testing a deck

[Skywalker]

I need to test a head deck to see if it functions. its been sitting a while, Can I just hook up the power and ground to see if it powers up or do I need to do the whole damn plug thing?

[thousandlegs]

You should be able to test if it will power up just by using the power and ground but, of course, you won't be able to tell if the speakers or anything else works.

[iceberg65]

I have in the past tested them using a battery charger set on its 10A charge mode. Just hooked the red and yellow to the positive and the negative to the negative.

[Charcoal]

You should be careful hooking it up without speakers connected, that is a good way to blow a channel out on it. If you connect it and turn the volume up without speakers it could possibly fry it. I would connect two speakers up to it and twist the yellow/red together and stick it to the positive (+) on the battery and stick the black to the negative (-) on the battery and test it that way. Make sure no other bare wires are touching

[LostRacer]

Originally Posted by Charcoal

You should be careful hooking it up without speakers connected, that is a good way to blow a channel out on it. If you connect it and turn the volume up without speakers it could possibly fry it. I would connect two speakers up to it and twist the yellow/red together and stick it to the positive (+) on the battery and stick the black to the negative (-) on the battery and test it that way. Make sure no other bare wires are touching

The only flaw I see in that, is that most people don't use speaker wires at all anymore. Just the RCA's. Being that the deck has had no power it should come up at a default volume safe for powering up with nothing connected.

As stated: yellow and red to positive and then ground should net you an on result. Now with out any speakers co9nnected you won't know if anything else is functioning correctly 9internal amp).

[Charcoal]

humm only flaw? considering that you are going to be connecting to the radio to your factory wiring when you install it and also the fact that not all radios have rca outs then I believe you would be using speaker wires.

[LostRacer]

Originally Posted by Charcoal

humm only flaw? considering that you are going to be connecting to the radio to your factory wiring when you install it and also the fact that not all radios have rca outs then I believe you would be using speaker wires.

only if you're using the stock speakers in our cars the stock speaker harness is seperate from the power..