always done it!

This forum is dedicated to helping people with questions about installing radio equipment in vehicles. This can include antenna installs, electrical wiring questions/problems, and mounting systems. Pictures of installs are welcome.

Note: Discussions regarding lighting, sirens, and other equipment now has its own forum in the 'off-topic' section below.

Moderator: Queue Moderator

Post Reply
User avatar
Wile E. Coyote
Posts: 210
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 9:27 am
What radios do you own?: The best that low bid can buy.

... Because that's the way we've always done it!

Post by Wile E. Coyote »

Okay, I have a situation that needs help from the PRO installers. I know you guys are the best, so here is my delema:

I recently started a new job with... um, lets just say "Brand Y". They have a well seasoned staff with lots of experience. When they buld PD cars, they run all power and ground lines from the trunk to the battery individually, making a fuse-ball under the hood, and a loom that is almost too big to run!

I have always been taught at "Brand X" to take a large gauge wire to the trunk (breakered accordingly) and break it out from there. Also, to ground it to the chassis in the trunk. My argument is that this will save space & time, and make changing fuses faster and easier if needed.

Their argument is that they are doing what they are told by the equipment install manuals, and frankly thats the way the've always done it! (a phrase that comes up often)

Does anyone have a preference as to what is right? And if possible, written proof like a wiring code? Any info will help.

Thanks!
-WEC 8)
Top
User avatar
kb0nly
AKA: The Computer Doctor
Posts: 3370
Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2003 1:15 am

Post by kb0nly »

Your right, their wrong. At least in my opinion!

Its just uder stupidity to run all that crap to the battery when you can put one large resettable breaker and a heavy line to the trunk.

And then a fuse box for the radios in the trunk, or a panel of breakers as i have been using made from a small fiberglass enclosure and panel mount push button breakers. Heck, either way, having the fuses or breakers in the trunk is easier than digging through a bunch of them under the hood!!
Duct tape is like the force, it has a dark side and a light side and it holds the universe together.

"I Reject Your Reality And Substitute My Own!" - Adam Savage
Top
tvsjr
Posts: 4118
Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 9:46 am

Post by tvsjr »

No written documentation, just my own personal successes. Built quite a few vehicles over the past 10 or so years. My current vehicle has 1/0ga. breakered at 150A running to a power distribution panel in the rear. Brand X has it right. I'm actually using car audio components to do the power distribution (I'm a dealer for Tsunami Autosound products... good stuff and reasonably priced).

Now, there's nothing wrong per se with Brand Y's system. If the connections are good, and well-protected, and fused, that'll work just as well. But, aesthetically, it's ugly as hell, hard to maintain, etc.

IMHO.
Top
User avatar
Wile E. Coyote
Posts: 210
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 9:27 am
What radios do you own?: The best that low bid can buy.

Post by Wile E. Coyote »

Hey Tvsjr - I bet your installs are RadioSexy!! I would like to see some pix if you have any.

One side note... I found out why they started wiring everything to the battery. once upon a time, they were having problems with alternator noise and desence. Since they moved the cables to the battery, they did not have as many problems.

They suspected that "all SS2000 siren controllers are putting out some processor noise that gets into the radios via the power line. by moving everything to the battery, the noise has farther to travel & disapates along the way." (I have no idea how true this quote is , so please do not flame me for it)

any other input?

-WEC 8)
Last edited by Wile E. Coyote on Wed Feb 16, 2005 7:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Top
User avatar
AVFD2922
1 Warning for RSS/CPS Wanted/For Sale/Links
Posts: 59
Joined: Sat Aug 07, 2004 2:12 pm

Post by AVFD2922 »

Brand Y is using the brother-in-law system. Use more, charge more. Period..
M1225 UHF VHF, GP300VHF, P1225 UHF, MTS2000(800) with convertacom KI4QMI
Top
tvsjr
Posts: 4118
Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 9:46 am

Post by tvsjr »

Wile E. Coyote wrote:Hey Tvsjr - I bet your installs are RadioSexy!! I would like to see some pix if you have any.

One side note... I found out why they started wiring everything to the battery. once upon a time, they were having problems with alternator noise and desence. Since they moved the cables to the battery, they did not have as many problems.

They suspected that "all SS2000 siren controllers are putting out some processor noise that gets into the radios via the power line. by moving everything to the battery, the noise has farther to travel & disapates along the way." (I have no idea how true this quote is , so please do not flame me for it)

any other input?

-WEC 8)
Well, I'm about to start on a new one. This one's going to be a 2005 F-350 Super Duty, Crew Cab, short bed, 4x4, 6.0L diesel. Looking at a full 30" Havis Consolidator console along with a laptop mount. Now, I need to find a good price for a CF-28 or CF-29 Toughbook... anyone got any ideas? :D
Top
KitN1MCC
Posts: 1890
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2002 4:00 pm
What radios do you own?: ht1550 XLS,6 MT-1000,

Post by KitN1MCC »

my self have done it both ways

with Work Trucks i wire all the positive to the batter

the radio,lights,Sander control
Due to the fact that behind the seat is a nasty place and easy tobreak stuff
ialso have ran cable and built a panel with piece of single heavey duty gauge

it all depends on what your doing and the type of service and that type of thing
Top
User avatar
apco25
Posts: 2685
Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2001 4:00 pm
What radios do you own?: APX / Astro 25 / Harris

Post by apco25 »

Running multiple fused leads is quite really pointless unless you have only a couple pieces of equipment.

1 or 2 heavy gauge leads either fused or breakered is the way to go.

Just because the manual says to install something ALONE one way doesn't mean that's how it should be done when the vehicle is loaded with equipment.

All that does is creat noise paths, countless places for wire failures, ground loops and more.

Oh boy.
"Some men just don't know their limitations"
Top
Station House Products
NOT ALLOWED TO BUY/SELL/TRADE
Posts: 727
Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2001 4:00 pm

Post by Station House Products »

Ditto to all the above. If your guys don't believe this, have them take a look in the trunk behind the right quarter panel cover at the FACTORY police package on the 9C1 Impala. Heavy guage wire with a lug and breaker simplifying install of equipment in the rear of the vehicle.

As pointed out, you are creating noise paths. (The more the merrier I always say) You are also wasting a $hit load of money on wire (and we all know how the price of that has been steadily climbing recently!) In addition to all this, they are creating not only a crap load of extra work from the get go, but a nightmare when it comes to servicing the vehicle down the road.

If they won't listen to you, ah well, let it go. As long as they sign your check every week, put your pennies away and open your own place down the road. You sound like your on the right path to putting a hurting on their business when you do.
Top
User avatar
Wile E. Coyote
Posts: 210
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 9:27 am
What radios do you own?: The best that low bid can buy.

Post by Wile E. Coyote »

True, there is not a whole lot I can do. Even if I went to them with documentation up the wazoo, I don't think they will ever change. The big cheese has been here over 35 years, and they are extremely cautious to change anything! If they don't make some changes soon everyone else will pass them by.

Am I worried? No way! Station House has the right idea. I will just keep quiet for about 7 years. Everyone here is in their 50s and it won't be long until they all retire and the shop is MINE! Mwahahaha!

Just a side note, can anyone recomend some good installer sites for PD cars? I convinced the other installer here to look into some alternate install ideas (the seed is planted)! :wink:

-WEC 8)
Top
KitN1MCC
Posts: 1890
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2002 4:00 pm
What radios do you own?: ht1550 XLS,6 MT-1000,

Post by KitN1MCC »

Just an FYi my truck is wired with every radio to the Battery


seeing how all my radio except the 900mhz spectra are in my wedge console so it was easyer to wire that way
being just an extended cab there was not that much room to mount a fuse panel or near the wedge console
Top
SlimBob
Posts: 911
Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2003 11:38 am

Post by SlimBob »

oooooh... he said 9C1......
Top
Station House Products
NOT ALLOWED TO BUY/SELL/TRADE
Posts: 727
Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2001 4:00 pm

Post by Station House Products »

SlimBob wrote:oooooh... he said 9C1......
Just out of curiosity, what the hell does that mean??
Top
thebigphish
Posts: 1477
Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2003 10:10 pm
What radios do you own?: AM/FM

Post by thebigphish »

slimbob got into the firewater again.
Top
User avatar
Wile E. Coyote
Posts: 210
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 9:27 am
What radios do you own?: The best that low bid can buy.

Post by Wile E. Coyote »

I think he is talking about Station House Products comment on the 9C1 Police Package Impala.

Check this link out:

http://www.gmfleet.com/us/products/spec ... impala9c1/

it's kinda cool looking. To bad the interior is so damn small

-WEC 8)
Top
SlimBob
Posts: 911
Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2003 11:38 am

Post by SlimBob »

Station House Products wrote:
SlimBob wrote:oooooh... he said 9C1......
Just out of curiosity, what the hell does that mean??
9C1 is the GM RPO code for the Police Package.
Top
User avatar
kb9suy
Posts: 311
Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2001 4:00 pm
What radios do you own?: too many!!

ford police package

Post by kb9suy »

Nothing beats wiring a ford crownvic with all the police package wiring. fused power leads all over the place. I don't know about the rest of you but I love doing installs on vics its so easy. I just finished up two brand new squads one slick top one has a light bar. Ill have to get some pictures up here to show off. One thing I have learned about squad cars is simplicity is the best. What ever way makes more sence an is easier to do most likely is the best way. Always plan out how your going to wire everything just dont jump in an go from one thing to another.
Top
Station House Products
NOT ALLOWED TO BUY/SELL/TRADE
Posts: 727
Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2001 4:00 pm

Post by Station House Products »

SlimBob wrote:
Station House Products wrote:
SlimBob wrote:oooooh... he said 9C1......
Just out of curiosity, what the hell does that mean??
9C1 is the GM RPO code for the Police Package.
I'm very well aware of that. That is why I made sure to clarify factory 9C1 police package when I made the posting before I had a bunch of guys with civilian models tearing their trunk liners out and complaing that they can't find the options I was refering to.
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Vehicle Radio Installs”