HJ61 and a 12V radio..

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

drenmaster

drenmaster

10 Year
Joined
Dec 16, 2015
Threads
43
Messages
832
Location
Arizona
So i have been doing alot of reading and i am still lost... I would like to change the head unit on my HJ61 but i will have to install a 24V-12V converter as well. I am trying to figure out the easiest way of doing this. I am not smart when it comes to electronics so bare with me..

if i hook up a converter can i just run the factory 24V radio power wire to the converter then splice the 12v from the converter into the new radio harness? this seems too simple and i have not seen anyone really do this online.. All i plan to run from the converter is the head unit. i plan on using something like this.
http://www.amazon.com/PSWNV120-24-Volt-Step-Down-Converter-Technology/dp/B00NYAZJZE/?tag=ihco-20

What other wires use 24v power for the radio? is the accessory or memory wire also use 24v? if so i could just do the same thing? i think i have read too much and confused myself...

my goal is to keep this as simple as possible.
 
I appreciate simplicity as well, as such I don't see why it wouldn't work as you have described it. You seem to have it all figured out. The clock should get 12v uninterrupted power, which is another issue with the planned configuration, however, if you don't care about having the internal clock running then there's no issue.
 
Get a 24v to 12v converter, set up a separate power block straight off of the converter and run your 12v accessories from that block. I did this on a BJ74 (NATO/Jap spec. 24V everything in the truck) and it works extremely well. I did this to do just what you are looking to do, run a radio and 12v power outlets and it works well to this day. There used to be a company (Solar?) that had something called a "solar charge converter" but didn't come up with anything on google (didn't try all that hard either to be honest). Use a Hella fused power block and you should be good to go.

hope that helps. My $.02 anyway.

Ross-
 
Thanks for the replys what exactly does the power block do? I looked it up real quick does the 12v goto that and the power block give multiple 12v outputs?

Like i said i am electronically challenged.
 
all my searching and i did not come across this! haha.. that helps out a lot.. I am still confused on a couple things.. You chose to run a new wire from the batteries for a better connection. How did you run the new wires from there? one wire from each terminal connected together (++/--)?

Those wires goes to the converter.. from the converter is where i am confused. I get how the toggle switch worked, one wire is always on for the memory and the toggle switch turns the 12V power off that powers the radio. that seems pretty easy for me to do because i understand it... But the relay is throwing me off now.. What wire did you tap into for the power to turn on an off with the key? does the relay wire goto the converter at all? or is it a 24V wire to the relay then to the fuse box? haha someone draw me some schematics.
 
yes, that is un avoidable unless you have your own seperate 12v source, if you want your radio to keep it's memory while the rig sits for weeks unused, you need to run a small solar trickle charger.
 
So i took your advice and went with one of these. Its definitly going to make this a simple job. Just have one more question.

Should i ground the converter to the battery or to the chassis? Instructions are in Japanese shows it either way.

image.webp image.webp
 
Last edited:
I have the same one. Works great! I mounted mine under the glove box. I made a mounting bracket out of metal and it just hangs down.
This gives me access to the power adapter/cigarette lighter plug and the switch.

I also run a few of my 12V gauges off of it as well.

Mike
 
Thanks for the info. You have any install pics? I was thinking either mounting there or under the seat.

Just waiting on my radio to get here so i can start the install.
 
With 24v to 12v transformers, the negative OUTPUT needs to be a full run wire just like the positive . The 12v components should not share the chassis ground with the 24v system.

The negative INPUT can be chassis ground or the negative battery terminal. Makes no difference.
 
60Works said:
With 24v to 12v transformers, the negative OUTPUT needs to be a full run wire just like the positive . The 12v components should not share the chassis ground with the 24v system.

The negative INPUT can be chassis ground or the negative battery terminal. Makes no difference.
Click to expand...

Have you taken a multimeter to the negative terminals? All converters I've seen so far have negative terminals tied together for both 24V and 12V. Check your converter before running another wire.
 
To avoid any potential ground loops I would install a negative ground wire right back the negative of the first battery. I needed to do that to stop my gauges from going funky. YMMV
 
Second time around and i got it all figured out. The instructions being in Japanese kicked my ass. Haha.

I ended up converting the 24V cigarette lighter to a 12V, and i used the old 24V wire from that to be the ACC wire for the 24V-12V converter.. So now the converter turns on / off with the key..

Pretty happy now, but man that kicked my ass and took forever to get it right. Thanks for all your guys' inputs!
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom