Wiring A Portable Md Player Into Car Stereo

[Turbo7MN]

I just wanted to get some MiniDisc peoples opinions on this. I know it's kinda long and hard to follow, but I tried to clear it up in a later post.

You guys might not understand the "S4" references. It basically means any 1986-88 model year Mazda RX-7.

http://www.teamfc3s.org/forum/showthread.p...8133#post428133

[aeriyn]

This is a lot simpler than it sounds. Find the input wires from the head unit's tape deck (left channel, right channel, ground) to the amplifier, cut all three wires, stip and tin the ends. Solder longer wires onto each of the free ends so that you've got enough wire to put the switch wherever you want to. Heatshrink all soldered connections for neatness and to prevent shorts.

Then solder a DPDT toggle switch between the L and R channel wires. On the two free lugs for the DPDT switch, solder the input L and R from the 3.5mm minijack that you want to plug into an external device. Solder the grounds all together (since the grounds can be common in normal unbalanced stereo operation). Heatshrink it all up, mount the switch wherever you want to. Throwing the switch will alternate between the tape input or the new "aux" input.

It's really quite simple. With a multimeter and a half hour I could probably give nearly any head unit this "treatment."

[Turbo7MN]

Yeah, you pretty much simplified what I already stated Except of course I will be splicing the output from the tuner instead of the cassette deck and it will lead to the graphic equalizer instead of the amp. I did leave out the ground though, whoops.

I don't think you could do this to any radio, only ones with seperate components that are joined together by external wiring/cables.

[SimonMackay]

In this setup, are you sure that the radio will "wake up" and play the audio from the MD when you select "AUX" or will you have to push a tape in to the tape player to "wake up" the radio?

Depending on the system, the tape player will either "short to ground" or raise a 12-volt potential at the "trigger" circuit which is wired to the radio's "ext input trigger" terminal. What you may have to do is use a DPDT relay to switch inputs as far as the signal is concerned and use another SPDT relay for signalling duties. Then you wire both the relay coils in parallel and use the selector switch to turn on / off the current to the relays.

In the case of a system which "shorts to ground", the SPDT relay contacts are wired between the vehicle chassis ground and the "ext input trigger" on the radio. In the case of a system which provides 12-volt potential for signalling, these contaxts are wired between the relay's power source and the "ext input trigger" on the radio.

Then you should be able to flick that switch and start your MD Walkman without needing to push in a tape or press the radio's SW-VOL knob to play MDs.

It is worth knowing that some cars made through the 70s and 80s came with an AM/FM radio that was capable of working with a tape deck that was available as a dealer-installed option. These radios could be given this treatment so you could use your MD Walkman in thse cars. As for this switch, I would rather go to a motor wrecker who is wrecking your particular car model and obtain a spare switch that suits your car's dashboard. Then the switch will not look out of place in your car.

With regards,

Simon Mackay

[Turbo7MN]

I finished it last weekend and it works great. Here's some pics.

http://www.teamfc3s.org/forum/showthread.p...&threadid=39696

[streaml1ne]

I finished it last weekend and it works great. Here's some pics.

http://www.teamfc3s.org/forum/showthread.p...&threadid=39696

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No Pistons!

Nice install.

[Turbo7MN]

No Pistons!

The only way to go You have an RX-7 too?

[streaml1ne]

The only way to go You have an RX-7 too?

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Yep. 86 GXL