Wiring a new automatic power antenna to work with factory switch
April 15th, 2018, 08:10 PM
#1
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hunt County, TX
Posts: 149
Wiring a new automatic power antenna to work with factory switch
I read a thread where it was said that modern automatic power antennas would not work the stock switch and its not true. I have a 67 Cutlass with the dash switch wired to a new automatic antenna. To get it to work you will need to acquire a diode large enough to handle the load of the antenna motor.
Most automatic antennas are two wire units, the way it works is there is a constant power lead (generally red) and a radio sense lead(generally blue). When there is no voltage on the radio sense wire, the radio is off, the antenna retracts. The antenna extends when the radio is turned on and voltage is applied to the sense wire.
To get mine to work I wired DOWN on the switch to the constant power lead and I wired the UP side of the switch to both the radio sense wire and using a diode to the constant power lead. The diode prevents power reaching the sense wire when the DOWN side of the switch is active.
So to be clear, when you press the switch to the DOWN position power is sent to the constant power lead and since the diode prevents power reaching the sense lead the antenna retracts. When you move the switch to the UP position power is sent to the sense lead and through the diode to the constant power lead and the antenna extends.
Hope this helps ya'll out.
Most automatic antennas are two wire units, the way it works is there is a constant power lead (generally red) and a radio sense lead(generally blue). When there is no voltage on the radio sense wire, the radio is off, the antenna retracts. The antenna extends when the radio is turned on and voltage is applied to the sense wire.
To get mine to work I wired DOWN on the switch to the constant power lead and I wired the UP side of the switch to both the radio sense wire and using a diode to the constant power lead. The diode prevents power reaching the sense wire when the DOWN side of the switch is active.
So to be clear, when you press the switch to the DOWN position power is sent to the constant power lead and since the diode prevents power reaching the sense lead the antenna retracts. When you move the switch to the UP position power is sent to the sense lead and through the diode to the constant power lead and the antenna extends.
Hope this helps ya'll out.
May 31st, 2023, 12:59 PM
#3
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Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Ponte Vedra Beach FL
Posts: 15
Power antenna switch wiring
Wow, this is exactly what I was looking for.
It’s so simple and easy…yet these antenna people say it cannot be done and will void your warranty.
Works perfectly!
It’s so simple and easy…yet these antenna people say it cannot be done and will void your warranty.
Works perfectly!
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