Tools of the Trade – The Oscilloscope

Our series of articles on what tools are important to test and configure a car audio system upgrade moves on to the oscilloscope. Tools like digital voltmeters, real-time audio analyzers and, of course, hand tools such as screwdrivers, side cutters, wire strippers and a socket set each have their place and importance. When it comes to analyzing the amplitude of electrical signals that change with time, only an oscilloscope can provide an installation technician with the information he needs.

What Is an Oscilloscope?

An oscilloscope is a device with a screen that displays the amplitude of a signal relative to time. The screen has several calibrated squares, each representing an adjustable time base or voltage level. Controls on the scope let the user change the time base and voltage ranges for the type of signal that is under inspection.

Why Is It Important for the Shop I Choose to Own an Oscilloscope?

If you are having an audio system installed in your car or truck, especially if an equalizer or digital signal processor is in the audio signal chain, having a scope is a sure-fire way of setting the amplifier sensitivity controls so they can achieve maximum output without significant distortion. Proper configuration ensures the highest possible signal-to-noise ratio, so hiss and background noise are kept to a minimum.

An Oscilloscope is an Important Tool

A scope is also useful for testing the wiring in the car for audio and data signals to confirm that each electrical connection will function as intended. Some installers try to use a digital multimeter set to the alternating current (AC) voltage setting to perform these tests. While the meter may show some amount of information, there is no way to know the shape of the waveform to determine if the signal is digital or analog.

Finding a Quality Mobile Enhancement Retailer

As you search for a shop to work on your vehicle, we recommend that part of the process include a tour of their installation facilities. The install bay and fabrication area need not be spotless if they are working on vehicles, but they do need to have the right tools and supplies. Ask them what they use to set the sensitivity controls on the amplifiers you intend to buy. Hopefully, they have invested in the right tools and they own and know how to use an oscilloscope.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

HID versus LED Headlight Bulb Upgrades – Which Is best?

When it comes to safe driving at night, upgrading the headlights in your car or truck with HID or LED bulbs can make a dramatic difference in your ability to see long distances. Dozens of articles and videos on the Internet compare the two technologies. Piecing together information from all of them and wading through the marketing hyperbole can take time. Let’s lay out the features and benefits of LED and HID lights to help you choose the solution that will work best in your vehicle.

The Fundamentals of HID Lighting Systems

High-intensity discharge (HID) lamps operate by applying 80 to 90 volts across a quartz glass arc tube filled with xenon gas at pressures between 70 and 700 psi, depending on the design and application. The current flowing through the arc tube causes the mercury and metal halides in the bulb to ionize into plasma and produce a bright light.

HID bulbs will not light (ignite) from the standard ~85V supply voltage and require an even higher voltage to begin the ionization process. An initial voltage of 15,000 to 25,000 volts is applied to the arc tube where a small amount of argon gas helps the voltage to travel from one electrode to the other and create heat. The process is similar to the way a coil pack creates a spark across spark plug electrodes to ignite the air and fuel mixture inside your engine. The heat created by the spark begins the mercury ionization process. In most applications, the ignition process takes 10 to 15 seconds. The ignition process can be made faster, but this would decrease the life of the bulb and the control ballast.

How Do LED Bulbs Work?

By comparison, LEDs are simpler from a mechanical perspective but more complicated in terms of chemistry. Using a process called electroluminescence, light-emitting diodes are solid-state devices that emit light when current in the form of electrons passing through the semiconductor recombines with electron holes and releases energy in the form of electrons. If you are having sporadic flashbacks to 9th- or 10th-grade chemistry class, then we’ve done our job.

Unlike HID bulbs, LEDs don’t require anything special to get them started, and contrary to popular belief, both HID and LED lighting systems draw roughly the same amount of power when in operation, at about 3.0 amps per bulb.

Drawbacks of HID Bulb Upgrades

While HID bulbs are amazingly bright and efficient compared to incandescent bulbs, your installer needs to find a location to mount the starter circuitry and high voltage power supply — a device commonly referred to as a ballast. Finding a solid mounting location is critical to the long-term reliability of these components.

HID bulbs require up to 15 seconds to reach their full light output capability. For this reason, they are not an ideal solution for high-beam applications where you need instant light in a “flash to pass” situation.

Finally, it is imperative to the long-term reliability of a HID lighting system that it be provided with adequate voltage and current during the startup process. The creation of the >15,000-volt spark can draw as much as 10 amps of current per bulb. The increasingly smaller factory wiring found in modern vehicles, along with the fact that headlights are usually left on during the engine cranking process, can make delivering the full electrical system voltage at a draw of 10 amps per ballast difficult.

When wiring is undersized, you may find that one bulb doesn’t ignite when you turn on your headlights. For this reason, HID system manufacturers strongly recommend the use of a dedicated, high-quality relay harness with a HID bulb upgrade. Direct connections to the battery for power and ground, relays rated for the high starting current of the system and quality all-copper conductors will help to ensure that your ballasts function efficiently and reliably.

Drawbacks of LED Bulbs

The rage over the last few years has been to use LEDs for bulb upgrades. As we mentioned earlier, LEDs reach their full output almost instantly, making them ideal for high-beam and turn signal applications. The primary problem with LEDs bulbs is managing their heat. If the LED chips on the bulb exceed about 257 degrees Fahrenheit (125 degrees Celsius), they can fail quickly. For this reason, LED bulbs include cooling fins in the form of braided copper strands or aluminum bands to help carry heat away from the LED chips. Some designs use small cooling fans. As long as the bulb is fully enclosed in a dust-proof housing, fan-cooled LED bulbs can work well.

LED bulb manufacturers have a wide choice of LED chips to use in their bulb designs. The goal of the bulb design is to place a light source in the exact same position as you’d find in an incandescent bulb. The filament in an incandescent bulb is long and narrow, so the LED array should be similar in order to maintain the proper beam pattern. One problem with LED bulbs is that they don’t produce a 360-degree source of light and may require adjustment and tuning to achieve a satisfactory beam pattern.

Is HID or LED Better?

Deciding which bulb upgrade is better for your car is like trying to decide if a red Ferrari is better than an orange McLaren. They are as different as they are similar. We spoke with Chris at HIDCOR Industries, a 20-year veteran of the automotive lighting industry, about lighting upgrade options. He told us that he starts each consultation by asking the client why he or she wants to upgrade their lights. The two most common answers are for looks and for performance. If you want that classy, modern white light, then he suggests LEDs are the way to go. They are easy to install and very reliable. If long-distance vision is the goal, then Chris suggests a 4300K (OEM color) or 6000K (pure white) HID upgrade along with a dedicated wiring harness to deliver every ounce of output possible. The HID upgrade is more involved as the ballasts and harness need to be installed properly, so it might be a little more expensive once the dust settles.

Chris explained his reasoning for HID over LED for long-distance lighting needs, but we’ll save that for another article at another time. In the meantime, if you are interested in improving your ability to see safely at night, drop by your local specialist mobile enhancement retailer and ask about the HID and LED bulbs that are available for your vehicle.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Automotive Dashcam Features Explained

A dashcam is a compact camera system designed with automotive-specific features to capture video of everything that happens in front of your car or truck. The video files from a dashcam can protect you from fraud or false accusations in the event of an accident. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular options available to enhance the information captured by these amazing safety systems.

Dual Camera Systems

Many dashcam solutions are available with a secondary camera that can be positioned to monitor the interior of the vehicle or the traffic behind your car or truck. These systems record from both cameras simultaneously to give you a complete record of everything happening. Uber, Lyft and taxi drivers are particularly fond of these dual camera systems to record the behavior of their customers.

Built-In LCD Screen

Two types of dashcams are commonly available: Those with and without an LCD screen. In most products, the addition of a feature like a screen is perceived as an upgrade, but with dashcams, this isn’t always the case.

Dashcam systems without displays are often physically smaller, allowing your installer to mount the camera under your rearview mirror for a nearly invisible installation. These dashcams typically include a series of LEDs to indicate when they are powered up and are recording. The drawback to these designs is that you need a smartphone or computer to view videos stored by the system. You will also need to make system configuration adjustments using a phone or computer, so the installation time is longer.

Cameras with integrated displays are often physically larger than those without a screen. Depending on the design of the camera, color displays measure from 1.5 to 3.5 inches diagonally. In addition to letting you look at videos directly on the system, cameras with displays typically have easy-to-understand setup menus right on the unit. Many higher-end cameras include a touchscreen to make adjusting the system even easier.

Integrated GPS Antenna

Another popular dashcam feature is a built-in GPS antenna. The software in the camera will use the information transmitted by the GPS receiver to store vehicle speed and location along with the video information. Most quality dashcam manufacturers offer PC and Apple playback software that will show your location and speed along with the video recording.

Integrated Accelerometer

Another great feature to look for is a camera with an integrated accelerometer. These cameras store information about G-forces in all three axes along with the video. Your installer can typically configure the camera to automatically store video files if the camera detects a sudden jolt that might have been caused by an accident.

Parking Mode

Many solutions offer what is called parking mode. In most cases, when your installer has wired the camera to a constant power source (one that is active even when the ignition is turned off), the camera will stop saving video to the memory card. If the camera detects changes in the video image (from someone or something entering the field of vision) or motion from the built-in accelerometer, the system will wake up and automatically store a video file. In most cases, the recording starts 5 to 10 seconds before the trigger so you can see what led up to the event.

An important note about parking mode: Please make 100% sure that your camera has a low-voltage shutdown feature to prevent the battery in your car or truck from being killed and leaving you stranded. If your camera doesn’t have this feature, several manufacturers make external battery packs and control modules that will reduce or eliminate the load on your vehicle battery. If you don’t drive your car or truck every day, an external battery pack or at least a power management controller is a very wise investment.

High-Resolution Cameras and HDR Mode

Most quality dash cameras have high-definition image sensors capable of storing 1920-by-1080-pixel video files. Compared with VGA or 720p recording, these high-res files allow you to see license plate information, phone numbers or other identifying marks on moving vehicles. Some of the newest cameras record at 4K (4096 by 2160) resolution for an increase in detail of 4.3 times over HD resolution. Yes, this higher resolution with fill up a memory card much more quickly, but the added detail is quite worthwhile. We suggest buying a camera with as much image resolution as possible for your budget.

Dashcam Features — Example of detail recorded in HD resolution setting.

High Dynamic Range

Another popular feature is called high dynamic range. This is a video contrast compression technology that helps to make dark areas of the image brighter and bright areas darker to make everything in the video easier to see and understand during playback. Turning on HDR processing can help reveal more detail at night or in bright sunlight situations.

Wi-Fi-Enabled Dashcam Feature

The last feature we will talk about is Wi-Fi. Many premium cameras include an integrated Wi-Fi hotspot that allows you to connect your phone to see videos or make adjustments to the system. This is a particularly convenient feature on cameras that don’t have a touchscreen as it makes adjusting menu options quick and easy. Apps for iOS and Android-based smartphones are typically available for dashcams with Wi-Fi built in.

Some advanced dashcams include the option to automatically connect to an internet hotspot to upload video files to the cloud to make information access easy and efficient.

Protect Yourself with a Car Dashcam

If you are concerned about fraud from other drivers or pedestrians, or you want undeniable proof of who’s at fault in the event of an accident, then you owe it to yourself to invest in a quality dashcam. Drop by your local specialist mobile enhancement retailer today to find out more about the systems that are available and arrange for expert installation in your vehicle.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Product Spotlight: Alpine i407-WRA-JL

If you’ve been paying attention over the last few years, you’ll know that the folks at Alpine have been offering many different audio system upgrade solutions for Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator vehicles. These offerings range from head unit replacement solutions to complete audio systems with amplifiers and subwoofers. In this Product Spotlight, we will look at the i407-WRA-JL radio upgrade kit. Let’s check it out!

What is the Alpine i407-WRA-JL Kit?

The i407-WRA-JL is a radio upgrade kit for 2018 and newer JL chassis Jeep Wranglers and 2020 and newer JT chassis Jeep Gladiators. The kit includes an Alpine iLX-407 source unit along with mounting brackets, a radio trim kit, a new auxiliary input jack, all the wiring harnesses, a camera interface module, and an iDatalink Maestro RR integration module. The concept was to provide retailers with a package with everything needed to upgrade the entertainment system and prevent surprises in the installation bay.

Jeep Radio Upgrade Kit Features

The included dash kit and brackets take care of ensuring the radio is mounted in place of the stock source unit and looks great. The dash kit is molded to fit the complex shape of the dash for a clean, factory-like appearance.

In terms of integration, the factory-installed backup camera on these Wranglers and Gladiators uses a communication protocol called Low-Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS). This signal isn’t directly compatible with aftermarket radios. As such, the i407-WRA-JL kit includes an interface module that converts the LVDS signal into a composite signal so the camera will work with the included iLX-407.

The kit also includes an iDatalink Maestro RR interface. This data interface and harness allows the new radio to plug into the wiring connectors from the original radio and provides access to the Jeep’s data network. Information like vehicle speed, engine RPM and much more can be displayed on the radio. The climate control settings are also adjustable from the face of the new radio.

One item worth noting is that if your Jeep is equipped with the factory amplifier, an optional interface module called the KCX-F200INT is available to let the new radio connect properly.

Alpine iLX-407 Features

The double-DIN iLX-407 is the radio at the heart of the i407-WRA-JL kit. This radio features a 7-inch anti-glare touch screen with a resolution of 800×480 pixels. The hard controls are along the bottom edge of the front panel. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, as is Bluetooth for hands-free streaming or phone calls. The tuner in the unit offers support for HD Radio, which dramatically improves the quality of FM radio. There’s an HDMI input on the rear of the chassis, so you can theoretically connect a gaming system or a laptop, if you want. There are two camera inputs and support for the SiriusXM SXV300 tuner module.

If you want the best sound quality from your music, playing digital audio files from a USB drive is the way to go. The iLX-407 supports MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, and WAV audio formats with a maximum sampling rate of 48 kHz. The unit will also play AVI, MP4, MPG, MOV and WMV video files with H.264 or MPEG-4 video encoding. The maximum video file size is 4 gigabytes.

Audio Processing Features

The deck includes a four-channel amplifier rated at 16 watts per channel and in compliance with the ANSI/CTA-2006 standards for car audio amplifier power specifications. The triple preamp outputs are rated for up to four volts.

The iLX-407 is impressive in its audio processing features. It has a simple five-band graphic equalizer to let you fine-tune the system to your listening preferences. The more advanced crossovers offer adjustable slopes from six to 24 dB/Octave and filter frequencies from 20 to 200 Hz with high-pass filtering on the front and rear channels and a low-pass filter for the subwoofer output. There’s also a level control for each output, which many source units overlook. Oh, and the subwoofer level control can be adjusted from 0 to 15 with a polarity inversion option to potentially help the subwoofer’s output blend with the woofers in the dash and overhead sound bar.

The Time Correction setting screen allows your installer to dial in delays to each of the six outputs (which include the four built-in amplifier outputs) in 1 millisecond steps or set distances to the speakers in 3.4 centimeter steps. There are three presets available to store different Time Correction configurations. This is ideal if you want one alone in the vehicle or have a passenger, which requires different settings.

Jeep Radio Upgrade Kits

Alpine offers four Jeep-specific radio upgrade kits, including the i407-WRA-JL and a similar solution for older Wranglers called the i407-WRA-JK, covering 2007 through 2018 applications. If you want something fancier, the I509-WRA-JL and I509-WRA-JK kits include a 9-inch weather-resistant display, more advanced audio processing, and wireless smartphone connectivity.

If your Jeep is lacking in the audio department, visit a local authorized Alpine retailer and ask about the available Jeep-specific solutions. You can find an authorized retailer using the Store Locator tool on the Alpine website. For more information about the audio upgrade solutions available from Alpine, follow them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Understanding Specifications: Operating Voltage Tolerances and Protection Circuits

To close out our series of educational articles on amplifier specifications, we are going to talk about operating voltage limits and, by association, the protection circuits built into a car audio amplifier. In the good old days of electrical systems that were composed of an alternator, battery, switches and a couple of relays, delivering a relatively constant voltage to a car audio amplifier was easy. New technologies and limits on battery, alternator and wire size have made it much more difficult to keep our amplifiers happy.

Automotive Start-Stop Systems Cause Low Operating Voltage

With the never-ending battle to eke out every ounce of fuel efficiency from the vehicles we drive, automakers have resorted to systems that will shut down the engine to save fuel while idling. Transitioning from standard idle mode to the shut-down state doesn’t pose a problem for most amplifiers as the battery voltage only drops to the 12.2 to 11.5-volt range. If the voltage starts to drop because the car has been idling too long, the engine will restart automatically.

What poses a problem for modern car audio amplifiers are the voltage dips associated with the engine starting. In conventional vehicles, the stereo is off while you are starting the vehicle. These start-stop systems keep everything running and playing as the engine restarts. Electrical system voltage can drop below seven volts while the engine cranks. Many amplifiers shut themselves down below nine or ten volts, and as such, your music would stop playing. While a pause in your music isn’t truly problematic, it can be annoying if you are stuck in stop-and-go traffic.

New amplifier designs include circuitry that will keep the amplifier active during brief low operating voltage conditions. Some companies specify their amps as being able to handle as little as 6 volts for as long as 5 seconds to ensure that your music plays without interruption. This same start-stop compliance design is required for digital signal processors to prevent them from shutting down during engine restarts.

Car Audio Amplifier Protection Circuitry

Three decades ago, if you shorted the outputs of an amplifier, it would blow up, occasionally with spectacular results. Modern amplifiers include protection circuits that monitor different functions and automatically shut the amp down when an unwanted condition occurs. Most amplifiers include protection against overheating or short circuits on the speaker wires. Better amplifiers may provide a warning if a power connection over-voltage condition occurs that could damage the components inside the amp.

A select few manufacturers provide computerized monitoring of different parts of their amplifiers and flash error codes to let users know why the amp is in protection. Short circuits, over-voltage, under-voltage, over-temperature on the power supply and output stage and a notification about repeated short circuits are provided. This information makes it much easier and more efficient for a technician to troubleshoot an installation or speaker issue.

How Car Audio Amplifiers Handle Over-Temperature Conditions

There are two ways for an amplifier to protect itself if it gets too hot. The most common mode is for the amp to stop playing music so that the power supply and output switching devices can cool off. The second option is for the amp to reduce the output signal so that less heat is created. While it’s nice that your music won’t stop playing, most consumers tend to try and turn the volume up higher when the music gets quieter. Eventually, amplifiers that roll back power will go into a state of full protection and shut themselves down to protect components.

If you live in an area that gets hot during the summer, choosing an amplifier with adequate cooling from a large heatsink or a fan is a good idea. Cramming a tiny little amp into the corner of your trunk or cargo area may not be the best choice in this situation.

Visit Your Local Mobile Enhancement Retailer Today

If you are interested in upgrading the audio system in your car, truck or SUV, purchasing a new amplifier will be a fundamental part of the process. Your local specialist car stereo shop can help you wade through the hundreds of amplifier options on the market to find a solution that sounds amazing and works with your budget and performance expectations.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Tools of the Trade – The Oscilloscope

What Is an Oscilloscope?

Why Is It Important for the Shop I Choose to Own an Oscilloscope?

An Oscilloscope is an Important Tool

Finding a Quality Mobile Enhancement Retailer

HID versus LED Headlight Bulb Upgrades – Which Is best?

The Fundamentals of HID Lighting Systems

How Do LED Bulbs Work?

Drawbacks of HID Bulb Upgrades

Drawbacks of LED Bulbs

Is HID or LED Better?

Automotive Dashcam Features Explained

Dual Camera Systems

Built-In LCD Screen

Integrated GPS Antenna

Integrated Accelerometer

Parking Mode

High-Resolution Cameras and HDR Mode

High Dynamic Range

Wi-Fi-Enabled Dashcam Feature

Protect Yourself with a Car Dashcam

Product Spotlight: Alpine i407-WRA-JL

What is the Alpine i407-WRA-JL Kit?

Jeep Radio Upgrade Kit Features

Alpine iLX-407 Features

Audio Processing Features

Jeep Radio Upgrade Kits

Understanding Specifications: Operating Voltage Tolerances and Protection Circuits

Automotive Start-Stop Systems Cause Low Operating Voltage

Car Audio Amplifier Protection Circuitry

How Car Audio Amplifiers Handle Over-Temperature Conditions

Visit Your Local Mobile Enhancement Retailer Today

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