The first thing to do after you purchase
your radio and wire-harness is to connect the wire-harness to the wires
that come with the radio. There are a few different ways of doing
this: the best way is to solder the wires together, the second best way
is to use butt connectors and a crimper, and the third way is to use
wire connectors and twist the wires together.
- To solder the wires together, you need a
soldering iron, solder, electrical tape, and a work desk that you
wouldn't mind if it accidentally got burned.
- Using both the manual that came with the
radio and the diagram that came with the wire-harness, watch up
each wire on one harness with the corresponding wire on the other
harness.
- If the ends of the wires are not already
stripped, strip the end of each wire about 1/2".
- Place each pair of wires together and press
the soldering iron to them. Once the pair of wires is hot
enough, apply the solder. The solder should melt fairly
easily. Once the pair of wires is soldered together, let
them cool for about a minute and wrap the pair with electrical
tape. Repeat this for each of the pairs, usually about 11
pairs.
- To crimp the wires together, make sure you
purchase the proper size butt connectors, usually 14-16 gauge
connectors will do. Also, make sure you have a decent crimper
to allow for a proper crimp, we don't want the wires to come loose.
- Again, use the manuals to match the
corresponding wires and separate all the pairs.
- If the wires are not stripped, strip about
1/4" off each wire.
- Insert one wire into the butt connector,
making sure the wire stops around the center of the
connector. At this point, part of the sheathed wire should
also be inside the butt connector. If not, then you may want
to cut the stripped section of the wire so that it is a little
shorter. Once the wire is properly in place, use the crimper
to firmly crimp the butt connector in place.
- Now slide in the corresponding wire into the
other end of the butt connector so that it part of the sheathed
wire is also in the butt connector. Now crimp the connector
firmly so that the two wires are held together with the
connector. Repeat this for the remaining (usually 10) pairs.
- Once you are finished, wrap each pair of
wires with electrical tape to prevent contact with any other
wires.
- The easiest way, but not always the best way,
to connect the harnesses is to use wire connectors. For this,
all you need is the proper size wire connectors (usually the orange
ones will do) and electrical tape.
- Again use the manuals to match the
corresponding wires and separate all the pairs.
- If the wires are not stripped, strip between
1/4 " to 1/2" off each wire.
- Twist the corresponding wires together and
screw a wire connector on to the twisted pair of wires and wrap
tape the connector and wires in order to secure the connection.
- Repeat the previous step for the remaining
pairs of wires.
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