Help with Installing UHF Radio and Spotlights
Submitted: Sunday, Mar 11, 2007 at 12:53
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mickgibbo
Im about to buy some spotlights and a
UHF radio off Ebay and was wondering who are the best people to get to install these Items? Are Auto electricians the best? Im located in
Sydney (Sutherland) If anyone can suggest something.
Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Sunday, Mar 11, 2007 at 13:22
Sunday, Mar 11, 2007 at 13:22
Mick,
Ask the auto electrician if you could have a look at how she/he installed spotlights and UHF on there vehicles. This should give you a clue on how good the work is.
Failing that there are a few 4WD shops in your area, and ask them the same question.
www.arb.com.au/
www.tjm.com.au/
Wayne
AnswerID:
226730
Follow Up By: mickgibbo - Sunday, Mar 11, 2007 at 13:30
Sunday, Mar 11, 2007 at 13:30
Thanks alot I will give that a go, I suppose the specialists are bound to bet better.
FollowupID:
487550
Reply By: Muzzgit [WA] - Sunday, Mar 11, 2007 at 20:38
Sunday, Mar 11, 2007 at 20:38
Apart from the cable connection at the back of the UHF, you should be able do most of it yourself, and save some dollars.
Same with the spotties, having the switch in the dash, the lights on the bullbar, and the relay mounted close to the battery, will save him some time, saving you some dollars.
AnswerID:
226792
Follow Up By: Member - Brian H (QLD) - Sunday, Mar 11, 2007 at 21:08
Sunday, Mar 11, 2007 at 21:08
Just don't mount the relay to close to the battery terminals ...... keep it away a bit :).
Brian
FollowupID:
487638
Reply By: Bonz (Vic) - Sunday, Mar 11, 2007 at 22:04
Sunday, Mar 11, 2007 at 22:04
Mick a $WD club or EO membeer in
Sydney maybe able to help, if you're by this way then I would assist, it really is straight forward but if you're not confident go see an auto lecky.
I repaired a 12v problem yesterday in a mates car and found that the TJM guys had only run one wire to the back of the Prado, to run a couple of Hella plugs, IMHO thats WRONG, I would always run two. Lecky's arent what theyre always cracked off to be.
AnswerID:
226810
Follow Up By: disco1942 - Monday, Mar 12, 2007 at 14:49
Monday, Mar 12, 2007 at 14:49
Quote - "Lecky's arent what theyre always cracked off to be."
Competent tradesmen know the lowest resistance path back to the battery in a modern welded body is via that body. This business of using a wire back to the battery is a hang over from the days when car bodies were built from individual panels bolted and screwed together (and possibly with a wooden frame.) These body panels were often primed and/or painted before assembly. The screws and bolts then formed part of the return path - corrosion often formed under the heads leading to resistive paths. If your vehicle has any measurable resistance between the socket earth point and the battery it means that your vehicle is in such a bad state that I would refuse to ride with you and the vehicle should be put off the road.
If your vehicle is in good order with no discernible rust then the lecky did the right installation. the only quibble I would have with him is if did not bare the metal under the earth lug so as to make good contact.
PeterD
FollowupID:
487773
Reply By: John R (SA) - Monday, Mar 12, 2007 at 10:22
Monday, Mar 12, 2007 at 10:22
Neither job is terribly hard, they just take time. So if you're willing to spend a day trying to get wires through the firewall, mount the radio & switches, pull the dash apart etc, have a crack yourself.
If you can't be bothered stuffing around, I'd try;
- an auto electrician
- communications dealers
- the vehicle dealer, if bought new & you're near by
In all cases, I'd ask if they've done this work before and if so, how often? Then I'd ask how much it is likely to cost. Any answer will be prefaced by 'you never really know how long it will take', but if they do the work often they'll have a reasonable idea of how long it usually takes, and therefore be able to give a confident answer.
AnswerID:
226904
Reply By: mickgibbo - Monday, Mar 12, 2007 at 12:21
Monday, Mar 12, 2007 at 12:21
All go info cheers boys. Im not game to do it myself, so will take up the other options.
AnswerID:
226923