car CD-radio for garage use?

[gychang]

I have a cheap home stereo integrated amplifier (radioshack - accurian) that is not being used with an efficient bookshelf speakers. I have an unused PC ATX powersupply with 12VDC out.

Can I pickup a car radio-CD player and rig it so I can output to a home stereo amplifier and play on a bookshelf speaker?

Anyone with a similar setup? thanks,

gychang

[Richard Ellis]

Of course you can rig up your car stereo as you described........It is a common practice......usually they are set up in garages as the car stereo will be sprouting wires for the power supply and speakers, not the best looking set-up. Check the current output of the 12 Volt supply. An output of four amps or so should do just fine. Read the power consumption of the stereo in amps, sometimes it will be printed on the back of the unit. A smaller power supply of say just one amp might be overstressed, but can be used if the volume level is kept low.
__________________________________________________ _______Rick......

[gychang]

Originally Posted by Richard Ellis

Of course you can rig up your car stereo as you described........It is a common practice......usually they are set up in garages as the car stereo will be sprouting wires for the power supply and speakers, not the best looking set-up. Check the current output of the 12 Volt supply. An output of four amps or so should do just fine. Read the power consumption of the stereo in amps, sometimes it will be printed on the back of the unit. A smaller power supply of say just one amp might be overstressed, but can be used if the volume level is kept low.
__________________________________________________ _______Rick......

this is great!, guess will have to take a look at the amperage rating of the ATX PS and should be reasonably close to radio-CD unit.

thanks again, now have to look around the used radio-CD that I like.

gychang

[Richard Ellis]

Chang??
Ok..Do you want to run a pair of speakers off the Car-stereo?
Your description was a little confusing, it almost sounded like you wanted to run the car-stereo thru this integrated amp and THEN to the speakers.
Kinda pointless doing it this way as the car-stereo has an amp in it.
You will find out quite soon that the quality of a common car-stereo will quite probably out perform your "integrated amplifier".
__________________________________________________ ____Rick.......

[Glowbug]

You will find out quite soon that the quality of a common car-stereo will quite probably out perform your "integrated amplifier".

Maybe, maybe not Most head units don't have a lot of unclipped output power, I'd count on maybe 12-15W at most.

Also, remember you have a switched 12V lead to deal with, what color it is will depend on the brand you get...

[gychang]

Originally Posted by Richard Ellis

Chang??
Ok..Do you want to run a pair of speakers off the Car-stereo?
Your description was a little confusing, it almost sounded like you wanted to run the car-stereo thru this integrated amp and THEN to the speakers.
Kinda pointless doing it this way as the car-stereo has an amp in it.
You will find out quite soon that the quality of a common car-stereo will quite probably out perform your "integrated amplifier".
__________________________________________________ ____Rick.......

I was hoping to use bookshelf stereo speaker which is rated at 8Ohms with sensitivity of 88dB (made for "home amplifier").

If the car-stereo unit has enough power than my radioshack integrated amp will not be needed. I hope the quality of the car unit will out perform my "stereo" amp.

gychang

[gychang]

Originally Posted by Glowbug

Also, remember you have a switched 12V lead to deal with, what color it is will depend on the brand you get...

am not sure "what color it is..." mean.

gychang

[Glowbug]

Wire harnesses for car stereo head units (the bunch of wires that plugs into the multipin Molex connector in back) are usually color-coded to make installing easier. So your constant 12V wire might be yellow, but you'd also have a switched 12V line that might be red, for example. Both would need to be hooked up for the unit to turn on

[gychang]

Originally Posted by Glowbug

Wire harnesses for car stereo head units (the bunch of wires that plugs into the multipin Molex connector in back) are usually color-coded to make installing easier. So your constant 12V wire might be yellow, but you'd also have a switched 12V line that might be red, for example. Both would need to be hooked up for the unit to turn on

that's very helpful, thanks.

gychang

[Glowbug]

No problem