got me a 396, now what do I need

[dan]

Originally Posted by Scott Will

What I did so far from my GMA-340 was to take the music and unswitched audio inputs to a terminal block so I can make whatever connections I want in the future. Good idea, Dan.

Just FYI, I'm removing the terminal strip. It works if you're just connecting one or another audio source to the audio panel's input, but I have multiple music sources that need to be switched. I'm removing the terminal strip and adding this switch from Mouser:

1 10WA166 1 3.170 3.17
Lorlin Nylon Rotary
ROT 3POL 2-4POS SOL

It's a rotary switch that will select audio from one of four sources. It isolates each source, so that only one may play at once through the primary music input.

I wired the switch with Mate-N-Lok connectors, made my ground loop isolator "modular" with male/female Mate-N-Lok connectors (so it can be swapped in or out of the circuit if I do or don't need it), etc.

This will be a muuuch cleaner setup than I have right now, which is basically all music sources "stacked" onto the terminal strip, and I listen to one at a time and disconnect the others. Ugh!

[aadamson]

Originally Posted by mburch

Slow down and read, guys... The alarm pin is for marine use. It's not used in aviation mode.

mcb

If you read the posts above, you'll see that Garmin has confirmed that the "alarm" pin also works for aviation, it's a hardware carry over from the marine guys. But based upon Dan's post, and the email he got from Garmin, it seems to work on the 396. The marine 376, 386 and 486 seem to use the same hardware as well with different databases.

[aadamson]

I'm sorta surprised that you don't have any ground loops... keeping all the audio paths straight thru a terminal strip would be fun I suppose.

[N941WR]

Good discussion. I'm just starting to wire my panel was wondering how to hook in the 396, which I haven't purchased yet.

Let me summarize. All discussions are regarding the Garmin 396 in Aviation mode.

1) The 396 outputs terrain warning, etc. through the stereo output.
2) The alarm pin, although designed for marine use is active in aviation mode.
3) "The audio wiring that's in the harness is for the automotive setup."
4) Most intercoms mute the stereo (entertainment) input during radio reception and intercom use. Not a good thing if one is expecting to hear terrain and other types of warnings.
5) There is discussion regarding using the alarm pin, item 2 above, to redirect the audio output to a normal intercom source input. (With appropriate input requirements accounted for.)
6) There are manual switching options for the stereo input, if one wishes to use other entertainment sources such as an iPod. Downside, the warning tones would not be broadcast through the intercom when listening to something other than the 396.

So far I haven?t heard a good solution. However, check your intercom manual. The Signtronics 200S has a non-mute option and I suspect some of the others may as well.

Thank you all for your input. This thread has been very helpful!

[Scott Will]

And here are more questions from me:

- under external power, does the unit charge automatically? I'm thinking of connecting it to my main bus (EFIS and its internal GPS are on E-bus). When I switch to the E-bus, the 396 will run off its own battery.

- which external antenna do I need?

Regarding the terrain alerts, I'm thinking of hooking up only the 1/8 jack output to my unswitched audio for alerts only (no XM music).