HMA150 HARLEY MEDIA ADAPTER INSTALLATION GUIDE
HAWG WIRED PAGE 5 NEWARK, CA
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UNDERSTANDING HOW TO INSTALL AND CONFIGURE YOUR AUDIO EQUIPMENT IS THE KEY TO
MAXIMIZING YOUR SYSTEM’S POTENTIAL. THIS SECTION IS INTENDED TO HELP YOU PREPARE AND
STRATEGIZE YOUR PLAN OF ATTACK BEFORE YOU START CUTTING WIRES.
LOSE THE SPARK
DISCONNECT THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL BEFORE DOING ANY
ELECTRICAL WORK ON YOUR MOTORCYCLE. ALWAYS DISCONNECT THE
NEGATIVE (–) BATTERY POST FIRST, FOLLOWED BY THE POSITIVE (+),
AND WHEN IT'S TIME TO GO BACK TOGETHER, CONNECT THE POSITIVE
(+) POST FIRST, FOLLOWED BY THE NEGATIVE (–). THIS CAN MINIMIZE
THE CHANCE OF SPARKS AND VOLTAGE SPIKES, AND IS A GOOD
GENERAL PRACTICE WHEN DEALING WITH ANY DC ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
(CAR, BOAT, MOTORCYCLE, ETC.).
BE WELL GROUNDED
BAD GROUNDS UNDER THE FAIRING HAVE PROVEN TO BE THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF PROBLEM
INSTALLS. THE BEST PLACE FOR CONNECTING TO CHASSIS GROUND IS ALWAYS DIRECTLY TO THE
FRAME ON A CLEAN SURFACE FREE OF PAINT, RUST, OR OTHER CONTAMINANTS.
ALWAYS USE THE SHORTEST LENGTH OF GROUND WIRE POSSIBLE BETWEEN CHASSIS GROUND
AND THE AMPLIFIER. NEVER USE A GROUND WIRE LONGER THAN THE ONE WE PROVIDE.
BATWING FAIRINGS, AMONG OTHERS, ARE NOT DIRECTLY MOUNTED TO THE BIKE FRAME, SO YOU
MUST RUN THE GROUND WIRE BACK THROUGH THE FAIRING TO THE FRAME.
THE GROUND WIRE AND POWER WIRE ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT; IF EITHER ONE OF THEM IS
COMPROMISED, THE AMPLIFIER’S PERFORMANCE WILL DEGRADE OR CEASE TO FUNCTION.
USE PROTECTION EVERY TIME
ALWAYS INSTALL A MASTER FUSE WITHIN 12” OF THE BATTERY FOR ANY ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT
ADDED TO YOUR MOTORCYCLE’S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE MINI-FUSE INSTALLED ON THE MAIN
AMPLIFIER ONLY PROTECTS THE INTERNAL CIRCUITRY, NOT THE WIRING. IN THE EVENT OF A SHORT,
FAILURE TO INSTALL A FUSE NEAR THE BATTERY CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO YOUR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,
OR WORSE YET, THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE. AND SINCE THE POWER WIRE FOR THE AMPLIFIER RUNS
DIRECTLY BENEATH YOUR GAS TANK, DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT CUTTING CORNERS HERE.
CHECK YOUR POLARITY
THE WAY SPEAKER WIRES ARE MARKED FOR POLARITY (+/–) VARIES FROM BRAND TO BRAND. RED AND
BLACK COLORED WIRES ARE TYPICALLY POSITIVE (+) AND NEGATIVE (–) RESPECTIVELY, BUT WHEN IT
COMES TO WIRE PAIRS WITH ONE STRIPE, THINGS GET MESSY. SOME MANUFACTURES USE THE STRIPE
AS POSITIVE (+), WHILE OTHERS USE THE STRIPE AS NEGATIVE (–). BE SURE TO CHECK THE
DOCUMENTATION OF EACH COMPONENT YOU'RE DEALING WITH BEFORE MAKING CONNECTIONS.
THINK BEFORE YOU CUT
ALWAYS ROUTE WIRES AND CABLES SAFELY, AVOIDING SHARP EDGES AND BURRS ALONG THE WAY.
USE WIRE LOOM WHEN POSSIBLE. CHECK FOR PROPER LENGTH TO BOTH TERMINATION POINTS,
KNOWING WHERE EACH COMPONENT MOUNTS, BEFORE YOU CUT ANYTHING.
PROTECT THAT PAINT
IF YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE FENDER AND TANK COVERS, USE THEM EVERY TIME. IF YOU DON’T,
TOWELS, RAGS, EVEN AN OLD BLANKET WILL DO IN A PINCH. YOU ONLY HAVE TO DROP A TOOL AND
CHIP YOUR PAINT ONCE TO REGRET IT FOREVER.
READY TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT YOUR BIKE’S SOUND SYSTEM? ME TOO, SO HERE WE GO…
RECOMMENDED TOOLS
T-40 TORX®WRENCH
T-20 TORX®WRENCH
7/16" HAND WRENCH
3/16" ALLEN HEX WRENCH
P2 PHILLIPS SCREW DRIVER
WIRE CUTTERS
WIRE STRIPPERS
TERMINAL CRIMPING TOOL
