Powering a Mitsubishi headunit with a computer power supply

lv2xlr8 · 15th June 2009, 03:52 PM

So I've seen posts of people that powered there aftermarket headunits with computer power supplies but I wanted to try to power my factory headunit with a power supply as I recently replaced it.

I just have no idea where to start but I would imagine I would need some type of wiring harness for my headunit and then from there I have no idea how to connect the power supply to the HU.

Any help/suggestions would be great.

Zero Cool · 17th June 2009, 01:31 AM

well you are going to need the wiring harness for sure. then you will need to know what all the wires are in the harness. you will need to find the +12v battery connection and the +12acc (key on) connection and ground. to at least get started.

A computer power supply, the old old AT type ones that just have a on/off switch work best. these have red, yellow and black wires. If i remember correctly and i may be wrong, use a meter to make sure. I think the yellow and black are the +12v lines, the red being +5v if i remember correctly.

The newer power supply's for ATX type boards require connecting one of the main wires in the harness to a switch and then to ground i think. Im sure if you googled you can figure out how to make it work. MOST switching power supplies require some type of load before the supply will run correctly. you may have to wire a 12 tail lamp bulb or a resistor to the supply as well to get it to turn on and run. just have to play with it and find out.

Sorry im not much help but that's a pointer in a direction anyway.

lv2xlr8 · 18th June 2009, 12:25 AM

I ordered the reverse wiring harness but what is the connection on the right (some type of 13 pin audio connector I would imagine)? How/where would the speakers hook up?

dave_gerecke · 18th June 2009, 02:00 AM

I'm not going to guarantee it, but the 13 pin connector on the right in the picture looks like a connector for hooking up a CD changer.

Peace,

Dave

Zero Cool · 19th June 2009, 12:21 AM

yup cd changer

lv2xlr8 · 19th June 2009, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dave_gerecke
I'm not going to guarantee it, but the 13 pin connector on the right in the picture looks like a connector for hooking up a CD changer.

Peace,

Dave

Quote:

Originally posted by Zero Cool
yup cd changer

Makes sense since I do have a factory CD changer but how do I hook up speakers then? Or is this not possible? (ie the wiring harness hooked into the car houses the connections for the speakers?)

dave_gerecke · 19th June 2009, 03:32 AM

You will have to find a way to look at the factory electrical diagram, it will show you the pinout of the two row multipin connector. That one will have the hookups for power, gnd, memory power and your speakers. You might try doing a search of the 'net for the electrical connections for the factory radio in your car. You may find someone who has posted it.

Peace,

Dave

russo · 19th June 2009, 02:07 PM

The connector in the centre is called a DIN plug and there are various types of then depending in the brand of the head unit, there are adaptors to mount one brand in another car, so what you need is one DIN plug and then, almost all DIN plugs say which wire is what.

Sorry for the confuse writing.

coloradosound · 19th June 2009, 04:12 PM

I think one would get much cleaner audio by using
just a good ol' well regualted/filtered 12V linear supply,
but hey, diy is all about playing around anyway!

lv2xlr8 · 19th June 2009, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dave_gerecke
You will have to find a way to look at the factory electrical diagram, it will show you the pinout of the two row multipin connector. That one will have the hookups for power, gnd, memory power and your speakers. You might try doing a search of the 'net for the electrical connections for the factory radio in your car. You may find someone who has posted it.

Peace,

Dave

Ok, that makes sense now.

Quote:

Originally posted by russo
The connector in the centre is called a DIN plug and there are various types of then depending in the brand of the head unit, there are adaptors to mount one brand in another car, so what you need is one DIN plug and then, almost all DIN plugs say which wire is what.

Sorry for the confuse writing.

Yeah, I just figured that out as I ordered the reverse wiring harness.

Quote:

Originally posted by coloradosound
I think one would get much cleaner audio by using
just a good ol' well regualted/filtered 12V linear supply,
but hey, diy is all about playing around anyway!

I couldn't agree with you more but I just want to see if I'm able to do it.

15th June 2009, 03:52 PM	#1
lv2xlr8 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2009	Powering a Mitsubishi headunit with a computer power supply So I've seen posts of people that powered there aftermarket headunits with computer power supplies but I wanted to try to power my factory headunit with a power supply as I recently replaced it. I just have no idea where to start but I would imagine I would need some type of wiring harness for my headunit and then from there I have no idea how to connect the power supply to the HU. Any help/suggestions would be great.

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17th June 2009, 01:31 AM	#2
Zero Cool diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: MN	well you are going to need the wiring harness for sure. then you will need to know what all the wires are in the harness. you will need to find the +12v battery connection and the +12acc (key on) connection and ground. to at least get started. A computer power supply, the old old AT type ones that just have a on/off switch work best. these have red, yellow and black wires. If i remember correctly and i may be wrong, use a meter to make sure. I think the yellow and black are the +12v lines, the red being +5v if i remember correctly. The newer power supply's for ATX type boards require connecting one of the main wires in the harness to a switch and then to ground i think. Im sure if you googled you can figure out how to make it work. MOST switching power supplies require some type of load before the supply will run correctly. you may have to wire a 12 tail lamp bulb or a resistor to the supply as well to get it to turn on and run. just have to play with it and find out. Sorry im not much help but that's a pointer in a direction anyway.

18th June 2009, 12:25 AM	#3
lv2xlr8 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2009	I ordered the reverse wiring harness but what is the connection on the right (some type of 13 pin audio connector I would imagine)? How/where would the speakers hook up?

18th June 2009, 02:00 AM	#4
dave_gerecke diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2007	I'm not going to guarantee it, but the 13 pin connector on the right in the picture looks like a connector for hooking up a CD changer. Peace, Dave

19th June 2009, 12:21 AM	#5
Zero Cool diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: MN	yup cd changer

19th June 2009, 03:32 AM	#7
dave_gerecke diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2007	You will have to find a way to look at the factory electrical diagram, it will show you the pinout of the two row multipin connector. That one will have the hookups for power, gnd, memory power and your speakers. You might try doing a search of the 'net for the electrical connections for the factory radio in your car. You may find someone who has posted it. Peace, Dave

19th June 2009, 02:07 PM	#8
russo diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2008	The connector in the centre is called a DIN plug and there are various types of then depending in the brand of the head unit, there are adaptors to mount one brand in another car, so what you need is one DIN plug and then, almost all DIN plugs say which wire is what. Sorry for the confuse writing.

19th June 2009, 04:12 PM	#9
coloradosound diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: colorado	I think one would get much cleaner audio by using just a good ol' well regualted/filtered 12V linear supply, but hey, diy is all about playing around anyway!

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