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Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: JMallows on 01 September 2008, 09:13

Title: Speaker Fader Switch
Post by: JMallows on 01 September 2008, 09:13
Hi, i have just acquired a speaker fader switch from an early golf, and want to put it in mine. Does anyone know how they are wired up at all, Haynes wiring diagrams are a little confusing!?

Thanks
Title: Re: Speaker Fader Switch
Post by: rubjonny on 01 September 2008, 10:28
from what info I can gather they are only fitted to models with the aktiv amplified speaker system, I dont think you can wire em into boggo non amplified speakers!  I think the way it works is to change the voltage to the amplifier in the speakers?
Title: Re: Speaker Fader Switch
Post by: JMallows on 01 September 2008, 10:31
Hmmm, how can you tell whether the car is Aktiv or standard? The switch came from a very basic '84 Diesel
Title: Re: Speaker Fader Switch
Post by: rubjonny on 01 September 2008, 10:40
the speaker covers in the door pockets will have an 'aktiv' logo on, but this doesnt mean much as someone could have pinched em from a scrappy.  if you look at the back o the speakers if it has only 2 wires then it'll be bog std, if it has more than 2 then they're prob aktiv.

here is a site dedicated to aktiv system
http://www.corrado-club.com/aktiv/

and here is a cool site which amongst other things has pinouts for the akiv system:
http://www.a2resource.com/
Title: Re: Speaker Fader Switch
Post by: mattneck(Beavis) on 02 September 2008, 20:07
john - i took a look at one of these in an early d palte golf once to.. jsut  a plain 1.3 it was a front and rear fade iirc.. fitted cause the radios didnt have it.. it was just spliced and soldered in line with the iso plug.. as far as i can tell its just like a gate tool..
Title: Re: Speaker Fader Switch
Post by: rubjonny on 02 September 2008, 20:08
o rly, interessant! how the devil have you been mate!  2.0 fitted yet? get on msn ;)
Title: Re: Speaker Fader Switch
Post by: tobz. on 03 September 2008, 09:45
Yep they are just a basic variable resistor (something like 20ohms) which adds some series resistance to either the front or rear speakers depending on the setting. My advise would be not to bother mr mallows, both the '84 golfs I've owned have had this fader and it's pants. They are always crackly and the speakers will cut out at random. I dismantled the one in my current a plater and cleaned up the wiper contacts etc which made it work really well while I only had a 2-channel blaupunkt in there. However I soon saw the light and replaced the stereo with a 4-channel gamma and bypassed the fader.
They were only ever a crude solution to a problem that has now gone away.
Title: Re: Speaker Fader Switch
Post by: mattneck(Beavis) on 03 September 2008, 10:45
o rly, interessant! how the devil have you been mate!  2.0 fitted yet? get on msn ;)
i has been good as you well know and that is defiantely gonig to take some time now with the money situs.. o the joys of being a student! but i may go and get the head back.. later this week  :wink:

tobz - glad you confirmed my thoguhts. you have any shots of the setup inside the switch? would be interested to see how basic it really is.. is it wrong of me i find enjoyment in taking apart electrical items and components and building things with them??  :embarassed:
Title: Re: Speaker Fader Switch
Post by: rubjonny on 03 September 2008, 10:48
hmm, the switch i had used really chunky wiring rather than speaker wires, this is why i assumed it was for the aktiv powewr adjustment.  i just hacked it out of the car rather than bothering to find where the wires went tho  :grin:
Title: Re: Speaker Fader Switch
Post by: JMallows on 03 September 2008, 21:13
It was definately a very basic car, in the clocks, it had the speedo, and a blank for the rev counter/clock! It was really weird in fact only to have the speedo, and a large blank circle! Anyway, i digress! I shall probably fot into the blank space then, and not bother to wire it in!

You say it was a solution to a problem, but what problem?

Beavis, long time no speak, hows things?! I shall try and get a shot of the switch workings if you are interested?
Title: Re: Speaker Fader Switch
Post by: tobz. on 04 September 2008, 09:50

You say it was a solution to a problem, but what problem?


The fact that early car stereos were only 2-channel but the golf was fitted with 4 speakers you therefore needed some sort of external control to balance the sound between front and rear.
Of course the problem went away as the 4-channel stereo became common place.
Title: Re: Speaker Fader Switch
Post by: rubjonny on 04 September 2008, 10:12
my dads B reg escort had a cool mini joystick on the console, could control seperation to all 4 chanels with it  :cool:
Title: Re: Speaker Fader Switch
Post by: tobz. on 04 September 2008, 10:17
Yeah they were cool except you'd just get it set right and anybody who saw it would be compelled to give it a wiggle space invaders stylee.
Title: Re: Speaker Fader Switch
Post by: Horney on 04 September 2008, 10:29
Yeah they were cool except you'd just get it set right and anybody who saw it would be compelled to give it a wiggle space invaders stylee.

Ha ha yeah that happened to me when I had my MKIV escort all the time. People just couldn't leave it alone!

Nick
Title: Re: Speaker Fader Switch
Post by: JMallows on 04 September 2008, 20:08
Aha, i see now. I always wondered what the speaker fader switch did anyway! Looks like i'll just stick in the space then, and not wire it in!

Thanks for all the help!
Title: Re: Speaker Fader Switch
Post by: Olly_P on 04 September 2008, 20:16
Aha, i see now. I always wondered what the speaker fader switch did anyway! Looks like i'll just stick in the space then, and not wire it in!

You can't do that, lol!
You could try and find a suitable potentiometer and replace the existing one?
Title: Re: Speaker Fader Switch
Post by: JMallows on 04 September 2008, 22:47
I will take it apart first and see how it looks inside, but i still dont how to wire it up even then!