Fuses (Sirius radio)

[DennisS]

Recently, my father and I (mostly my Dad, I'm mechanically-challenged) tried wiring a Sirius satellite radio into my 2003 Jeep Wrangler. When we looked at the fuse box we noticed that the Jeep uses micro-fuses of some kind (that my Dad wasn't familiar with). He jerry-rigged something that didn't work too well because he (we) couldn't figure out how to wire the radio into the fuse box. As soon as he started suggesting that we drill a hole in one of the fuses to make the wire connection, I told him "that's alright, i'll figure something else out". Long story short, is there a place on the web (or a book I could buy) that gives a beginners-level introduction to hooking-up electronics into the Jeep? At the moment, my radio is plugged into a power-adapter, but I'd really like a more elegant solution. Thanks!

[chutta]

Temporarily I had mine connected to the right always on cig lighter jack. When I put in the CB, I just parallelled off it's power lead. This entailed going through the firewall, but I routed the antenna out through there for placement on the hood anyway. Unlike my prev gm products, I didn't see any lugs on the fuse blocks for easy terminal hookups. Make sure you get the polarity right on the tiny lead wires after you clip off the lighter plug. Get a cheap multi-meter, you will use it for far more than this

[DennisS]

I have no intention of clipping "off the lighter plug". I have the wires I need to wire into the fuse box, I just don't know how. I also have a wire/adapter to plug it into the back of my radio so that I don't have to worry about signal transmission, but that's going to require taking the radio out (somehow). I should take the stock radio out anyways, since I have a CD that's been stuck in there for months now... Maybe I should just take it to a shop and have someone else do it.

[CMSurfer]

What kind of Sirius unit are you trying to put in? All you need to do for a plug and play unit is to plug it into the cigarette lighter socket and plug in the antenna.

[DennisS]

CMSurfer What kind of Sirius unit are you trying to put in? All you need to do for a plug and play unit is to plug it into the cigarette lighter socket and plug in the antenna.


That's the way I have it now, but I'd like to have it be powered through the fuse box instead of using up the lighter/power socket. If I think about it tonight, I'll take some pictures and post them to better illustrate my problem/goals. Thanks!

[tonylong]

Not to be off-topic but I'd like to know what you get from sat radio that makes it worth a monthly cost?
I like rock and I'd like to have more choices, I also like in the PA mountains and reception is poor.

[yzergod]

Dennis, your local AutoZone, Checker, parts store will have a little fuse adapter for about $4. You pull a fuse (like the one for the stereo) and plug this adapter in it's place. It has two slots for those mini fuses, one fo the original and one that comes with it for the accessory (Sirius in this case). It has about 3" of wire. That is the positive wire for your unit. You can do this with just about any accessory like a cb radio. I have used these without fail in all my vehicles. Cheap and too easy to mess with tapping into another wire. HTH!

http://www.42draftdesigns.com/images/electrical/add-a-circuit.jpg

[DennisS]

Yzergod, this looks to be what I'm looking for! Thanks! Now I just need to find a local auto store and ask for a thingamajig... Heck, I'm printing the picture. Thanks again!

[DennisS]

tonylong: Not to be off-topic but I'd like to know what you get from sat radio that makes it worth a monthly cost? I like rock and I'd like to have more choices, I also like in the PA mountains and reception is poor.


Tony, Sirius is pretty good as far as satellite radio goes. I haven't used XM so I cannot really compare the two, but I've been using Sirius for the better part of a year and enjoy it. There are several Rock stations: Classic Vinyl (60s, 70s and such), Classic Rewind (70s, 80s and such), Spectrum (jumble of a lot of things), Buzzsaw (70s, 80s, 90s harder rock), Octane (even harder rock), Alt Nation and Left of Center offer alternative rock. So yeah, there are a lot of options.


My only problem with satellite radio is reception. I mostly drive a soft-top jeep, so I'm unable to stick the magnetic antenna on my roof for the best possible reception. Instead, I have my antenna wire threaded behind my dashboard, out by the driver's side door and plopped on the front hood (near the windshield). This works MOST of the time. I do however lose reception for a second or two when passing under bridges or through neighborhoods with heavy foliage, which annoys me. I'm really hoping to rig-up a more powerful antenna at some point (if that's even an option).

[CMSurfer]

Originally posted by DennisS:
CMSurfer What kind of Sirius unit are you trying to put in? All you need to do for a plug and play unit is to plug it into the cigarette lighter socket and plug in the antenna.


That's the way I have it now, but I'd like to have it be powered through the fuse box instead of using up the lighter/power socket. If I think about it tonight, I'll take some pictures and post them to better illustrate my problem/goals. Thanks! Gotcha... Sounds like Yzer's idea is the way to go. You can always pick up an add-on cigarette lighter socket and hook it up and hide it in the dash somewhere...

Also depending on what kind of headunit and Sirius unit you have, there may be a hard wire kit for it. The forums at siriusbackstage.com should be helpful.

[yzergod]

Originally posted by DennisS:
My only problem with satellite radio is reception. I mostly drive a soft-top jeep, so I'm unable to stick the magnetic antenna on my roof for the best possible reception. Instead, I have my antenna wire threaded behind my dashboard, out by the driver's side door and plopped on the front hood (near the windshield). This works MOST of the time. I do however lose reception for a second or two when passing under bridges or through neighborhoods with heavy foliage, which annoys me. I'm really hoping to rig-up a more powerful antenna at some point (if that's even an option). You need to run it up the windshield pillar to the rollbar/cross bar. Most people mount them up there and thay get the best reception there. Sounds like yours is cutting off due to interferance from the windshield frame. I have mine secured (?) to the sportsbar with some velcro. You can get fancy mounts like this one (http://www.quadratec.com/products/96080_300.htm) from Quad...

http://www.quadratec.com/Assets/Images/59646/59646-md.jpg

[tonylong]

Yeah I thought reception with a soft top might be so-so. I can only get 1 FM and 3 AM stations decently here. I don't know anyone who has any sat radio. I'll try to find someone who does and ask how it seems.

[yzergod]

Reception is no different with a soft top, hard top, or no top on a Jeep. the higher the better to prevent other vehicle metal from interfering with reception.