Hi all, could someone tell me if the power to the radio antenna switch up and down are both positive? The switch has three positions up, down and neutral. I have looked in my manual at the wiring for 64 T’bird and found nothing to do with the antenna.
For the after market electric antenna (about to fit) I need both to be positive. Otherwise I would have to fit a relay.
I appreciate your help.
Stewie in OZ
Radio antenna switch
Moderator: redstangbob
-
- Posts: 102
- Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2013 8:34 am
- Location: Bribie Island, Australia
Radio antenna switch
1964 Ford Thunderbird Landau
And I'm living the dream!!!
And I'm living the dream!!!
Re: Radio antenna switch
The wiring that runs from the antenna switch continues to a two-wire connector at the motor. One wire applies +12V to the part of the motor that raises the antenna, and the other applies +12V to the part that lowers it. The motor is grounded by way of the screws that attach it to the frame.
Re: Radio antenna switch
You might want to check the info on the power antenna you want to buy. The one I have is by Metra, but I think most aftermarket ones work the same. There are two wires to the antenna motor, one goes to 12v, switched by the radio so that the antenna extends when the radio has power. The other wire on the antenna motor goes to an ignition switched power source. If you want to control the antenna manually when the radio is on (the choice I made) you need to install a SPST switch on the wire from the radio to the antenna motor.
With it connected like this, I can leave the switch on and the antenna extends when the radio is on and retracts when the radio goes off, or put the switch to the off position and I can use the radio with a USB and the antenna stays retracted.
I found a used clock console with a twin toggle switch in the center, one side for the map lights and the other for the antenna, but there was no antenna switch, so I don't know what the originals were like. I adapted an off the shelf switch (think it might have been a double throw, but I just used one side), and it's worked for 4 or 5 years with no problems.
Terry
64HT
With it connected like this, I can leave the switch on and the antenna extends when the radio is on and retracts when the radio goes off, or put the switch to the off position and I can use the radio with a USB and the antenna stays retracted.
I found a used clock console with a twin toggle switch in the center, one side for the map lights and the other for the antenna, but there was no antenna switch, so I don't know what the originals were like. I adapted an off the shelf switch (think it might have been a double throw, but I just used one side), and it's worked for 4 or 5 years with no problems.
Terry
64HT
-
- Posts: 102
- Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2013 8:34 am
- Location: Bribie Island, Australia
Re: Radio antenna switch
Thank you cacockrum and Terry for your reply’s.
My new antenna wiring is interesting in that besides the earth wire the other two wires have to join together (red and green) to power it up (on positive) and then the green only on positive to lower the antenna. It has electronics inside (weird).
So talking with my aviation avionics work mate, he suggested using a diode to solve the problem. It works and operates off the
T’bird antenna switch as before. Thanks for your input.
Stewie from OZ
My new antenna wiring is interesting in that besides the earth wire the other two wires have to join together (red and green) to power it up (on positive) and then the green only on positive to lower the antenna. It has electronics inside (weird).
So talking with my aviation avionics work mate, he suggested using a diode to solve the problem. It works and operates off the
T’bird antenna switch as before. Thanks for your input.
Stewie from OZ
1964 Ford Thunderbird Landau
And I'm living the dream!!!
And I'm living the dream!!!