Using the original AM Radio - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

THOR 50 · 09-19-2002, 09:14 PM

I want to hook up my AM Radio to the dash speaker but don't have the harness. The dash speaker out of a '71 has 2 wires green and green w/black stripe. The radio has three spade connectors on the back one is marked 12Vpower, another is ground GND, 3rd (middle) is ?.
How do I hook this up. The light goes on with just the power spade hooked up.

Are the others for the speaker?

JimKshortstep4x4 · 09-20-2002, 07:17 AM

The radio hookup appears to be a little unusal because it is set up with two connectors, one plugs into the other. The first connector has the power wire, (12v) and the second connector has the two speaker wires in it, one for ground the other for the output from the radio for the speaker. If you don't have both connectors you can still hook it up.

Run your power wire to the 12v connection, ground your radio, and hook the two speaker wires to the remaining spade connectors. Speaker polarity is not important.

If you want to go factory, post on the parts board for the wires
and someone may have them.

Jim

mtdave2 · 09-20-2002, 10:09 AM

huh???????????? you lost me. there are 3 spades in the back of the radio. 1 is power. leaving 2. i just assume that those are for the speaker wires. you need 2 wires going to the speaker. are you calling the one side of the speaker the ground?

JimKshortstep4x4 · 09-20-2002, 10:39 AM

Yes, one side of the speaker is ground. It is good practice to have a common ground for electrical/electronic items like radios because you can have a potential if you use separate grounds
which could cause a problem. Guys that are into solid state can probably explain it better.

Jim

mtdave2 · 09-20-2002, 10:45 AM

""Yes, one side of the speaker is ground.""
great i understand..
then you had to say

"It is good practice to have a common ground for electrical/electronic items like radios because you can have a potential if you use separate grounds
which could cause a problem"

now we are back to the start again.

are you saying to run the one wire to a ground, like a bolt?
speakers need 2 wires. to me, as long as there are 2 it doesnt matter what one is the "gound" the one with the stripe.

so in this case you have 3 terminal
1 goes to power
the other 2 go to the speaker

JimKshortstep4x4 · 09-20-2002, 11:10 AM

12v to power, other two wires to the speaker, you got it! Sorry to confuse you.

Jim

THOR 50 · 09-22-2002, 08:04 PM

Thanks guys, Hooked it up yesterday. I guess the darn thing doesn't work.
Oh well it looks good.

09-19-2002, 09:14 PM	#1
THOR 50 Over worked under paid Join Date: May 2001 Location: Fort Myers, Florida Posts: 378	Using the original AM Radio I want to hook up my AM Radio to the dash speaker but don't have the harness. The dash speaker out of a '71 has 2 wires green and green w/black stripe. The radio has three spade connectors on the back one is marked 12Vpower, another is ground GND, 3rd (middle) is ?. How do I hook this up. The light goes on with just the power spade hooked up. Are the others for the speaker? __________________ Roger '69 C-10 with GMC front clip billet grill, 283CI, 400TH and 12bolt posiw/3.73 gears

09-20-2002, 10:09 AM	#3
mtdave2 newly minted old timer Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Hudson WI Posts: 3,521	huh???????????? you lost me. there are 3 spades in the back of the radio. 1 is power. leaving 2. i just assume that those are for the speaker wires. you need 2 wires going to the speaker. are you calling the one side of the speaker the ground? __________________ ____________________________________________ 72 c20 longhorn 65k org miles and counting! 69 k10 Suburban

09-20-2002, 10:45 AM	#5
mtdave2 newly minted old timer Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Hudson WI Posts: 3,521	""Yes, one side of the speaker is ground."" great i understand.. then you had to say "It is good practice to have a common ground for electrical/electronic items like radios because you can have a potential if you use separate grounds which could cause a problem" now we are back to the start again. are you saying to run the one wire to a ground, like a bolt? speakers need 2 wires. to me, as long as there are 2 it doesnt matter what one is the "gound" the one with the stripe. so in this case you have 3 terminal 1 goes to power the other 2 go to the speaker __________________ ____________________________________________ 72 c20 longhorn 65k org miles and counting! 69 k10 Suburban

09-22-2002, 08:04 PM	#7
THOR 50 Over worked under paid Join Date: May 2001 Location: Fort Myers, Florida Posts: 378	THANKS! Thanks guys, Hooked it up yesterday. I guess the darn thing doesn't work. Oh well it looks good. __________________ Roger '69 C-10 with GMC front clip billet grill, 283CI, 400TH and 12bolt posiw/3.73 gears

09-20-2002, 07:17 AM	#2
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	The radio hookup appears to be a little unusal because it is set up with two connectors, one plugs into the other. The first connector has the power wire, (12v) and the second connector has the two speaker wires in it, one for ground the other for the output from the radio for the speaker. If you don't have both connectors you can still hook it up. Run your power wire to the 12v connection, ground your radio, and hook the two speaker wires to the remaining spade connectors. Speaker polarity is not important. If you want to go factory, post on the parts board for the wires and someone may have them. Jim

09-20-2002, 10:39 AM	#4
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	Yes, one side of the speaker is ground. It is good practice to have a common ground for electrical/electronic items like radios because you can have a potential if you use separate grounds which could cause a problem. Guys that are into solid state can probably explain it better. Jim

09-20-2002, 11:10 AM	#6
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	12v to power, other two wires to the speaker, you got it! Sorry to confuse you. Jim



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