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How To Install A Car Stereo
By Joshua Jenkins
If you own a car that is in need of some musical accompaniment then maybe its time you installed your own car stereo. Listening to music in a car can be a great way to enjoy those long journeys and tiresome traffic jams. This can be a simple activity as long as you carefully follow the instructions. The vital thing to think about when installing a car stereo is safety. This is not a dangerous activity, however the battery of a car is a rather powerful thing. A large shock could occur if you are careless or rushed.
You need to first decide which components you want to install. For lots of bass you will need a sub-woofer, for treble a tweeter and for mid-fill you need some 4 to 6.5 inch speakers. Depending on the size of the car and the desired sound you may only need the mid-fill. If you aren't confident with electronics you may need to seek professional help, however with instructions installing a car stereo can be a straightforward job.
To install a car stereo you will need: wire strippers, wire crimpers, electrical tape, screw drivers and a 12volt light tester. You need to connect the positive and negative wires from each speaker to the positive and negative wires on the stereo. You then need to 'earth' which is when you ground a wire from the stereo to a nut or bolt or other metal object in the car. You then need constant power which ensures your stereo remembers radio stations etc, this is achieved by pulling the cigarette lighter wire, test it with the 12volt light tester, then connect the constant wire from the stereo. Finally, you will need an ignition source, this means selecting a wire from under the dash, test it with the light and your headlights on, both should retain their intensity. All you need to do now is connect up the radio antennae which should be dangling out of the stereo. Make sure you follow the instructions, whilst this is a rough guide the exact specifications will change according to the manufacturer of the sound system and the manufacturer of the car.
Once your stereo is hooked up, and working, make sure you don't turn it up to loud straightaway. Your speakers need to slowly become louder and louder to work to their full potential. Try turning it up a couple more notches everyday, pretty soon they will be working at a good rate. Adjust the bass and treble to suit your preferences, it is a case of user discretion when it comes to the right levels. Remember that if you don't have a sub-woofer you shouldn't use too much bass because your speakers will be damaged.
The most important thing to remember when installing a car stereo is safety. Protect yourself by making sure you are doing the right thing, as anyone who has got one will tell you, a car can give a large electrical shock. If you follow the instructions properly you will find to install a car stereo is a straightforward task, double checking every step is the key.
See Also:
More on installing car stereos
Learn to Install Car Audio and Security
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