Circuit Wiring

Those who are in the market for auto sound systems are probably well aware of the many decisions that need to be made throughout the process. Gone are the days when you went in, pointed to a box and walked out with all the pieces, parts, and components you would ever need for a really kickin sound. The truth of the matter is that there are many pieces and parts that work together in order to create the ultimate sound system and everyone seems to have different requirements, styles, tastes, and budgets to work with.

Most of us hate living within limited budgets but understand that often in life it is a necessary evil. Living on a budget is not such a terrible thing really. If we had everything we wanted, what on earth would there be to look forward to? At least that is what I keep telling myself. I, however, seem to be the queen of budget living and bargain hunting. I love little more in life than finding a great deal on an item Ive had my eye on for quite a while and hate little more than finding it cheaper once Ive purchased it. As such, I tend to invest a great deal of time researching any major purchase before taking the plunge. A good auto sound system by this I mean good quality, minimal features is going to run (total package and installation) at least $1,000 with many costing a good deal more than that.

That doesnt mean you need to have a thousand bucks lying around the house in order to begin building your auto sound system. You can buy a decent set of speakers for around $200-$260 if you desire. You can find sets at lower prices, but this is the price for a fairly decent set of speakers that should serve you well. Keep in mind that you could very easily spend a lot more than this on speakers if you arent careful. Living on a budget means you have to make some sacrifices along the way in order to have the things you want in life. Buy the speakers and have them installed (if you can do it or your know someone who can, this will save a lot of time and money).

Once you have the first component, whichever one that may be (that choice is entirely up to you and largely dependent on your personal tastes and which need replacing worse in the vehicle you own) you can begin saving towards the next. You should also consider asking friends and family (who would like to know what to get you for the holidays) to help you reach your smaller goals along the way. Most people are glad to help with specific items if they know what those items are. The point is that this isnt an all or nothing proposition. Take small steps towards your prize and you will find that you are constantly getting one step closer.

If youre in the market for a new auto sound system you might want to seriously take a moment and consider whether or not you would be benefited by subscribing to either Sirius or XM Satellite Radio. Both of these subscription-based services have something wonderful to offer their subscribers and both of them require specialized equipment in order to operate. This means if you are going to wish to use either service, you will need to have decided which service before you have your auto sound system installed.

It really doesnt matter which of these you choose they each have different features that will appeal to a wide variety of audiences. You will find some wonderful competition among the two not only by way of music radio but also talk radio. If you really love talk radio you really need to subscribe to one of these in order to find a treasure chest of talk radio gems. You will find everything from the mundane to the controversial. From Oprah to Howard Stern exist in the realm of satellite radio, which seems to not only be catching on but also here to stay.

It has been commented on many times that XM Satellite Radio has a strong lead when it comes to subscriptions. This is very true but you should also keep in mind that the new subscribers seem to be leaning more towards Sirius for their satellite radio rather than going with the traditional favorite. Ive checked out the line up and cant see that one has much of a clearly defined lead over the other so I cant give a definitive reason for the massive new subscribers to Sirius or even the phenomenal lead that XM Satellite radio is currently enjoying. Regardless if this is something that might interest you, you really should check out each website and decide for yourself which, if either, is more appealing to you as well as whether that appeal is worth the investment and the monthly subscription fee.

I will say this however: XM Satellite Radio for the moment seems to have much better toys to offer consumers. That being said, Im actually quite surprised that the vast number of new subscribers are going with Sirius rather than XM. Of course, being the gadget geek that I am, I am basing that surprise solely on the fact that XM seems to have much better toys. At the moment XM is offering some really cool gadgets that double not only as XM Satellite Radio receivers but also offer GPS functionality and navigation assistance and controls. Some of these devices even go one step further and play DVDs, CDs, MP3s, among other things.

Believe me, Sirius has a lot to offer its customers as well, Im simply thrilled over select items that can be found at XM that I really havent seen adequate competition for elsewhere. On the level of music, both seem to carry similar genres, lineups, etc. The same holds true for the Talk radio line up. The only major difference I am finding between the two are the gadgets. Even the prices are rather competitive with one another. I see only one other major difference and that is the fact that Sirius offers a lifetime membership that cost about the same as the five-year plan from XM Satellite Radio. The thing to remember however is that the lifetime membership is for the lifetime of the device not the subscriber.

I should also point out that opting for satellite radio more than likely will not eliminate your need for a new auto sound system it may however pose certain requirements for the type of sound system you will be able to choose. One thing I have noticed with both companies is that there are plenty of devices from which to choose. You will have your hands full selecting the right equipment for your auto sound system upon which to enjoy the wonderful sounds that satellite radio will bring to your ears each and every day.

If you are seriously hoping to save a significant chunk of change when it comes to your auto sound system, you should consider saving on installation. Under ordinary circumstances I urge people to be very, if not overly cautious when it comes to installing your own auto sound systems. The thing is, that some people really are talented when it comes to activities such as this. Beyond talent, some people have frightening skills with electronics and if you are one of those, then by all means consider the money you could save yourself (or the extra money youd have to invest in your system?).

We all know that money doesnt grow on trees and when youve been saving up for quite a while to get the sound system you really want its a serious joy killer to have to wait another month or two in order to save up enough money to cover the cost of the installation of your sound system. If you or someone you know and trust (trust being the operative word in this instance) can do the work, it makes no sense from a fiscal point of view to pay someone else to do it.

That being said, if there are any doubts about your skill or experience you might want to at the very least get a second opinion or price installations in your area to see if it might actually be worth saving a little more. Time is another important issue when it comes to the installation of an auto sound system. It doesnt matter how capable you are of making the installation if you simply lack the time to do it. In cases such as this it would have been just as wise to go ahead and pay someone to make the installation. It makes much more sense to me than having the system sitting in a box for months on end while you wait for the time to get it taken care of.

I am one of those people who firmly believes that time is money. Time lost from work is expensive. This is especially true when the times of 10 or more people are lost. It adds up quickly no matter if you have a small or a large company. Time is also (unfortunately) the one commodity in life that you can never recover. No matter how hard you try you cannot recapture time that has been lost. If you have children you know exactly what Im talking about (particularly if your children are either teens or grown and gone). You cannot recover lost time so make sure you arent wasting your time by trying to install an auto sound system that is beyond your abilities.

Dont fret though. Most of us find that at some point in our lives we are limited by either time or money if not both. If everything was quick and easy we wouldnt really have anything worth working for would we? Consider all your limitations when planning and purchasing your auto sound system and make sure that the system you select falls squarely within your ability to install, your time limit for installation, or your price range for affording to pay for the installation. Whether you decide to do your own installation or have a professional installation of your auto sound system the prize is the superior sound quality you will be able to enjoy.

In operation, the alarm circuit allows a 0 - 47 second time delay, as determined by the R1 /C1 combination, after the switch is armed to allow the vehicles motion sensor to settle down. This allows you time to get a bag of groceries out of the trunk and not have the hassle of juggling the groceries and the key switch at once.

During the time delay, half of LED1, which is actually a single, bi-colored, three-legged common cathode device, lights green. At the same time, pins 8 and 4 of U2 (a 555 oscillator/timer) are held low by Ul (a 3905 oscillator/timer), causing the alarm to remain silent. Once the delay is over, LED1 turns red, indicating that the circuit is armed.

Auto Alarm Schematic Circuit Diagram

At that point, a ground at pin 2 of U2 forces pin 3 of U2 high, closing the contacts of Kl and sounding the siren for a time duration determined by R4 and C2. Once the time has elapsed, pin 3 is pulled low, Kl opens, and the circuit is again ready to go. The circuit can be manually reset by the simple expedient of opening and closing the key switch. Potentiometer R3 controls the LEDs illumination intensity.

Diode D1 ensures that the green segment of LED1 is fully extinguished when Ql is turned on-which turns the LED to red. Resistors R4 and R5 must be connected to the + V bus. not to pin 7 of Ul. otherwise U2 will mysteriously trigger itself each time the initial delay ends.

This circuit uses a NE555 timer and CD4020B. When +12 Vdc is applied to the circuit, the output of IC2 is set low via C2, which turns on the relay, and IC1, a pulse generator.

IC1 pulses counter IC2. After 8192 clocks, IC2 output (pin 3) goes high, cuts off Q2, and completes the cycle.

We live in a world that is constantly changing and evolving. We see it every time we buy a new car, a new television, or a new computer. We see it every other month when the iPod is putting out a new an improved model that offers more features, more disk space, and more everything, in a smaller package (well not since they added video but until then, the gadgets were getting smaller while the features were growing exponentially). The truth of the matter is that technology seems to be advancing at a rate that is nearly impossible to keep up with. That being said, you can quite literally drive yourself insane by trying to keep up with the pace of modern technology.

What you need to do in order to maintain proper sanity is decide on a level of technology that you are comfortable and confident with and go with it until it is time (by either necessity or desire) to upgrade. You do not have to be the first to purchase the latest and greatest in software and gadgetry (this has become my mantra: I do not have to be the first to own the great big bad new toy, I will survive gadget deprivation-it isnt working yet but Im ever the optimist). The point is that you do not need to be the first to try every new thing and you will not only wear yourself out by trying but also you bank account, credit cards, and second mortgage. Technology is expensive, especially the newest and latest. If there was any doubt stroll on over to Ebay and see how much Play Station 3s are selling for at the moment-madness and lunacy do not even begin to subscribe the amount of money people are offering to pay for these devices.

Technology is a wonderful thing. It makes life easier for some and a lot more entertaining for others. The same holds true with auto sound systems. The technology exists to make them much more beneficial to car and driver than they have been in the past while offering many more features than ever before. Today you arent even limited to AM and FM. You now have the option of CDs, audio books, MP3s, XML, and digital FM radio, which offers a few bonus features over traditional radio. It really doesnt matter if you have the absolute latest. Most of us can enjoy a great deal of the wonderful technology that is available if we are willing to wait long enough for the prices to go down. I recall, and it wasnt all that long ago, when DVD players sold for no less than $100. You can get them now (about 5 years later) on a regular basis for less than $30. This is only one example of many. PS2s were around $400 when they first hit the market and now can be bought at the whopping price of $120. All around us technology evolves and grows and then prices fall.

The point is spend your money where you want to spend it rather than where you think it should be spent. If you want an auto sound system then get the best one that you feel meets your budget requirements. You do not have to have the top system in the technology food chain in order to have a great sound system that will provide you with years worth of enjoyment. You are the only one that is responsible for the decisions you make. It is up to you to decide where you want the bulk of your money invested when it comes to technological gadgets and goodies. Believe me, Im a gadget geek. I love playing with new toys and gizmos and seeing how they work-really, for me its a thrill. At the same time I realize I cant always be the first to get the new toys I so desperately want to try out so I limit myself and decide which ones are the most important. You must do this for yourself when it comes to auto sound systems.

We live in a world where music is our constant companion. We take it with us to the beach, to work, to exercise, even while riding bikes or talking on our cell phones. It only makes sense that in our cars we would like to have the best possible auto sound systems our hard earned dollars can buy. The problem is that new technology is being introduced to the market each and every day and many of us feel as though if we hold our breath just a little bit longer something even better and more spectacular will come along. We know that we will absolutely want to kick ourselves if we buy in to "this or that" companys auto sound system that was phenomenal yesterday, just before the next great thing hits the market.

The truth is that superior auto sound system technology exists already and the question isnt if it will hit the market but rather when. And when seems to be a pretty big question when it comes to emerging technologies. There are always so many things that control when the actual product will hit the shelves in stores or even how much supply will be available at that point in time. The really good news for consumers is that if you wait until that point, chances are the prices on the system you like now will probably lower significantly almost overnight.

While the geek in me would love to have the latest and greatest of gadgets at all times, the mom in me knows that the kids will need braces, new shoes for soccer, and (eventually) college tuition. For those reasons, I will continue typing on my sadly outdated eMachine and secretly long for the brand new Dell notebook while listening to the latest tunes on my iPod Shuffle while secretly longing for one of the new iPods, which is capable of playing video. I will live however, and will enjoy watching others play with their new gadget goodies while I learn about them and wait for the prices to drop (just like DVD players a few years back).

I am at least intelligent enough to realize that most of the time it is best not to be the first to buy a new product or an emerging technology. Let someone else take the risks associated with buying an essentially untried product while I sit back and listen to what they have to say. This way I can make an informed decision without bearing the scars associated with testing an untried product.

There are many things Im willing to sacrifice and many more things I give to my children as guinea pigs. The thing I have noticed quite often with them is that if it can survive a few weeks in their care, it is a pretty safe bet and might even be worth purchasing stock in the company. We all have some things that are more important to us than others and while I love technology there are other things I love more.

Music, however, is a very important part of my life and I do try to keep current with the latest and greatest when it comes to auto sound systems. My favorite at the moment is the Bose. Every piece of this equipment is designed with the idea of making music sound, as it should. You can get the biggest and greatest sound quality from this system without giving up half your trunk or your entire back seat. Bose is one of the more expensive products on the market when it comes to auto sound systems but it is well worth every penny.

When checking out your options for an auto sound system be sure to keep in mind that the most expensive product is not necessarily the best product-no matter what the salesman tells you. By learning as much as possible about all choices you may find that one of the less expensive systems is actually better suited for your auto sound system needs.

Finding auto sound systems that can keep up with the constantly evolving technology of today is a real challenge for many car and sound enthusiasts not only around the nation but also around the world. There was a time in the not so distant past when car stereos that had CD players or CD disc changers where the cutting edge of technology. New technology however has nearly rendered the CD players in cars as obsolete as long forgotten 8-track players. The sad news is that many carmakers are clinging to the old days and only offer something as modern as cassette players as standard equipment for auto sound systems.

I think those days will soon be forgotten, as cassettes are no longer even in mainstream production. You should also find that as CDs are rapidly becoming replaced by MP3s that take up very little space in our cars and homes, one day very soon we may see that music companies have decided it is no longer cost effective to produce CDs and render all music to digital formats. So, what does this mean for auto sound systems? Its actually good news for savvy manufacturers are well as savvy consumers who have their eyes on the future and the growing role technology is playing in our lives and as well as our commute to work.

Weve seen a recent introduction of satellite radio to our selection of auto sound systems. These stations offer the allure of no commercial interruptions to your music play in exchange for the price of a monthly subscription. At the moment there are two major companies that offer this service to consumers and each have rather proprietary equipment for their use and installation into your car. They are actually offering some rather tempting offers in order to encourage subscribers. Among those wonderful offers are auto sound systems for your vehicle at less than $100 with a prepaid year of subscription services.

For the satellite radio companies this indicates a constantly growing pool of prospective subscribers and the cost of the equipment is a drop in the bucket when compared to customer loyalty and being on the cutting edge of sound technology. The drawback is that you must decide which service you wish to go with before making the purchase. Also while they offer a very nice auto sound system (bare bones kind of kit that only allows for the radio reception in most cases) at a very sweet price, if you want upgrades such as MP3 compatibility, CD players, CD changers, DVD players, GPS, or any number of other new and advanced technology you will still have to purchase those for your sound system at an upgraded price. There are a few packages that come with these things, but the price is a little on the hefty side. Oh the sacrifices we will make for a more enjoyable daily commute.

Know what your expectations are before you decide to purchase the auto sound system of your dream or you could find that it is more the stuff that nightmares are made of than sweet dreams. Do not live in constant fear that if you buy today you will find something you like better 6 months from now, that is a reality. Technology is growing and evolving at a frightening pace. Find the auto sound system that you like best today and make that your purchase. This is a much better option than waiting around indefinitely and purchasing one just as your warranty expires on your car and its time for a trade in and another auto sound system.