Negative and Positive Earthing

[Spitfire1500]

Hey everyone,

I'm considering getting a Triumph Spitfire MK III or MK II as my replacement car but had a quick query about positive and negative earthing.

As far as I know, all that is affected is certain stereos won't work, as well as how everything is wired up.

I know my 1980 Triumph Spitfire 1500 had negative earth wiring, as I could use a retro negative earth mono radio on it as well as a modern stereo on it but am I right in thinking the MK II and MK III (especially the early 1967/1968 ) models had positive earth wiring?

Would I be likely to experience problems using a modern negative earth stereo on either the MK II or MK III Spitfires?

Just wondering if I am going to have to spend a while converting to negative earth or if I can get away with just connecting my stereo up as usual and see it working.

Thanks,

David

[Spitfire1500]

Oh not to worry!

I have just found out that the MK I and MK II Spitfires had positive earthing (originally) and the MK III, MK IV and 1500 all had negative earth. So I guess that means my radios would work on MK III and later Spitfires and not on earlier ones. Really don't fancy swapping wires around on a MK II either and may just do without a radio if I end up getting one of those instead.

David

[rotoflex]

I get the impression that most people in the US now just want a place to jack in their ipod, anyway.  It would be simple to isolate just an amp & (summed mono) speaker if you wanted to do that.

Actually, it's surprisingly easy to do without the radio/8-track/cassette in a convertible or traditional sports car.  I have a box of pricey late-70s/80s car stereo stuff I bought & put in, but really didin't listen to much.

[elm-phoenix]

just take both + & - straight from the batery with an in line fuse in the +. then it doesent matter what the car is or if it gets changed.

oh and dont conect the ariel to it, or if you do make sure its insulated between the body work. dont let the casing of radio come into contact with exposed metal of car, either when securing in place.

my herald was + eath, but taking straight off the batery means its just seprate to car, so when i changed to - earth the radio was un afected, only changed because of new engine.

[Deleted User]

Just convert it!

Unless you're an originality buff, switch it to negative earth!
NO point in not!
If its a daily driver you will want an alternator, radio etc...

Chances are the Spitfire you get will have been done anyway!

[James]

Chances are it will have been converted anyway...

[Spitfire1500]

Hey everyone,

I don't consider myself a originality buff...

But I shouldn't really worry until I get the replacement car and as already mentioned it might have already been converted any how.

David