1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Brice,
You can test the amp power and ground wires whether or not they are connected to the amp. If they are already connected, leave them that way.
To use a voltmeter to check the amp power lead, set the meter to read DC Volts. Hold the negative (black) lead from the voltmeter to any grounded part of the car (virtually all exposed metal), then touch the positive (red) lead to the amp power lead. If the power lead has correct power, you should get a reading of 12 to 13 volts. If the power lead has no power, make sure the inline fuse for the amp power line is intact. (The location and type of fuse varies.)
To check the power amp ground lead, set the voltmeter to continuity test. If your meter does not have this setting, set it to read resistance in Ohms (the Omega letter, which looks like a horseshoe). Hold either lead (red or black) from the meter to any grounded part of the car, then touch the other lead to the amp's ground wire. In continuity test mode, most meters beep if the connection is there. In Ohm reading mode, if the connection is good, the resistance value will drop from infinitely high to near zero. (On my meter, the initial reading of infinitely high is shown as OL, indicating Over Limit of readable values.) You can test what your meter should do in either of these situations simply by touching the two leads directly to each other.
The Mute pin on the DIN connector is only used if you have a hands-free cell phone wired into the stereo. With it, the stereo sound will automatically mute when the phone is being used.
The Signal Ground pin on the DIN connector is intended to be connected to the negative wires from the preamp interconnect RCA cables. You need to twist together all the negative wires from your RCA cables (2 or 4 depending on whether your amp is running 2 or 4 channels). The twisted combination should be soldered to the Signal Ground pin. Alternatively, if you are using the Radio Shack 8-pin DIN plug, you can solder the twisted negative wires to the clamp on the outer metal shell of the plug INSTEAD of soldering them to the Signal Ground pin. This metal shell is also grounded when the DIN plug is inserted into the preamp output jack on the stereo head unit.
Where do you have the negative wires from the RCA cables connected now? If they are not grounded to either the Signal Ground or the plug shell at the head unit, you will not get any sound even when the amp is running. A previous post of mine, at the link below, shows pictures with the negative interconnect wires soldered to DIN connecters in both configurations.
Good luck,
SteveH
, Mon, 13 Nov 2000 08:38:17, Tue, 14 Nov 2000 10:01:45, Thu, 16 Nov 2000 15:34:54
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
