Hooking up the P1900

**_psych_** · 02-25-2007, 02:30 AM

Ok heres the deal;

I've read the manual from Carnetix, and have a good idea of how everything is wired.

Heres my setup:

1994 Mustang GT
Mac mini - 1.66GHz
xenarc 700IDT
CNX-P1900

However, I have a few questions before I wire this rig to my car and blow something up.

1) Where is the BEST possible place to tap into for power for the P1900? How exactly should I tap into the power source? Simply strip a wire that has un-switched power from the battery?

2) Where is the best place to ground the P1900 (J1 pin 1)? Again, how should I go about attaching this ground wire?

After I get these simple questions answered, ill start the build.

**DarquePervert** · 02-25-2007, 07:33 AM

Originally Posted by _psych_

1) Where is the BEST possible place to tap into for power for the P1900? How exactly should I tap into the power source? Simply strip a wire that has un-switched power from the battery?

The BEST method is a fused line directly from the battery.

2) Where is the best place to ground the P1900 (J1 pin 1)? Again, how should I go about attaching this ground wire?

The frame of the vehicle. Make sure it's bare metal and you use the same gage wire as you did for power.

**_psych_** · 02-25-2007, 04:15 PM

Thanks for the fast reply bro.

Im still fuzzy on one thing: In order for *any* electronic to run, you need a complete circuit to and from the power source (in this case, the car battery). The line from the battery is J1 pin 3 of the P1900. But where is the line back to the battery? Is the circuit completed by the ground wire? This might be a real no0b question, but I just really dont want to fry my car, as I dont have the money to go out and buy another one... Thanks in advance to the mp3car gods

**S4Per** · 02-25-2007, 10:52 PM

it's the ground wire. the chassis (your grounding point back by the PC) completes the circuit back to the battery (note its grounding cable to the chassis there also).

and hey - - you're ugly too! ;-)

**_psych_** · 02-26-2007, 12:15 PM

Awesome. I did a little more research after posting this thread and figured it out, but thanks for clarifying! It seems odd that the chassis completes the circuit. I mean, the whole car frame is electrified? Strange, but whatever it takes to hook my PC up. Thanks again S4per

(good call on the German)

**_psych_** · 02-27-2007, 09:04 PM

Ok, so im thinking about this:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search

But then i noticed that it only accepts 18 gauge wire - not the best for a battery-P1900 cable. So then I look here:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search

It doesnt say what kind of gauge wire it accepts, but its 10 more max amps. My question is: Will the latter fuse design be adequate for protecting my equipment?

Any other links to superior fuse solutions would be appreciated.