IT"S DONE! - My Completed Build

The Finished Product!

My Custom Cooler Radio Build

Next up is a Video!

http://mycustomcoolerradio.blogspot.com

Custom Cooler Build - Close Ups

Custom Cooler Build - Close Ups
(Additional Wiring, Products, and Construction Shots)

Sealants I used

Glue and Sealant

Stereo Head Unit - BOSS MR1470UW

Fuses Used

Speakers - Kicker KM6000w

Velcro Tape

Custom Cooler Radio Construction - Part 7

Part 7 - Wiring the Top Panel

• Use your wiring diagram to correctly connect components to the terminal block.
• You can find the terminal block at some auto part stores
• Don't forget to place shrink fit around wires before soldering them!
• Again tinning wires is helpful in many cases.
• Make sure you have a good solder connection each time
• Think about using tie straps for cable management
• cap any un-used wires from the head unit

http://mycustomcoolerradio.blogspot.com/

Custom Cooler Radio Construction - Part 6

Part 6 - Speaker Wiring

1. Connect speaker wire (it helps if you tin the wire first) (fig 1)
2. Pro Tip: DON'T FORGET TO PUT SOME SHRINK FIT ONTO THE WIRES FIRST!
3. Solder wire onto speaker connections (fig 2)
4. Use a heat gun to shrink the shrink fit around the new connection (fig 3)

Fig 1

Fig 2

!

Fig 3

Careful not to point the heat gun at the neoprene speaker cone!

Custom Cooler Radio Construction - Part 5

Part 5 - Instrument  Panel

1. Draw out where each component will go including screws
2. Measure and cut out holes for 
1. Handle
2. Cup Charger/Meter
3. Stereo Head Unit
4. Switches
5. Lights
6. Screws
3. The long metal beam is being used to give the top panel addition  support from the weight of the components
4. The handle is nice for when i need to get access to the internal components, aka battery

Custom Cooler Radio Construction - Part 4

Part 4 - Antenna and Infrastructure

1. I used a small hole saw to cut the hole for the antenna
2. From the inside of the cooler use a large washer to tighten the antenna against
3. Added small wood blocks at the base of the cooler to prevent the battery from sliding back n forth when the cooler is being rolled
4. The divider partition is screwed into the block on the bottom of the cooler
5. The top panel is gets screwed into the top blocks

http://mycustomcoolerradio.blogspot.com

Custom Cooler Radio Construction - Part 3

Part 3 - Cut Partitions and Positioning

1. Cut the divider based off of your template
2. There is a small lip at the bottom of the cooler that can be a bit tricky to work with. Also, note that the dimensions of the cooler will not be perfect.
3. Again, I brought up the divider as high as possible to prevent as much cold air from escaping the beverage side of the build. Be sure to make sure the lid can close all the way.
4. Note the placement of the divider as it relates to the drain. There is next to no free space in my design which is takes a lot of planning to pull off, but it is worth it. 
5. In the last picture, we cut the space for the head unit to fit into  the top panel and use a file to make it a tight fit.