Installing a new Radio/CD player & speakers

Post by **aragorn** » 09 May 2006, 12:11

Hello all,
Firstly a quick thanks to everyone who post replys to the questions that are posted on this site - it's really helpful for those of us (like me) who are still learning but love VW Camping anyway.

Anyway,
I am am wanting to install a new readio/cd player in my T25 van./ There is radio/cassette in there already which I have ripped out and I have labelled the relevant wiring. However this radio weas only installed with one central speaker under the dashboard - weird! Is this common?

I've bought a pair of speakers for thew new unit but I can't think where to place them. Is there room between the doors and interior panels, or is this space too thin? I could sink them into the dashboard on either side but I'm not sure hwo easy is it to remove the dash - is this a mssive job fraught with problems? Anythought would be most welcome.

Lastly I want to run this radio (and eventually more things) from a 2nd Leisure Battery which sits under the passenger seat. So what do I do with the exisiting power cable from the Van Battery?
I'm not every good with electrics so I think it best to play safe.

Thanks in advance.

Aragorn

Post by **Cate** » 09 May 2006, 12:16

The 'usual' place is in the doors, there is usually room depending on the depth of your speakers of course, some run wires to the rear and put another pair in the back, depending on your conversion as to where they have space to be fitted.
The radio shouldn't drain the battery too much, as long as its not left on for days, so I'm wondering why you want to wire it to your leisure battery?

Post by **Flibbertigibbet** » 09 May 2006, 12:29

Radios use a lot less electrickery than a c.d. player........Disco Dave will be bale to help you with odd bits of wires and stuff

Post by **kevtherev** » 09 May 2006, 12:33

cate's right use the connections you have for power and fit the speakers in the doors,
look at others who have fitted them or ...Find a dealer/fitter in your area and ask them for advice

Post by **Dan Wood** » 09 May 2006, 14:53

Speakers fitted in my doors without any bother...

One advantage to a leisure battery (or at least slightly modified wiring) is that you can listen to tunes when parked up. The way my original (I think - Blaupunkt anyway...) casette player was wired, it would only work with the ignition on.

Just run a fresh feed from your leisure battery (with a fuse near the battery end please!) and run it from that. The existing wiring can be cut, taped up well and forgotten about.
The existing wiring should be fused anyway, in the event that it rubbed through and shorted to the bodywork.

Post by **DiscoDave** » 09 May 2006, 20:48

Disco Dave will be bale to help you with odd bits of wires and stuff

most people fit speakers in to doors and overhead locker in back, you can fit up to 4" round in the door between the handle to open it and the lock pin, or if you want biiger up to 6" down at the bottom without moddifictaion to the door, or up to 10" with door mods, alternatively 6x9s will also fit at the bottom but they will have to be at an angle. easiest way it to take the door card off and see if the speakers you have in mind wil fit, remembering to wind down the window if you are fitting at the top!

to wire a leisure battery look at the wiki, link at top left, for instructions! i have mine wired to leisure batt so that i can have it on when parked up with out runnig risk of flatt batt!

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 10 May 2006, 11:08

Just my two-pennyworth. I discovered when I removed my dash that there is a suprising amount of room up to the bulkhead on the extreme left and right. I managed to screw two good quality speakers under there and it has worked well.

You could be purist about it and and worry about a slight knock off in high freqencies but since a vehicle is a terrible environment to get good quality sound there is always a compromise anyway. I too had the same problem since mounting speakers means they either get in the way or it means you have to cut panels or drill in visible places. Pulling the dash out isn't as hard as it sounds actually and it does give you the opportunity to service all those neglected things like wiper mechanisms and washer pipes and jets.

Just an idea anyway. My speakers are right out of sight now.

Post by **aragorn** » 11 May 2006, 09:42

I'll try all that info and advice out.
Hopefully we'll have some quality folky tunes happening in my van soon.
Bye

Aragorn