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power wiring for new stereo

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=20362
Printed Date: July 14, 2025 at 7:03 AM


Topic: power wiring for new stereo

Posted By: pro_mtn_biker
Subject: power wiring for new stereo
Date Posted: October 20, 2003 at 9:15 PM

I'm trying to install a Panasonic CD player in my car and I'm having a bit of trouble. It asks for 3 things for power:

-Battery Lead (connect to car battery)
-Power (+12 V DC, negative ground only)
-Ground (connect to a clean, bare metallic part of your vehicle)

Is power a power source only when the car is on? Could I just tap into something that only has power once the key is turned? It seems to make sense but just wanted to make sure. Thanks in advance to any help!

Preston



Replies:

Posted By: Alpine Guy
Date Posted: October 20, 2003 at 9:29 PM

ground you just put a connector onto the wire and screw it to a clean piece of metal.

battery lead connect directly to battery, with a fuse inline to protect the wire ofcourse, or do the common thing and use the constant power wire in the dash from the factory radio, use a test light to test it.

And the 12 volt wire, which would be red, is the wire that connects to a wire that turns on when your ignition is on.

Why don't you get a wire harness for your car and just follow the directions?  or did you do the dumb thing and chop the old harness off already?





Posted By: bberman1
Date Posted: October 20, 2003 at 10:24 PM

If you tell us the make, model, and year of your car we can tell you which wires behind the dash are your power connections and you can match them up to those on your headunit.





Posted By: pro_mtn_biker
Date Posted: October 20, 2003 at 10:33 PM
The car is a 1990 Audi 90quattro sedan. The information here is not very good on the wiring as it does not match the harness in the car at all. I've chopped up the harness a bit but could put it back together very easily. Let me know what you think is best.

Thanks for the help!




Posted By: bberman1
Date Posted: October 21, 2003 at 8:59 AM
I saw that you made a post in the vehicle information database which would have been one of my suggestions. If you can’t get the diagram I would suggest that you put the wires back in their harness. Go to a local shop Purchase a harness kit for your car, that way it is as simple as plug and play.





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