AC/DC converter - If I cut/ splice the wire can I use it in my car?

[wiseguy_75]

So I just bought this radio and want to install it in a car. (I live on a small island, options are very limited)
It is basically a car radio and the manufacture includes a AC/DC adapter for it to work with house current.
(so its not longer a car radio) - You can see it here if you want...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0073GLC6U?redirect=true&ref_=pd_hud_ya_orders
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71jjop8NOwL._SL1500_.jpg

And I want to install it in a car (factory car radio died in our second car)

Here is my 2 part question:

1 - is the brick part the actual part that will convert from AC/DC (house current to car current)?
There is no chance the converter is built into that small little radio right?

2 - so if I cut the wire (before the brick / adapter part) can I just splice the wires and connect them to a 12V + and ground in my car to have power?

Here is a pic of the plug adapter that comes with it.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Alec_t]

Yes, the brick provides 12VDC for the radio.
Yes, you can cut/splice as you suggest; but be sure to note which wire goes to the connector centre pin (+ve) so that the polarity is correct. However, you might want to consider using a small box to house additional components for suppressing interference which is likely to be present on the car's 12V supply (unless the radio already incorporates those).

 

[wiseguy_75]

Thanks Alec_t - as you may have noticed, and while I can hook up any car sound system or home theater system, I am the furthest from an electrical engineer possible. And I think I understand your reply above. At least I hope I do

So with the below image, I see lines and writing on the wire, could any of that indicate which side is + or - (pos or neg)?

Thanks again!

 

[BobK]

Yes, the outside of the plug is - and the inside is +, as indicated by the diagram right above the red circle in your picture.

After you cut the wires, check which one is connected to the outside of the plug, and this one will connect to ground in the car.

Bob

 

[wiseguy_75]

Thanks Bob. the problem is, the plug you see (to the right of the red circle) is the plug that plugs into the back of the radio so I need to not destroy that. its the other end I will be cutting (before the block).

I was hoping the dark lines on one side of the wire was to indicate - NEG but I guess not.

Hmmm.. now I am not sure how I will figure this out. So close, but yet so far.

Anybody have any other ideas?

 

[Tha fios agaibh]

The wire with the white stripes should be negative. But you should verify this.

 

[cjdelphi]

Yes, multimeter it, only real way to be sure, i've had red/black cables come out and simply presumed they got it correct!

Not doing that again.

 

[sreenu]

first you have to check externally then you could know what is + and - then you can go further but you may not get required power with this.

 

[wiseguy_75]

The wire with the white stripes should be negative. But you should verify this.

Hmmm... actually everything I have just read (about 10 pages online) says the white stripes is POS and that the solid black is NEG. While I have 2 multi-meters back home, I don't have access to any here - I am on very small island!

 

[Externet]

Leave several inches of the original cable next to the supply and cut only the black wire, not the white dashed one.

Remove insulation on both ends of the cut black wire.
Plug the supply to mains wall outlet.

Connect any automotive spare 12v light bulb between the black wire coming out of the supply and the exterior barrel of the plug.

If there is no light, the black wire connects to the barrel. If there is light, the barrel is stripped white.

Or... If you happen to have a LED with a limiting resistor, it will turn on only when polarity is correct and identifies if the black or the striped white is positive at the supply end after both wires are cut. Compare to a known polarity source as directly from battery terminals.

The polarity of the barrel (and radio power jack) is shown on top of the 'Made in China' text.