Identifying a wire

S

steamer

Guest
OK I'm putting an old radio in a new truck and the wiring harness
had to be slightly different. Bottom line: I've got about 5 extra wires
coming out of the radio. Now one of them powers the panel lights but I don't
know which one or how much power it needs. How would someone go about
'tickling' the wires with increasing voltage (up to 12 one supposes but
maybe less?) to determine which one controls lighting?

--
"Steamboat Ed" Haas : "Hold on! we're passing
Hacking the Trailing Edge! : through the moronosphere!"
www.nmpproducts.com
---Decks a-wash in a sea of words---
 
"steamer" <steamer@sonic.net> wrote in message
news:48403734$0$17184$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
OK I'm putting an old radio in a new truck and the wiring harness
had to be slightly different. Bottom line: I've got about 5 extra wires
coming out of the radio. Now one of them powers the panel lights but I
don't
know which one or how much power it needs. How would someone go about
'tickling' the wires with increasing voltage (up to 12 one supposes but
maybe less?) to determine which one controls lighting?
Click to expand...
I'd start by looking up the radio model, maybe there is a wiring guide
online.
I have also seen ready made harness adapters in the stores.
 
"steamer" <steamer@sonic.net> wrote in message
news:48403734$0$17184$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
OK I'm putting an old radio in a new truck and the wiring harness
had to be slightly different. Bottom line: I've got about 5 extra wires
coming out of the radio. Now one of them powers the panel lights but I
don't
know which one or how much power it needs. How would someone go about
'tickling' the wires with increasing voltage (up to 12 one supposes but
maybe less?) to determine which one controls lighting?
Click to expand...
I'd start by looking up the radio model, maybe there is a wiring guide
online.
I have also seen ready made harness adapters in the stores.
 
"steamer" <steamer@sonic.net> wrote in message
news:48403734$0$17184$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
OK I'm putting an old radio in a new truck and the wiring harness
had to be slightly different. Bottom line: I've got about 5 extra wires
coming out of the radio. Now one of them powers the panel lights but I
don't
know which one or how much power it needs. How would someone go about
'tickling' the wires with increasing voltage (up to 12 one supposes but
maybe less?) to determine which one controls lighting?

--
"Steamboat Ed" Haas : "Hold on! we're passing
Hacking the Trailing Edge! : through the moronosphere!"
www.nmpproducts.com
---Decks a-wash in a sea of words---
Click to expand...
Keep in mind that in new vehicles everything talks to the control module.
If you want the window down, the switch doesn't put the window down it tells
the module that you want the window down.
If the module thinks you should have the window down, it will do it. The
radio is no exception. You may have speed sensing sound, alarm tones and
more.
Get an adaptor.

Tom
 
"steamer" <steamer@sonic.net> wrote in message
news:48403734$0$17184$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
OK I'm putting an old radio in a new truck and the wiring harness
had to be slightly different. Bottom line: I've got about 5 extra wires
coming out of the radio. Now one of them powers the panel lights but I
don't
know which one or how much power it needs. How would someone go about
'tickling' the wires with increasing voltage (up to 12 one supposes but
maybe less?) to determine which one controls lighting?

--
"Steamboat Ed" Haas : "Hold on! we're passing
Hacking the Trailing Edge! : through the moronosphere!"
www.nmpproducts.com
---Decks a-wash in a sea of words---
Click to expand...
Keep in mind that in new vehicles everything talks to the control module.
If you want the window down, the switch doesn't put the window down it tells
the module that you want the window down.
If the module thinks you should have the window down, it will do it. The
radio is no exception. You may have speed sensing sound, alarm tones and
more.
Get an adaptor.

Tom
 
"Tom Biasi" <tombiasi@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:eJKdndRBRbFXxt3VnZ2dnUVZ_sPinZ2d@giganews.com...
"steamer" <steamer@sonic.net> wrote in message
news:48403734$0$17184$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
OK I'm putting an old radio in a new truck and the wiring harness
had to be slightly different. Bottom line: I've got about 5 extra wires
coming out of the radio. Now one of them powers the panel lights but I
don't
know which one or how much power it needs. How would someone go about
'tickling' the wires with increasing voltage (up to 12 one supposes but
maybe less?) to determine which one controls lighting?

--
"Steamboat Ed" Haas : "Hold on! we're passing
Hacking the Trailing Edge! : through the moronosphere!"
www.nmpproducts.com
---Decks a-wash in a sea of words---

Keep in mind that in new vehicles everything talks to the control module.
If you want the window down, the switch doesn't put the window down it
tells the module that you want the window down.
If the module thinks you should have the window down, it will do it. The
radio is no exception. You may have speed sensing sound, alarm tones and
more.
Get an adaptor.
Click to expand...
An old radio wouldn't have that capability...

There are likely leads for:
power (memory)
switched power
dial lights
speakers (x4)
antenna in
antenna motor
ground (x5)
 
"Lord Garth" <lgarth@tantalus.net> wrote in message
news:NYZ%j.3391$Q57.2802@nlpi065.nbdc.sbc.com...
"Tom Biasi" <tombiasi@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:eJKdndRBRbFXxt3VnZ2dnUVZ_sPinZ2d@giganews.com...

"steamer" <steamer@sonic.net> wrote in message
news:48403734$0$17184$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
OK I'm putting an old radio in a new truck and the wiring harness
had to be slightly different. Bottom line: I've got about 5 extra wires
coming out of the radio. Now one of them powers the panel lights but I
don't
know which one or how much power it needs. How would someone go about
'tickling' the wires with increasing voltage (up to 12 one supposes but
maybe less?) to determine which one controls lighting?

--
"Steamboat Ed" Haas : "Hold on! we're passing
Hacking the Trailing Edge! : through the moronosphere!"
www.nmpproducts.com
---Decks a-wash in a sea of words---

Keep in mind that in new vehicles everything talks to the control module.
If you want the window down, the switch doesn't put the window down it
tells the module that you want the window down.
If the module thinks you should have the window down, it will do it. The
radio is no exception. You may have speed sensing sound, alarm tones and
more.
Get an adaptor.

An old radio wouldn't have that capability...

There are likely leads for:
power (memory)
switched power
dial lights
speakers (x4)
antenna in
antenna motor
ground (x5)
Click to expand...
True, but the vehicle may be expecting more than that.
If the radio is installed independently of the existing harness then its
possible to connect as you say, but if the op is replacing a stock radio
there could be problems.

Tom
 
On Fri, 30 May 2008 17:19:48 +0000, steamer wrote:

OK I'm putting an old radio in a new truck and the wiring harness
had to be slightly different. Bottom line: I've got about 5 extra wires
coming out of the radio. Now one of them powers the panel lights but I don't
know which one or how much power it needs. How would someone go about
'tickling' the wires with increasing voltage (up to 12 one supposes but
maybe less?) to determine which one controls lighting?
Click to expand...
There is a color code. I remember yellow being the light circuit, blue
being power antenna, pink being remote on. Best google it because my
memory could be flawed after all these years of having no hands on
experience.
 
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