So I placed an order for the sled and harness connectors from SPMIcro. The price is right and I'm competent enough to follow simple directions. I have some basic electronics experience.

Well, the problem lies in that there is no basic set of directions. I understand that some soldering needs to take place and that I need to add some more wires, rca connectors, and possibly some other items to make a complete sled. What exactly is involved? I think that this would make the perfect tutorial, as I'm sure others could use this info. My sled was stolen w/ my other empeg mkII earlier this year, so my car has been without any music. Waste of a system. Anyway, if anything, this would help me out immensely. I appreciate any input or assistance that anyone may be able to provide.

Thanks,
Elon

You can start here:

http://www.empeg.mars.org/devel/hardware/connector.php3

that's a list of the pinouts for the connector.

Actually, the link Loren posted is the pinouts for the Mark 1 units. Pinout information for the Mark 2 is in the Developer FAQ on RioCar.org.

Aha! there it is. I was wondering after i posted that last night if those were the MKI pinouts. I couldn't find the link you posted.... Thanks.

Thanks for the link above. Is there a specific way to crimp the connectors? Do I need a special tool, like crimping CAT5 or Coax cable? Am I supposed to crimp them or solder them or both? Any tips on doing this right the first time? Has anyone made a full connector/harness from scratch?

These are just some of the specific questions bouncing around my head right now.

Apparently you solder them as it's more permanent and you don't have the correct (expensive) crimper.

Since you don't have an actual sled in front of you to copy, just use the wiring diagram to hook up what you need. If you can't ever see yourself using cell phone mute, no need to put a wire there.

Finally do not forget to put an inline power fuse as was in the original sled. I think the necessary info (3 amps?) is in the FAQ.

Although it's not too important to get exactly correct, you'll also nee the correct guage wire. I imagine the original wiring was around 20 AWG?

John

Has anyone made a full connector/harness from scratch

Yes, but I don't think they're still being made or if much information was actually posted by the maker, as I think all the info is in the FAQ. If you want to search the board, the username Shonky might help you find those old thread.

Has anyone made a full connector/harness from scratch?

I made one up with just power & RCA's, just take your time and be sparing with the solder or the pins won't enter the connector block cleanly (yep... mine didn't )

IIRC you have to crimp as well, but I just did it with long nose pliers, not pretty but hasn't failed me six months on

Cheers, Sim

Does anyone know the correct guage wire?

I'm guessing here based upon external size, so I could be wrong;

18ga;
+12V 'Memory'
+12V 'Ignition Switched'
Ground
Amp Remote.

22ga;
Everything else (except RCAs of course)

Can you give me some basic directions on how to crimp these connectors correctly and how to wire the RCA's?

Thanks,
E

For some moral support, visit this thread..... robricc's sleds, shonky's harness and tuner

For connector pinouts vistit the FAQ......... Pinouts

As for any advice,
1) Only connect the wires you will actually use
2) Use your existing harness as a reference
3) Double & Triple check the power connectors
4) Don't forget the inline fuse (see referenced thread)
5) Remember what I said before about keeping the crimp "compact" so it will enter the connector block cleanly
6) I think soldering as well as crimping is advised, but be sparing with the solder!

Not exhaustive, but a start............and don't forget to enjoy it

Cheers, Sim

In regards to the pinouts, what would be the correct wire coloring for the different connections? Basically, what were the original colors?


As well, could someone take a picture of an uninstalled harness from the perspective of looking at the rear of the sled? It would be invaluable in aiding my construction of it.

Thanks.
Elon

If no one beats me to it, I'll snap a shot tonight (roughly 9-10 hours from now)

/Michael

Thanks!

Which pinouts are you using and which ones are you NOT using?

The main ones that you'd want to get right are:

- Constant power= Yellow
- Ground= Black
- Amp Remote= Blue

Now, here's one that I think they chose poorly on the original sled:
- Ignition switched power= Orange
(In my personal opinion, that should have been Red. If I were doing my own sled, I'd have changed it to red.)

And another:
- Dash illumination= White
(I think that one should have been orange.)

If I recall correctly, the cell phone mute is green.

Then when wiring the RCA audio connectors, remember red is right, white is left. Or, if your connectors happend to be red/black instead of red/white, then the black is left. Make sure to label the RCA connector pairs for Front, Rear, and Aux-in, and make sure your aux-ins are female.

Which pinouts are you using and which ones are you NOT using?


Honestly, I'd like to wire them all. I'd like to get this sled to be as complete a replacement for my stolen sled as possible.

Elon

Hint: you can indicate quoted text by adding [ q ] and [ /q ] around the text (no space between bracket and q though). Another traditional way is to explicitly color it (the q tags does that automatically for you) by adding [ orange ] and [ /orange ] around the text. See this page for details of UBB mark-up.

/Michael

Hint: you can indicate quoted text by adding [ q ] and [ /q ] around the text (no space between bracket and q though). Another traditional way is to explicitly color it (the q tags does that automatically for you) by adding [ orange ] and [ /orange ] around the text. See this page for details of UBB mark-up.

Thanks Michael.

Elon

Sorry about not posting pics as promised last might - real life got in the way.
Well, I've snapped some pics, but they need some tweaking... They will follow

Meanwhile I've made a graphical representation of the plugs and a text description...



==========================================================
The colors of the wires as seen facing the rear of the sled:

Top row, left to right
======================
Yellow (memory, goes to ISO plug)
Blue (amp remote, goes to ISO plug, also branches and becomes dark green going to the serial plug, ???pin 5???)
Grey (goes to tuner plug)
Pink (goes to tuner plug)
Purple (goes to tuner plug)
Brown (goes to tuner plug)
Red (goes to tuner plug, slightly thick)
Orange, thin (goes to serial plug pin 2, RD)
Red (goes to serial plug pin 3, TD, thin)
White (goes to serial plug pin 8 CTS, also in ISO plug as Dimmer Sense)
Light green (goes to serial plug pin 1 CD, also in ISO plug as Phone Mute)
Black (microphone plug, sleeve/ring)

Bottom row, left to right
=========================
Black (ground, goes to ISO plug, also becomes black going to the serial plug)
Orange (Ignition sense, thick, goes to ISO plug)
Red, rear right RCA
Copper, common ground, rear RCA
White, rear left RCA
Red, front right RCA
Copper, common ground, front RCA
White, front left RCA
Red, AUX in right RCA
Copper, common ground, AUX in RCA
White, AUX in left RCA
Black w/ white stripe (microphone plug, tip)

Additionally
============
Ground and amp remote (black and blue) are also connected from ISO plug to tuner plug

==========================================================

/Michael

Bam.

Exceptionally cool, Mike. Thanks!

Picture quality sucks, but I think they're useable; available here

/Michael

Wow. You did a lot of work that I probably should have done. Thanks!

Exactly what I needed. Thanks.

Couldn't edit the original post any more, so here's the changed text (changes in bold), as well as a picture trying to illustrate the wiring runs.

As always, let me know if you spot any mistakes!

/Michael




==========================================================
The colors of the wires as seen facing the rear of the sled:

Top row, left to right
======================
Yellow (memory, goes to ISO plug)
Blue (amp remote, goes to ISO plug, also branches and becomes dark green going to the serial plug, pin 4)
Grey (goes to tuner plug)
Pink (goes to tuner plug)
Purple (goes to tuner plug)
Brown (goes to tuner plug)
Red (goes to tuner plug, slightly thick)
Orange, thin (goes to serial plug pin 2, RD)
Red (goes to serial plug pin 3, TD, thin)
White (goes to serial plug pin 8 CTS, also in ISO plug as Dimmer Sense)
Light green (goes to serial plug pin 1 CD, also in ISO plug as Phone Mute)
Black (microphone plug, sleeve/ring)

Bottom row, left to right
=========================
Black (ground, goes to ISO plug, also becomes black going to the serial plug, pin 5)
Orange (Ignition sense, thick, goes to ISO plug)
Red, rear right RCA
Copper, common ground, rear RCA
White, rear left RCA
Red, front right RCA
Copper, common ground, front RCA
White, front left RCA
Red, AUX in right RCA
Copper, common ground, AUX in RCA
White, AUX in left RCA
Black w/ white stripe (microphone plug, tip)

Additionally
============
Ground and amp remote (black and blue) are also connected from ISO plug to tuner plug

==========================================================

Michael, this rocks. I'm going to be wiring up a docking station soon, and this will help me out a lot. Tony should put this one in the FAQ, too.

One thing I did to make the picture a bit more useful is to label the pin numbers on the docking connector and such. It would only take a second in Paint!

make the picture a bit more useful is to label the pin numbers on the docking connector and such

Gotcha. Straightened out some wiring and colored the terminals on the serial plug as well...

/Michael

Does anyone have a supplier and/or part no. on the inline fuse? What size/rating for the fuse?

Where does the ISO plug go into? What's it used for? Do I need one for the empeg to work?

Where does the ISO plug go into? What's it used for? Do I need one for the empeg to work?

The details of what the ISO plug is about are covered here.

OK. My understanding is that the fuse is 3A. Is this correct? What kind of filter should I be buying? Is it part of the fuse casing? Anyone have a model number of equivalent parts?

3A is correct for the fuse size. Yes, the filter and fuse is one integrated unit (fuse accessed through slide off cover). It's got "Autoleads" embossed in the plastic, but no part number...

/Michael

3A is correct for the fuse size. Yes, the filter and fuse is one integrated unit (fuse accessed through slide off cover). It's got "Autoleads" embossed in the plastic, but no part number...

Are these available in the US anywhere?
As well, does anyone know where an ISO plug can be purchased?

Thanks for everyone's help. Hopefully this thread will be valuable in the future to someone other than me.

Elon

As well, does anyone know where an ISO plug can be purchased?

Looks to me like it's included in this kit (the smaller plug), but I'm not 100% sure.

From what I hear on other boards, the sales people a Crutchfield are very good - try giving them a call (1-888-955-6000) I couldn't find the plug on their web site, but they might still have it...

Edit: Hmmm, if you meant the ISO plug that goes on the harness - that is one half (upper) of the larger plug in the first link, while the lower part, IIRC, is normally the speaker outputs (on an Aktiv system it might be the leads to the stock amps)
I believe that kit + a harness adaptor for your car (car brand plug to wires) is all you need to hook up the harness and into your car.


/Michael

I found the ISO plug on a BMW harness. The BMW harness has both a ISO-A and ISO-B connector.

Well, the project is complete and works wonderfully. I used an inline noise filter from Peripheral Interface Components. It's PNF-12 here: http://peripheralelectronics.com/2002/noise_control.asp
It seems to work well.

Thanks again to all that contributed to this thread and made it possible for me to enjoy my Empeg again.

Elon