The question that comes to every radio owner’s mind is where do you hook the power antenna wire? A power antenna is an electrically motorized automotive radio antenna. They are either manually controlled via a dash-mounted switch, or automatically controlled when the radio is turned on and off. Automatic power antennas lower themselves automatically when the ignition switch is turned off. One of the main benefits of an in-vehicle antenna is that it can’t be stolen since it requires no electricity. Also, an internal antenna is safer than an external one, as hooligans cannot damage the antenna without a vehicle’s cabin door.
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It can retract the antenna when not in use
For the most reliable reception, a wire antenna should be about a quarter of a wavelength longer than the operating frequency. To install a power antenna, attach a 12-volt source to the green wire. An on/off switch is required, as a momentary toggle switch cannot provide power to a retractable antenna. When in use, the on/off switch should be in the on position.
Once disconnected, unscrew the two screws holding the brackets on the power antenna. You can also remove the power antenna wire, which is connected to a capacitor in the head unit. The power antenna wire will retract, and you can now remove it easily. You may cut the wires by removing them or by cutting them. A metric ruler and wire cutters are required. To remove the power antenna, locate it under the fender hump.
The power antenna may have a toggle switch, or it may be powered by a constant 12V source. To identify a power antenna, look for the brand name of the product and the wire colors. Typically, power antennas have three wires – red, green, and black. The red wire connects to a constant 12V source, while the green wire is connected to a conditional 12-volt source.
It connects to the wire that is always hot
In order to work correctly, your power antenna must be connected to a 12v source. To do this, you must use a toggle switch. Momentary toggle switches cannot be used to provide power to the antenna. The always-hot wire is blue with a yellow stripe. When you connect your power antenna to the always-hot wire, it should function properly and supply 12 volts. The antenna should extend when the vehicle is switched on and acc.
If your antenna goes up when you insert a cassette or CD, or turn the radio on and off, it may be time to replace it. First, locate the antenna wiring harness behind the head unit. The big black wire connects to the antenna lead and the small black wire is the ground wire for the antenna mast assembly. Next, you will need to connect the antenna signal wire to the OEM gray/black wire. You should also be able to identify the power antenna wire, which connects to the wire that is always hot.
To test your power antenna, you must make sure that the power antenna wire connects to the wire that’s always hot. You should check the label of your power antenna to make sure that it’s labeled correctly. It is best to check the label of the switch before you connect it. The always-hot wire will be labeled “line” while the other wire is labeled “load.”
