Remote faceplate with Alpines (interconect, wire, solder)

**justintime** · 02-05-2006, 07:15 PM

I bought a new Alpine CDE-9845 CD player, which has a detachable faceplate. I am planning on wiring the connectors with a 3 foot CAT5 cable as others have done, because I don't have enough space for this in my dash. I wanted to know if anyone has tried this with similar Alpine units. I am posting photos of the male and female connectors as a reference.

The Male conector looks very easy to solder onto. Not too sure about the female. (no jokes on ths one please!)

I would really want to avoid soldering onto the PCBs, as I have seen some people do. Is it totally crazy to think that I can get away with soldering between these connectors?

FYI: this CD player is only $119 at Best buy on clearance, it does sound very well, and has some nice features like MP3/WMA playback -- best of all a mini jack connector on the back for AUX input (!).

**LESLIEx317537** · 02-05-2006, 10:05 PM

If you try to solder directly to those gold plated contacts you are going to melt the plastic.

**Hark** · 02-05-2006, 10:06 PM

I hope you have better luck than I did - I tried with the 9855 probably 20 times with no luck. I really don't think it's possible with these new Alpine units. A professional stereo shop even tried and failed. You might save yourself a ton of time and frustration by trying it on a unit that's been proven to be relocatable.

**Wiredwrx** · 02-05-2006, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by Hark

I hope you have better luck than I did - I tried with the 9855 probably 20 times with no luck. I really don't think it's possible with these new Alpine units. A professional stereo shop even tried and failed. You might save yourself a ton of time and frustration by trying it on a unit that's been proven to be relocatable.

Why did it fail?

Michael

p.s., JIT, I followed a bunch of your relocate facepplate threads. I think the first and the second are better choices than this one, though there might be an easy solution for this one. As stated, the male connector is not gonna be easy to solder to. And, as expected, the female is even harder. I would actually want to see the back of the male connector. Perhaps the connector can be easily removed, and the board soldered to with wires, and then the other end of the wire can be soldered to the rear of the male connector, and then the headunit mounted on the connector where you want it.

**justintime** · 02-05-2006, 10:16 PM

The 9855 has a fold down faceplate, right? Do the connectors on the 9855 look like the ones I posted in this thread?

Also, check out this link, the guy seems to have used the EXACT SAME HU that I am using. Seriously, that is a CDE-9845 as far as I can tell!
Remote faceplate almost done

Originally Posted by Hark

I hope you have better luck than I did - I tried with the 9855 probably 20 times with no luck. I really don't think it's possible with these new Alpine units. A professional stereo shop even tried and failed. You might save yourself a ton of time and frustration by trying it on a unit that's been proven to be relocatable.

**turbocad6** · 02-05-2006, 10:35 PM

that doesn't look too hard to solder, just make sure you have like a 10-15 watt iron with a small tip,,,,... tin the term's & the wire ends seperatly then touch & solder.... use the solder very sparingly, as to much will cause stickage of more than one terminal....

weather it will work or not remains to be seen, I've done quite a few like this in the past with great results.... I here rumors of the newer ones being to sensative, but a cheaper unit may have a much better shot than a better one with a sophisticated display, I'd go for it

**justintime** · 02-05-2006, 10:42 PM

turbocad,

I will definitely give this a shot. I bought this thing for the sole purpose of remote locating.

I have a nice thin 15W solder iron, and I have gotten pretty good with it. The Male looks dead easy. The other one however is a challenge. But I am up to it, so we'll see how it goes and whether it works.

Any suggestions for a cable with 15 wires? I know people use CAT5, but I want to keep this clean with just one cable. I am thinking maybe a printer cable LOL

**JeremyM** · 02-05-2006, 10:43 PM

Anyone done this with the CDA-9825?

It's a semi-old school Alpine unit - it should work. It's not fold-down either, so I'm in business there.

**Wiredwrx** · 02-05-2006, 11:46 PM

Originally Posted by turbocad6

I here rumors of the newer ones being to sensative

What do you mean by sensitive. What has beent he problem?

Michael

**turbocad6** · 02-05-2006, 11:58 PM

low voltages & complex lcd display comunications mainly.... the more comunication between the face/screen & the head the tougher it'll get... a sheilded cable may be a benifit...with twisted pairs can also be an extra edge for a higher end display, but this one should be a simpler display & less likely to be an issue,,,, you could go w/just a pair of cat5's on a display face that's just simple switches & an average display... really only one way to find out