Uhf install

[stoneddoodle]

Hey guy going to have a go at installing a uhf i bought the other day in a 1995 80 series petrol. was wonder of any tips oh how you guy when about doing yours for the power and location. It dosent look to be to hard. just cant make my mind up about where to tap into the power

Cheers

[GippsSurfer]

depends on if you want to be able to use it with the key in or out...

mines wired so that i can use it anytime, without the key....

if you want to wire it off the ACC switch, tap into either the RADIO or CIG power wires...

[stoneddoodle]

Thanks for the reply, i did try the cig wires this arvo when i started and it just keep blowing the fuses on the radio. was thinking mabey straight to the battery or can you run it off the power wire that runs to the radio the power it when the key is out?

[tankbloke]

On one of my Discos, I have it wired to the cig lighter and the other is just straight to the battery.No dramas straight to the battery, can have it on without the key in, just need to remember to turn it off.Forgotten a couple of times, doesn't draw enough power to flatten the battery so it's all good

[millsy]

And if you go back to the battery, don't forget the fuse! Put the fuse right next to the positive post on your battery.

I like the idea of connecting back to the battery. It has several advantages. It keeps things simple. You don't have to worry about bad connections that might vibrate loose under the dash. No extra lengths of wiring clogging up the limited space under the dash, making it a 'dogs breakfast' of wiring all over the place. And if the fuse blows you don't lose another system at the same time. Plus its a lot easier to connect to the battery post rather than twisting and turning, lying on your back under the steering wheel, trying to make a good connection. Especially if you are playing with a soldering iron upside down!

With a bit of luck you will find a hole in the firewall that you can share with other wires of the car's wiring loom. But if you need to drill another hole make sure you buy a rubber grommet that can be pushed into the hole to protect the new wire from rubbing against the sharp edge of the hole. Also, with a bit of luck, you can find a handy screw near the radio that can act as the earth connection. If not, hopefully there is a spot you can drill a new hole into metal and use a self tapper for the earth wire.

I also like to provide a proper earth wire for the base of the antenna, rather than just rely on those four sharp spikes that are supposed to provide an earth connection on the bullbar. I have had the output amplifier blow on my radio because the earth connection failed, the antenna was not taking the power from the amplifier properly, and so the power amplifier overheated. I take this earth wire back to the negative battery post, so as not to have to worry about any corrosion build up where-ever else it was supposed to be earthed, that might then 'break' the connection.

[Watt]

gee's millsy, talk about a bloody on point explaination...

I just hooked mine up to the cig lighter power using a clamp joiner so no issues with bad connection, and no laying on my back with a soldering iron above my face hahahah.

havent had any issues but i did notice the stereo takes a couple of seconds to switch off after shutting off the car. I heard this is a common side affect.

[millsy]

Well maybe it depends on how old you are and how long you plan on keeping your car.

I have been known to keep a car for 25 years. But depending on dust and vibrations a clamp join, if its the same type of clamp joins I have in my VH Commodore can work loose in a lot less than 25 years!

I installed the immobiliser in the VH with clamp joins, and about once a year the car refused to start. There are about 3 or 4 clamp joins under the bonnet, as part of the immobiliser circuit connections, and I find that by getting a pair of pliers and squeezing each one it fixes the problem - for another year or so. One day if I have nothing better to do, ha ha, I will get out the soldering iron and do it properly.

And now that the old back has three stuffed discs it is not much fun wriggling around on the floor to find suitable power sources, or fasten extra clips onto the back of the fuse box!

Same problem with clamp joins I have used in the boot of several cars, for the trailer light plug connections. Quick and nasty - clamp joins. Slow and sure - solder connections.

All good fun. Just trying to help.

Some one asked about fitting LED tail lights the other day and I made the assumption everyone knew what a series and a parallel circuit was. But not everone has studied these things at school. Same thing with auto-electrics - not everyone has had the same experiences or 'learned the hard away' - when things have lasted a while then stuffed up. Mind you we are all still learning. There is just too much for one person to 'know it all', and I am not a qualified auto electrician. I have had a lot of 'learn the hard ways' and I am sure there will be plenty more to come!

[phs]

i just ran myn to the battery used an inline fuse and shrink wrapped all joints, used an existing hole in the fire wall that already had wires in it, if you do run it the battery dont forget to turn your unit off after you turn the vehicle off as it wont turn off for you...

[stoneddoodle]

Thanks for all the info guys. After i got motivated this morning after 10 haha, i pulled off the dash and there just happened to be 4 wires hanging there with the old diy clap wire joiners, so it looks as it the last owner may have had a cb and mabey a hf radio. made things soo much eaiser. and there was and easy was through the firewall also that mad it and easy install. Might sitck a few pics up just so for other to have a look at if they have a go at diy install. All up it took a really short hour if that. As for this better earth for the ant, how would i go about doing this in a bit more detail and also do a better earth help wit reception or just stops it blowing the fuse?

Thanks guys

[stoneddoodle]

Oh and also while im at it. The neg from the power cord of the cb should i run this straight to the body of the car or the neg wiring under the dash the way to go? Also it it worth adding a grounding wire to the base of the antenna?