How to Convert a Car Stereo to 110V

By Raul Avenir

Connect your car stereo to a 110 volt AC power supply.
i Car interior image by mashe from Fotolia.com

A car stereo is a relatively compact and good source of audio entertainment. Manufacturers have taken plenty of measures to ensure this small piece of electronic equipment can deliver sound quality that is comparable to its household counterpart. There are times when you may have an extra car stereo that you do not wish to discard and would like to use in your bedroom or garage. Car stereos run on 12 volts DC electric current, but you can connect a car stereo to 110 volts AC and make it work inside your home.

Place the car stereo and the power supply on a level and secure surface. Connect the positive power supply wire (red) of the car stereo to the positive screw-on terminal (red) of the 12 volt DC power supply. Connect the negative power supply wire (black) of the car stereo to the negative (black) screw-on terminal of the 12 volt DC power supply. Check the wires to make sure both are correctly connected to their corresponding color-coded terminals. Tighten the terminal screws to make sure they are not loose.

Connect the speakers to the proper wires or terminals. Check your stereo's accompanying instruction manual to know the proper speaker wire connections. Connect your car stereo to its car stereo antenna.

Turn the car stereo power switch to OFF position. Turn the power supply switch to OFF position. Plug the power supply to a 110 volt AC outlet and turn on its power switch. Turn on the power switch of your car stereo. Adjust the volume and other sound settings of your car stereo to check for sound and sound quality.

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