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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Radio Installation

Which part of the fuse box do I take power from to a radio. There seems to be at least 4 different connectors. I suppose I need the radio to be capable of working when the ignition has been turned on. Alsdo what rating should the in line fuse be? Any help much appreciated.Andy
Andy Davies

If your ignition switch has an auxilliary position, ie, a position between off and ignition, you need to connect your feed to that. The radio will have it's own fuse in line.
Shawn

The modern radios have 2 power feeds.
One, as Shawn says should come from the ignition, so the radio itself turns off w/ the key.
The second should come from a constant hot (green?) at the fuse box so clock and programing stay powered.
Phil 'hoping my memory serves me'
Phil

What year is your midget, Andy? I think the later ones came with the switched 12V wire even if a radio wasn't fitted. I know my '78 had the wire, and the schematics seem to confirm that.

In addition to what Phil said, I'll add that you might find a connection on the radio for dial lighting. I'm using a radio from an '88 Mitsubishi sport ute, and it had a lighting lead that I spliced in to one of the instrument light connections so the radio dial would brighten and dim with the panel rheostat.

So you might have three power leads, switched, unswitched, and variable for lighting. If you can find a pin-out diagram for your radio, so much the better.

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

it really depends on the car...the wiring is differant from year and where it was shipped to,,,For me i taped into the purple wire.

Something to remember, if the radio has built in electric memory, you will need a trickle charger to hook up to the battry, or put the radio memory wire to a switch...the radio memory can kill a battry in under 3 days... if not ran and charged during that time.

Also...do you have a dyno, or alt, if dyno, and a powerful radio/amp, you may want to covert to alt. as the dyno will have trouble keeping up
Prop

On my 1972:
Brown is on at all times
Purple is brown after it has gone through the fuse block
White is on when ignition is on
Green is white after the fuse block
White with green stripe is on when the key is in the auxiliary or on position. It goes through a fuse and becomes green with a pink stripe. This was intended for the radio and the heater fan as well as the windshield squirts and the wiper motor park.
David "color wirting diagrams are nice!" Lieb
David Lieb

Yeh but what color is the curtosy light switch wire at the door....LOL.

just kidding

Prop
Prop

>>> the radio memory can kill a battry in under 3 days... <<<

Whaaa...?

I've had a memory-type radio in my Midget for around 12 years now, and have never had issues with the battery going flat due to the radio memory. There were other reasons, but never the radio...

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

The Car is 1275cc RWA built 1974.

Thanks for the help everyone.
Andy Davies

This thread was discussed between 24/05/2009 and 27/05/2009

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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