Running Harmon Kardon with no factory head unit

Posted on by Ian C.

As some will know, I have installed an aftermarket Kenwood head unit connected to a 20GB MP3 Kenwood Keg.

I had planned to replace the Harmon Kardon amplifier & speakers with aftermarket, but after a lot of pain & grief with Tweeter, I was left with an aftermarket head unit and factory amp – but the Harmon Kardon amp will only work when connected to a factory head unit, so I had to keep it installed:

This install lasted a while, then “scooterboy” provided me with a factory head unit which I was able to strip down to a minimum – enough to still run the Harmon Kardon amp, but “hideable”:

MINI stereo, stripped down

 

While this system worked, it remained awkward. With a volume control on the Harmon Kardon amp (controlled by the steering wheel remotes via the stripped down factory head unit) and a second volume control on the Kenwood head unit, it was confusing for other people (sorry Keith!)
I tried setting the Kenwood to a fixed high level and using the steering controls only to adjust volume, but then I lost the “loudness” low volume emphasis function of the Kenwood.
I could not set the Harmon Kardon to a fixed high level, since the factory head unit always reverts to a medium volume when it is turned off/on. So for a while I would start the car, use the steering controls to increase the Harmon Kardon level to maximum, then use the Kenwood volume control the rest of the time. One problem with this was losing the speed compensation of the Harmon Kardon amp, which does not work when its volume is already at max.

Continue reading Running Harmon Kardon with no factory head unit

Auto-up windows re-visited

Posted on by Ian C.

The auto-up windows story continues – here I’m testing “track mode DSC” with the newest version of my circuit:


I’ve now made a total of 30 circuits (including mine). Feedback from some people has confirmed that installation is not difficult and functionality is as I intended.

More people have contacted me interested in auto-up windows, and perhaps in “track mode DSC” or control of their garage door opener using the MINIs toggle switches. I have been ordering and buying parts to build nearly 100 more circuits – these will be built by a local contract manufacturer (building 30 by hand was enough!).

The latest news is that the blank circuit board will be delivered next week, so depending on the lead time of the 18 way harness, I should have circuits built by the end of the month. I now have enough names that if everyone that has contacted me actually buys a circuit, I will again be out of stock! I don’t think this will happen – only 75% of the original 25 names followed through with a purchase – but it shows that there is definite interest.
It is nice to be appreciated 🙂