Diodes & Resistors

Diodes and resistors for vehicle installs

Two of the cheapest parts in the van, and two of the most useful. Between them they solve a large share of the wiring problems that come up on remote starter, alarm and car audio jobs.

What a diode does

A diode allows current in one direction and blocks it in the other. In a vehicle that means isolating circuits from each other, so a signal you send to one place doesn't backfeed somewhere it shouldn't. Common uses are door trigger isolation where several doors share a wire, ignition kill circuits, starter and door lock wiring, and anywhere two sources need to feed the same point without talking to each other.

Pick the amperage to suit the load. We stock 1 amp, 3 amp and 6 amp, sold in 10 packs, because you rarely need just one.

What a resistor does

A resistor drops voltage and limits current. In this trade the usual job is matching a specific resistance value the vehicle expects to see, for example on older GM VATS and Passlock systems, or on door lock and sensor circuits that read resistance rather than a simple on-off signal.

The catch is that the value has to be exact, and you rarely know which one you need until the vehicle is in front of you. That's why we sell single values in 10 packs, and also a full assortment kit with 25 values and 500 pieces in a storage case. If you install regularly, buy the kit once and stop guessing.

Not sure what value you need?

Call us on 647-439-4485. See also our relays and relay harnesses and the rest of our remote starter accessories.