Installing a GM340 (In a Car)

[iJamesNC]

Hey Guys,

I've recently bought a Motorola GM340 for my car, and need some help / instruction on the wiring etc. It came with a red cable that fits in the radio etc, but I don't know how to wire that or anything...

I thought about asking my local taxi firm as I know they have the same radios etc, but I don't know how they would see it... (they might think i'm starting a rival company or something ridiculous). If it's as easy as someone here says it might be, it WOULD be helpful... and save the embarassment of asking a taxi company.

Any help would be appreciated :-)


Thanks,

[bw18]

Personally James I would got to a professional... Purely for the fact that if you don't fully understand car electronics you may; A) Do yourself some damage and B) do your car/radio damage.

I am one for trying anything  but sometimes if I dont understand I would ask a pro! Maybe speaking to a dealer would be the best option... I doubt the taxi drivers you refer to have the electrical knowledge to install it themselves (no offense against cabbies! I'm sure there are many that do).

You really don't want to be draining your battery dry because you haven't connected something correctly!

Dont get me wrong I'm sure it's not rocket science... If you get a pro to do it for you this time and you ask if you can watch how they do it then you will have the knowledge for the future! 

BW

[Batman]

RED wire (fused) to Positive

BLACK wire to Negative

AERIAL to the BNC Socket

[emsgeorge]

If its a permanent install, then take your time doing it. If you live in an 'interesting' area !!!! (like one of our staff does), then install it under the passenger seat, or get a remote head kit for it, so if someone does take a liking to it, you wont loose everything. (although a remote head kit is expensive enough, unless you can find one on ebay). He has only his mic sticking out, but then again, we tend to work on one channel most of the time, so there is no need to see the radio head. Other option is the glove box, but be careful of heat.

As batman has said above - black to negative, red to positive, aerial connector to aerial.

The power the radios take is more than most cigarette lighters can supply when set to high power, so dont be tempted to wire it onto a lighter plug if its going to be used properly. There are those who will tell you that its ok. All i would do, is hold the plug after some time transmitting, see how hot it gets !

The install itself will be the most difficult part - getting the cables through the firewall, into the engine compartment. I would do a bit of reserarch into the type of vehicle you have, main cable looms usually go through from the passenger footwell side to the engine bay, so a good start is to get your head under the glove box, and take a look. You might find some blank gromits already there, where the manufacturer hasnt used them.

If the cable isn't long enough, replacement power kits are about £12 on ebay, genuine kit. Rather than faff about with wiring and splicing, get one of those.

Remember that the whole car is negative, all the metal bodywork, so no wondering around with live cables - only connect to the battery once you are finished and done.

Pull through the cables to the battery, crimp on some terminals to connect it (supplied with the kits), and connect to the supplied fuse. Tidy it all up with cable ties everywhere, and if you want a really professional job, get some 'looming tape' (cloth bersion of electrical tape, what the manufacturers use to loom up wires in cars), or you can buy the thin plastic correx tubing to thread the cables into (looks very pro).

[iJamesNC]

oh, that's brilliant guys! Thanks everyone for all of your help ... I'll give it a go on the weekend when I've got the time and light on my side.

[iJamesNC]

If its a permanent install, then take your time doing it. If you live in an 'interesting' area !!!! (like one of our staff does), then install it under the passenger seat, or get a remote head kit for it, so if someone does take a liking to it, you wont loose everything. (although a remote head kit is expensive enough, unless you can find one on ebay). He has only his mic sticking out, but then again, we tend to work on one channel most of the time, so there is no need to see the radio head. Other option is the glove box, but be careful of heat.

As batman has said above - black to negative, red to positive, aerial connector to aerial.

The power the radios take is more than most cigarette lighters can supply when set to high power, so dont be tempted to wire it onto a lighter plug if its going to be used properly. There are those who will tell you that its ok. All i would do, is hold the plug after some time transmitting, see how hot it gets !

The install itself will be the most difficult part - getting the cables through the firewall, into the engine compartment. I would do a bit of reserarch into the type of vehicle you have, main cable looms usually go through from the passenger footwell side to the engine bay, so a good start is to get your head under the glove box, and take a look. You might find some blank gromits already there, where the manufacturer hasnt used them.

If the cable isn't long enough, replacement power kits are about £12 on ebay, genuine kit. Rather than faff about with wiring and splicing, get one of those.

Remember that the whole car is negative, all the metal bodywork, so no wondering around with live cables - only connect to the battery once you are finished and done.

Pull through the cables to the battery, crimp on some terminals to connect it (supplied with the kits), and connect to the supplied fuse. Tidy it all up with cable ties everywhere, and if you want a really professional job, get some 'looming tape' (cloth bersion of electrical tape, what the manufacturers use to loom up wires in cars), or you can buy the thin plastic correx tubing to thread the cables into (looks very pro).

Cheers, as always; brilliant. Do you, by any chance, know how to programme one of the buttons to a "Public Address" feature?