Stereo Install Help
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,389
Likes: 9
From: Seabrook Texas
St. Jude Donor '05
Stereo Install Help
I am looking to install a new Stereo in my vette. Hereis my equipment I want to install a PIONEER DEH-P5900IB Head unit, Polk DB460 Coaxial 4x6 for the dash, and INFINITY KAPPA 693.7i 6x9 3WAY SPEAKERS for the back I am putting in box.
My question is what guage wire should I use for the power from the battery to the head unit and any other wiring required for the head unit? Also, What amp inline fuse should I use fro the power supply. I thought the new stereo would come with one but it did not.
Any install help would be appreciated.
My question is what guage wire should I use for the power from the battery to the head unit and any other wiring required for the head unit? Also, What amp inline fuse should I use fro the power supply. I thought the new stereo would come with one but it did not.
Any install help would be appreciated.
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
From: Waterville Ohio
I'm also am putting a Pioneer in my '81, but i'm going with the 6900 or the 7900 series 
. The reason I'm going with one of these models is because they both have the motorized face instead of the flap face. There is a seller on ebay that is selling these models for a real good price with no shipping cost . Just thought you would like to know before you spend too much at Best Buy or anywhere else 
. The reason I'm going with one of these models is because they both have the motorized face instead of the flap face. There is a seller on ebay that is selling these models for a real good price with no shipping cost . Just thought you would like to know before you spend too much at Best Buy or anywhere else
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
I am looking to install a new Stereo in my vette. Hereis my equipment I want to install a PIONEER DEH-P5900IB Head unit, Polk DB460 Coaxial 4x6 for the dash, and INFINITY KAPPA 693.7i 6x9 3WAY SPEAKERS for the back I am putting in box.
My question is what guage wire should I use for the power from the battery to the head unit and any other wiring required for the head unit? Also, What amp inline fuse should I use fro the power supply. I thought the new stereo would come with one but it did not.
Any install help would be appreciated.
My question is what guage wire should I use for the power from the battery to the head unit and any other wiring required for the head unit? Also, What amp inline fuse should I use fro the power supply. I thought the new stereo would come with one but it did not.
Any install help would be appreciated.
Head unit power wire can be 14 or 12 gauge. The head unit should have it's own built in fuse so a like sized fuse inline as close to the battery as you can get it is best.
The only other wires to deal with are ground and IGN. Make sure the ground is the same gauge as the power wire. Tap into the yellow wire behind the dash or tap the ACC terminals in your fuse panel for the IGN or switched 12V source to the head unit.
Make sure you get the POS and NEG right to the speakers. It's very important for sound quality as speakers do not function properly when they are out of phase.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,389
Likes: 9
From: Seabrook Texas
St. Jude Donor '05
Head unit power wire can be 14 or 12 gauge. The head unit should have it's own built in fuse so a like sized fuse inline as close to the battery as you can get it is best.
The only other wires to deal with are ground and IGN. Make sure the ground is the same gauge as the power wire. Tap into the yellow wire behind the dash or tap the ACC terminals in your fuse panel for the IGN or switched 12V source to the head unit.
Make sure you get the POS and NEG right to the speakers. It's very important for sound quality as speakers do not function properly when they are out of phase.
The only other wires to deal with are ground and IGN. Make sure the ground is the same gauge as the power wire. Tap into the yellow wire behind the dash or tap the ACC terminals in your fuse panel for the IGN or switched 12V source to the head unit.
Make sure you get the POS and NEG right to the speakers. It's very important for sound quality as speakers do not function properly when they are out of phase.
I will need to look again but I figured there would be an inline fuse on the head unit, but on inital glace I did not remember seeing one.
If there is not one could you suggest what amp fuse to use?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
When I said built in I meant in the back of the head unit itself. If there isn't one I would suggest at least a 10 amp fuse. If you have the booklet that came with the head unit it should tell you what size to use.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 6,493
Likes: 6
From: Bloomington MN
Cruise-In II Veteran
There should be a maximum fuse size somewhere in the manual. I would recommend going with 12 guage wire. Your stereo may only call for 14 or 16, but you may want to upgrade in the future, and your future stereo may pull more amps. The cost difference isn't much anyway.
As for other install help. Make sure the ground wire and it's contact surface is good. Most of the problems I have had with noise interference were from bad grounds. I finally got battery terminals with multiple wire terminals and wired all the stuff directly to the battery. You may not have to do this, but for sure make sure you have good grounds, and that is not only from the equipment to ground, but also your chassis grounds and your negative battery cable.
As for other install help. Make sure the ground wire and it's contact surface is good. Most of the problems I have had with noise interference were from bad grounds. I finally got battery terminals with multiple wire terminals and wired all the stuff directly to the battery. You may not have to do this, but for sure make sure you have good grounds, and that is not only from the equipment to ground, but also your chassis grounds and your negative battery cable.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
You are correct it's always a good idea to look forward but there are a couple of things to keep in mind. First, head unit internal amplifiers are just not big enough to out out high wattage. Even the best in the world can only give around 25 watts per channel...and the average of a good head unit is more like 17. Add a few for good measure and you're right at the 100 watt mark. The size is what's both working against you and for you. A head unit, single DIN, will never need more than a 14 gauge.
Also, if upgrading in the future, amps will probably be used. This means that speaker control is given up and output would be limited to signal only, which is usually around 2-5 volts. The amps put out the power and the head unit just needs power for memory, display, and signal output.
One last thing, some head units draw just as much or more of their operational power from the switched power source, so the 12V constant may only really have a 50 watt max draw.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 6,493
Likes: 6
From: Bloomington MN
Cruise-In II Veteran
I agree with your post. Still, is that a good enough reason to not just up the wire size to 12 guage? I mean it's cents per foot more. With all of the new electronic stuff coming out now that gets powered from your stereo (or lighter) I can't see how upping the wire one guage would hurt.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
I agree with your post. Still, is that a good enough reason to not just up the wire size to 12 guage? I mean it's cents per foot more. With all of the new electronic stuff coming out now that gets powered from your stereo (or lighter) I can't see how upping the wire one guage would hurt.
Oh I'm not saying he shouldn't run 12 gauge or even 10 gauge...I was just saying he won't have to.
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
I am looking to install a new Stereo in my vette. Hereis my equipment I want to install a PIONEER DEH-P5900IB Head unit, Polk DB460 Coaxial 4x6 for the dash, and INFINITY KAPPA 693.7i 6x9 3WAY SPEAKERS for the back I am putting in box.
My question is what guage wire should I use for the power from the battery to the head unit and any other wiring required for the head unit? Also, What amp inline fuse should I use fro the power supply. I thought the new stereo would come with one but it did not.
Any install help would be appreciated.
My question is what guage wire should I use for the power from the battery to the head unit and any other wiring required for the head unit? Also, What amp inline fuse should I use fro the power supply. I thought the new stereo would come with one but it did not.
Any install help would be appreciated.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Originally Posted by swtato
Any install help would be appreciated.
