Adding Switch for Center Speaker

[thebigdu]

So I have a 502A with the 8-speaker B&O system (not Unleashed). I disconnected my center dash speaker a few months after buying the truck, and while I generally feel the sound stage is improved, I am curious about reconnecting it on occasion. I would like to add a small SPST rocker switch hidden somewhere down near or inside the media bin which should be fairly easy, but I'd like to avoid cutting the factory center speaker harness. I'm wondering if one of you F150 electronics gurus could help me find the male and female connectors I would need to make my own harness to add this switch. I think the center speaker part number is MU5Z18808PA, but I don't know where to look for the connector specs. Thanks in advance!

Sponsored

 

[fluffernutter]

can’t help but think the speaker itself has 2 wires going in, a + and a -

You just need to break continuity by putting a switch inline on either line (a break in either will cause the speaker to be disconnected). Just give it a snip and run a line in and out of the switch using the same size speaker wire from amazon. Can’t imagine it’s that thick for such a small size speaker.

Should be very low risk, and putting this back to stock would just be putting continuity back (could be as easy as twisting the wires back together and covering with electrical tape and heat shrink). You wouldn’t do anything with the harness but rather the wires feeding the harness.

I’ve done many speakers hookups and I think you will find this should be pretty simple once you see the connector. If you find anything besides 2 wires going in, let me know.

If you have a picture of the speaker harness that you unplugged, post it here

This should be all you need:

 

[thebigdu]

can’t help but think the speaker itself has 2 wires going in, a + and a -

You just need to break continuity by putting a switch inline on either line (a break in either will cause the speaker to be disconnected). Just give it a snip and run a line in and out of the switch using the same size speaker wire from amazon. Can’t imagine it’s that thick for such a small size speaker.

Should be very low risk, and putting this back to stock would just be putting continuity back (could be as easy as twisting the wires back together and covering with electrical tape and heat shrink). You wouldn’t do anything with the harness but rather the wires feeding the harness.

I’ve done many speakers hookups and I think you will find this should be pretty simple once you see the connector. If you find anything besides 2 wires going in, let me know.

If you have a pick of the speaker harness that you unplugged, post it here

Thanks for your help. It is just two small wires, and I could definitely cut into one without issue. I was just hoping to get some matching factory connectors to avoid bastardizing the truck... Haha.

 

[fluffernutter]

I would hide the rocker switch in the center console and make a slick little mount inside the removable tray. This way you can drill a hole and mount the small rocker switch and have the wires feed up to it. No one will see it but you and it will still be easy to access. Better than drilling into any of the trim pieces.

And if you mess up or want to go back to stock, swap with another tray with the oem part.

This one has various colors to choose from and the plain black isn’t an eye sore:

 

[fluffernutter]

Another idea is to put double sided tape or velcro on the bottom of the dash (and attach to the side of that flat sided rocker switch) and mount the switch there. This way it isn’t seen and you can just feel under the dash and quickly toggle on and off as needed.

 

[thebigdu]

Another idea is to put double sided tape or velcro on the bottom of the dash (and attach to the side of that flat sided rocker switch) and mount the switch there. This way it isn’t seen and you can just feel under the dash and quickly toggle on and off as needed.

These are both great ideas... Thanks! I like the idea of hanging it below the dash temporarily to see if I really use it before mounting it somewhere more permanently.

Sponsored