Herman's Log...

Yak about stuff. Just stuff.
User avatar
Maddel
Posts: 1449
Joined: June 29th, 2017, 8:30 am

Herman's Log...

The introduction of the A day in the life topic reads...
schwim wrote: April 15th, 2019, 10:31 amSo I don't clog up our car photos topic, I thought it would be interesting to start a topic to share an image taken during the course of our day that might be funny or just interesting in nature...
Instead of keep on abusing that topic with Bug related stuff I'll report my latest efforts here.

What is it about Herman? Well, back in '90 we had three Bugs on our yard...

Image

For the sake of convenience we used to refer to my 1302 as "the red".
But actually his nick is Hermann - essentially inspired by Mr. Munster (Fred Gwynne).

Image

IMHO Super Bugs are sort of Frankenbugs ex Factory, aren't they? :)

Anyway, here we go, some progress with the woofer amp case...


Framework...

Image

Image

Image


Cladding...

Image

Image

Image


Some trimming...

Image

Image


It fits snugly...

Image


Getting the terminal and amp modules in...

Image

Image


Finally there is the little black box...

Image

Image

Image

Image
User avatar
schwim
Site Admin
Posts: 1566
Joined: November 6th, 2013, 4:16 pm
Location: Coastal VA, US
Contact:

Re: Herman's Log...

Wow, that's just gorgeous work man. What an incredible job you did. Was that an existing amp you had that you made the box for or did you frankenstein(Hermanize) a bunch of parts to make what you want?
User avatar
Maddel
Posts: 1449
Joined: June 29th, 2017, 8:30 am

Re: Herman's Log...

Ha! "Hermanizing" - that's what is it all about. I like your neologism! :)

This is what I had...
Image

Although this woofer is small and would fit the rear luggage area of the Bug I wanted a more stealth solution.
So I "hermanized" these out of it...

Goes under the passenger seat...
Image

Goes under the rear seat...
Image
User avatar
Maddel
Posts: 1449
Joined: June 29th, 2017, 8:30 am

Re: Herman's Log...

Put the amp in and checked out its basic wiring...
Image

Image

Image

But with 3°C (38°F) in the garage I decided to postpone the amp wiring. Instead I only removed this device...
Image

Actually it's not a cigarette lighter but a disguised rotary potentiometer...
Image

Image

Image

Back in the early 90s it served as volume control for a Discman that was connected directly to an amp in the trunk.
Later with the Becker car stereo that pot was obsolete and I simply cut the cords off and forgot about it.
Now with the new woofer set up I'll use it as an additional gain control for the woofer amp.
So I can easily adjust the bass level while driving.
Downside is I have to add new cords and soldering these coaxial cables is a PITA at times...
Image

Image
User avatar
Maddel
Posts: 1449
Joined: June 29th, 2017, 8:30 am

Re: Herman's Log...

After the coaxial cables were soldered to the rotary potentiometer I looped it into the "office hi-fi" for a test.
Thankfully volume control worked very well...
Image

Image

Then installed the little device back into the dashboard...
Image

Image

Image

Image

Finally hooked all cable connections up to finish the audio signal installation behind the dash.
Man, that was a tight fit and quite tricky to tuck away the RCA jacks between the ashtray and the head unit.
Image

Image

Image
User avatar
Super_Randy
Get off my lawn.
Posts: 1499
Joined: June 11th, 2017, 10:41 pm
Location: Bong Leach Commiefornia

Re: Herman's Log...

holy crap that's sleek! talk about a stealth install. 8-)
you never learn nothin by mistake if you're to careful.
bad decisions make good memories.
User avatar
Maddel
Posts: 1449
Joined: June 29th, 2017, 8:30 am

Re: Herman's Log...

Zip tied an old bed sheet to the bottom side of the rear seat frame.
May be it prevents "contamination" of the woofer amp by the ever floating down crumbs of the coconut fiber pad. :roll:

Image

Image
User avatar
Maddel
Posts: 1449
Joined: June 29th, 2017, 8:30 am

Re: Herman's Log...

Home made ground wire eyelet for the woofer amp...
Image

Image

The stock rear seat belt screw hole should provide a sufficient ground connection I guess... :D
Image

Image

Image
User avatar
Super_Randy
Get off my lawn.
Posts: 1499
Joined: June 11th, 2017, 10:41 pm
Location: Bong Leach Commiefornia

Re: Herman's Log...

:shock:
you never learn nothin by mistake if you're to careful.
bad decisions make good memories.
User avatar
schwim
Site Admin
Posts: 1566
Joined: November 6th, 2013, 4:16 pm
Location: Coastal VA, US
Contact:

Re: Herman's Log...

Maddel wrote: February 12th, 2023, 2:37 pm Home made ground wire eyelet for the woofer amp...
That looks simply incredible. Did you then bond them with solder, by crimping or both? I'd feel bad by squishing that work of art.
Post Reply