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MG MGF Technical - Slow but thorough stereo installation

I've still not got around to installing the Becker head unit, other than a trial fit, but I'm having fun in anticipation! In the course of preparing, I've got three questions, which the nice people on this board are much more likely to answer and answer well than the car audio forums I've checked out.

1) The aerial lead in the MGF (a 1995 1.8i) terminates in what I think is a male DIN connector (about an half inch of rounded pin held onto the lead by a collar). The back of the Becker needs a male ISO socket (short, thinner pin surrounded by a collar that grips the outside of the fitting on the HU). The Pioneer P77MP I tried and the original Philips HU's both take the DIN pin. Have most people used an adaptor or is it preferable to re-terminate the aerial with an ISO socket?

2) I thought that a little cushioning for the HU would be a nice gesture, to make it feel cosy and at home. The Becker installs without a cage, but either way, there is a little movement between the HU and the bare metal tray of the MGF. Has anyone done this or can anyone recommend a suitable material to line the tray?

3) One thing leads to another, of course, and I thought that a little OFC wiring to the speakers wouldn't go amiss. I've got the connectors for the speaker end, but how do people wire the new cable into the ISO socket? Someone suggested twisting the existing wires and the new wire together s few inches from the ISO socket, but that seems sub-optimal!

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Chaz
C Golvala

1) prolly be fine with an adaptor

2) Not sure _but_ the HU will create quite a lot of heat, be careful not to pack it in a way that will stop disapation

3) yes, twisting together and soldering is the solution nice and close to the HU (2"?) then cover with heatshrink.
Will Munns

Thanks Will.

The Becker HU has fins on the back, but the casing is otherwise pretty much free of air-holes. I was thinking of putting a pad between the bottom of the unit and the metal tray of the MGF, possibly using some Dynamat or a bit of old foam. I'd really like to find some high-density shock-absorbing (and heat-resistant) material, but am not sure where to look for a piece about 9 inches square! Do you think these options are OK from the heat point of view?

Also from a heat POV, the Becker has a heat protecting circuit for the CD. What chance is there that the heater unit will radiate enough heat downwards onto the HU from the tube leading to the central vent to trigger this?

Finally, what is "heatshrink"?

Cheers

Chaz
Chaz

If the FETS are mounted on the back you should be OK, for high density foam I tend to use underley for snaplock flooring, but I don't know if it will stand the heat (prolly if the unit is designed well, but I'd keep the foam near the front). Does the unit have a locating stud and rubber sleve at the back (or in a bag with a thread for the back). This should locate in the frame behind the radio and give it more stability.

I really wouldn't worry about the heater

Heatshrink is PVC type tubing (usually black) which you slide over the connection and heat with a flame or iron. It will shrink down to about 1/2 diameter and is much better than insulating tape - as tape adhesive gets slippy when hot. Buy from maplin
Will Munns

Hey, Will, while I've got you....!

The unit does have a locating stud of the screw-in type. No rubber sleeve, unfortunately, and I've been looking around for the right sort of widget to cover it.

When you say this should locate in the frame behind the radio, what do you mean? As far as I can see, it simply stops the HU moving backwards too far or acts like a bump stop. There is a bit of metal at the rear of the "box" for the HU which is tapers towards the top and has a fold in it for strength, but no hole for a bolt to secure the HU, as far as I recall.

Thanks for all your help and the great recommendation of heatshrink.

Cheers

Chaz
Chaz

Will's suggestion of Maplin for the heatshrink cable covering stuff led me to look for vibration damping material and I found this:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=37797&doy=9m8D

That should do the trick.

Chaz
Chaz

This thread was discussed on 09/08/2005

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