Understanding Car Audio Electronic Components

A good understanding of car audio electronics helps you make better buying decisions — As far as your car audio system is concerned. In addition, you can more easily install whichever system you settle for. It is therefore necessary that I walk you through.

In this article, I’ll dwell on a few components of a car audio system — Giving attention to the electronics behind them. I’ll do my best to write in English.

Car audio electronic components

Car audio electronic components consist of many parts. They include . . .

o Diode – A diode allows current to pass in one direction. They are very useful in isolating current flow. They are often used in automotive security systems as well.

o LEDS – A LED is a special diode. LED stands for light-emitting diode. You are probably familiar with these as they are commonly used as turn on indicators for most electronic equipment too.

o Relay- A relay is an electro mechanical switch. It is most widely used for car security systems. It is also commonly used as a way of protecting your head unit from damage. Normally a relay allows a small current to control a much larger current.

A little more on relays

A relay consists of four main parts . . .

A coil denoted by terminals 85 and 86.
A common terminal denoted by terminal 30.
A normally closed terminal that is labeled terminal 87
And a normally open terminal labeled terminal 87.

Depending on whether your controlling voltage is negative or positive, the terminal 85 or 86 will be grounded or connected to +12 volts. If you have a positive controlling voltage like a head unit remote turn-on lead, then you will need to ground either terminal 85 or 86.

It does not matter which one you choose, the other terminal will be connected to the remote turn-on lead of your head unit. The common lead that is terminal 30 would be connected to +12 volts because that is what we want to apply to terminal 87 when the relay coil is energized.