Board logo

Car radios
LBMEFM - 29/2/20 at 09:35 AM

Just fitted a new radio to my Renault Master van, the heat build up on the trim above is getting so hot that the plastic smells, I bought another radio off ebay, still the same problem. The finned ally block on the back of both radios is so hot it can't be touched. Is this normal as I don't remember a problem with the original broken radio.


bi22le - 29/2/20 at 04:32 PM

Did you use a plug converter or was it stock din connectors?

It sounds like something is driving the amp to hard in the head unit.

It will get warm, for sure butayne not hot enough to melt stuff!!


ken555 - 29/2/20 at 06:06 PM

Stupid question the van isn't 24 volts is it ?


jossey - 29/2/20 at 09:19 PM

I bought a cheap Chinese stereo which did the same. Went in the bin. Also drained my battery tons even when off.


LBMEFM - 1/3/20 at 04:39 AM

I am running two large speakers and four smaller ones, would this effect it. Yes it is 12volt and the current radio that's overheating is Kenwood so not cheap.


LBMEFM - 1/3/20 at 04:44 AM

Ah, I didn't use a converter, I chopped off the original van plug and rewired the new radio one. Was this where I sent wrong?


r1_pete - 1/3/20 at 01:50 PM

Depends how you have wired the speakers...

Check the ohms rating the radio needs.

Then check the ohms rating on the speakers, speakers are ok higher rating than the radio, but not lower.

If you wire two 8 ohm speakers in parallel, you get a 4 ohm impedance, two 4s = 2 etc....

A low value will overload the output transistors on the radio.


Mr Whippy - 1/3/20 at 04:28 PM

I would recommend you get a separate amplifier as this will make a huge difference and the radio last longer. You can pick them up second hand for little money. Volvo has amps under the seats so usually quite protected. When I fitted radios everything was taken out premium cars in the scrap yards.


LBMEFM - 2/3/20 at 07:41 AM

Thanks guys for your answers