Toolbox Radio
can be made cheaply if you have the spare parts. I just used a old car stereo and 2 5x7 speakers, and a pc power supply.
Determine the Wiring of the Radio and Power Supply.
first off we need to power this thing right??? well just grab an old power supply from that desktop Dino in the basement, and any of the yellow wires should be 12v wires as that is what voltage the radio uses for its power.
once you've found the yellow you want to use, prepare it by cutting the clip off of the end and stripping a yellow(12v) and black(-).
now in order to make the power supply work when plugged in you must locate the green wire as shown above, and connect it to a ground (strictly to complete the circuit.). this is an ignition wire and is necessary for the device to run.
your radio will also have a ignition wire as well as a power wire, (my ignition was red) the power should be yellow always. I just linked both into the yellow previously stripped on the power supply. As well as connect the grounds (black wire) from the radio and the power supply to each other.
once you've found the yellow you want to use, prepare it by cutting the clip off of the end and stripping a yellow(12v) and black(-).
now in order to make the power supply work when plugged in you must locate the green wire as shown above, and connect it to a ground (strictly to complete the circuit.). this is an ignition wire and is necessary for the device to run.
your radio will also have a ignition wire as well as a power wire, (my ignition was red) the power should be yellow always. I just linked both into the yellow previously stripped on the power supply. As well as connect the grounds (black wire) from the radio and the power supply to each other.
Configuring Speaker Locations and Wiring.
Well speakers wires are always matching. meaning that the 2 wires per speaker will always be 1 of a solid color and another of that color but with a stripe down the side. (example being I used the solid purple, alongside a purple with a black line. as well as a green one, and a green with a white line).
THE ONLY REASON THIS SHOULD BE DIFFICULT IS BECAUSE OF COLOR BLINDNESS AND UNABLE TO MATCH THE COLORS. OTHER THAN THAT IT IS REALLY SIMPLY PLUG AND PLAY.
THE ONLY REASON THIS SHOULD BE DIFFICULT IS BECAUSE OF COLOR BLINDNESS AND UNABLE TO MATCH THE COLORS. OTHER THAN THAT IT IS REALLY SIMPLY PLUG AND PLAY.
Cutting Holes for the Speakers + Radio + Plug.
Well I just used the frame for the speakers that came with it as a guide for where to cut. I simply traced it onto the tool box and cut with a box cutter which worked rather nicely.
I cut the hole for the radio kind of small so it wouldn't move at all and simply held itself in.
the power supply only required minimal cutting and was only for the hole plug and the fan. (the radio was secure enough in the hole so I felt no need to reinforce it however the power supply was just kind of sitting there so I took 2 screws out of the fan and drilled holes where they would be and screwed it through the toolbox wall, worked nicely)
I cut the hole for the radio kind of small so it wouldn't move at all and simply held itself in.
the power supply only required minimal cutting and was only for the hole plug and the fan. (the radio was secure enough in the hole so I felt no need to reinforce it however the power supply was just kind of sitting there so I took 2 screws out of the fan and drilled holes where they would be and screwed it through the toolbox wall, worked nicely)
Plug in and Jam Out
after all of that you should be able to play your music. (note in order to pick up radio stations you must attach an antenna!!!) this particular one can plug in mp3s so I like it. anyways have fun hope you enjoyed it. this is my first ever instructable.
I have entered this instructable in the diy audio and sound contest, tools contest and the guerilla contest, so if you enjoyed it please vote for me!!!
I have entered this instructable in the diy audio and sound contest, tools contest and the guerilla contest, so if you enjoyed it please vote for me!!!