Removing unused wires from sled connector

Hi,

I have a problem with very limited space in my car installation and do not plan to use the serial, tuner, mute, or microphone. If I remove the wires for these from the sled connector, will I encounter any problems? Also, what functionality do I loose if I connect both the permanent power (yellow) and ignition sense (orange) to switched power? (I assume I'll be rebooting a lot but that doesn't bother me). Will really appreciate any info. Thanks.

Do not cut any wires off the sled. Do whatever it takes to carefully route and tuck the wires, but do not cut them. If it were me, I would actually cut holes in the car to make room for the wires before I would cut the wires.

Do not connect both of the power wires to the switched power. Connect them properly- Yellow to constant 12v, red to switched 12v. This is important.

Thanks. I wasn't planning to cut wires, but rather to pull them out of the connector altogether. Do you know the technical reasons for recomending against these things?

You will one day wish to use the features that the connectors are used for. If you remove them, you won't be able to do that. The sleds are expensive, and buying a new one just to use the mic, tuner, or serial connectors will really irritate you. Also, there is the high probability that the player will outlast your car, and you may want the connectors for use in the next car. You also might choose to sell the player to someone else.

The power wiring is important to do correctly so that you don't ruin your speakers with amplifiers pops.

The wiring loom is pretty tricky to dissassemble without messing up the pins. the only way I got one out (by accident, that loom is evilly wired..) was because the stop tab wasn't bent out enough. Besides, you probably wouldn't be able to get a replacement if you messed it up.

Since in my car I don't have ignition wire, I must connect both Yellow and Red to constant 12V.
Do you think I will have problems?

It will work but it will never turn off. Every car was a switch 12V somewhere.

Steve

Any electrical item in your car that is not on or able to be turned on while the car is OFF is a possible source of accessory 12V.

The constant connection in some cars will sometimes have thicker gauge wire than the 12V accessory lines (for the previous poster). In my car however, the stereo accessory line is fused with a higher rated fuse (doesn't matter because both are far higher than what the empeg would ever draw - they're mostly for fire protection from shorts).

Bruno

Run a T off of your cigarette lighter power wire. That is switched and usually very close to where the radio install location is. Smoking is bad for you anyway...might as well use the power wire for something good

You can remove the pins from the connector. I did this by finding a paper clip of the right size to slide under the pin and compress the barb that is holding the pin in place. Then carefully removing the pin. If you wish to re-install the pins then gently bend the barbs back up and reinsert the pins. Just be careful, take your time.

I've had cars where the lighter was not switched, so make sure first.

That's not true.... i've had cars that were not switched on the cigarette lighter.

Calvin

I totally agree with you about smoking
I think you're right, if I remember well my cig lighter is switched; so the ignition wire is only like a switch that tell the empeg to turn on/stby, it get power only from constant 12V and I don't mind if this cig lighter wire isn't thick, right?

This is OFTEN how it is, the always-on is the real power line and the switched just activates the relay to turn the unit on. Either way, the Rio doesn't have an amplifier in it so I wouldn't THINK it takes a lot of power. If a wire is good enough for a cig lighter, IMO it's good enough to power the RIO.

Neutrino, thanks a lot. That worked very well.