Day three at the Pit was one of the most technical yet, and the main topics were relays, relays, audio theory, and relays. Relays are the bread-n-butter of the security and remote start realm, and they also come in pretty handy for custom work, so the heavy focus was pretty important. Audio theory establishes a basic understanding for how the world of audio and sound works, and how different components interact. This is one of the most important days at the Pit, as it establishes the basics that separates the pros from the amateurs. But of course, the guys at the Pit live and breathe this stuff, so after a day in the shop with Brian and Andy—and a little hands-on instruction with "the box"—everyone in the class had learned a lot.

Day two started the "down-and-dirty" portion of the MECP Snake Pit experience. With Ohm’s Law successfully conquered, it was time to put our newfound knowledge to the test. After a bit of white-board instruction and with our trusty digital multimeters in hand, we began the journey into resistors, diodes, caps, and inductors. The Snake Pit built some cool training boxes which give a hands-on approach to the electrical component world, so it was fairly easy to master once we got started. Check out some more photos from day two here, and stay tuned for tomorrow’s installment, where we’ll tackle relays and basic audio theory. Let the good times roll!

My first day of class at the Snake Pit is over, and I have to say, it was pretty interesting and eventful. I learned a few things about resistors, diodes, and potentiometers, and got a solid review on Ohm’s Law. Plus, we took a field trip to Syndicate Custom Automotive to check out how a successful professional shop is run. For a boatload of pics and to get all the details on day one, hop over to the Snake Pit group forum.

During my decade in the mobile electronics industry, I’ve spent time as an installer, sales person, store manager, and industry rep. But one thing I’ve always regretted is not earning my MECP certification. In case you don’t know, MECP certification is to mobile electronics what ASE certification is to automotive mechanics. It makes sure your installer understands basic electrical concepts, proper installation know-how, and a familiarity with a variety of mobile electronic components. It also establishes a skill level standard so consumers know they’re receiving excellent service. Basically, MECP techs are the best of the best.

So that’s why I felt it was time to pick up my certification. Hey, better late than never! So where did I choose to go for my expert training? Directed’s Snake Pit! The instructors there are long-time industry pros and provide some of the best hands-on training in the business, so after I dropped off our wrecked SEMA demo car, I stuck around for a week of classes. I signed up for SP102: Introduction to Electronics, MECP Preparation and Exam, and while I already knew quite a bit of the content we covered, I really feel it’s important to have at least the basic MECP certification under my belt. Want to know what it takes to turn your hobby into a career? Then stay tuned to the blog! I’ll be posting about my experience all week! 

In less than ten days, the entire editorial team will be in Las Vegas, running around like maniacs and providing the coolest coverage of SEMA, the year’s coolest event. But while we’re in Sin City, hopefully the guys from the Snake Pit will be getting some much needed rest. They’ve been super busy getting our xD project ready for the big show, and none of us here can wait to see the finished product. And while there’s obviously a couple of things missing from this photo, you can get a good look at the TSW wheels and Toyo rubber you guys voted for. Maybe it’s just me, but I think this set-up looks a little better than the stock one. After we get to Vegas, we’ll get a ton of pictures posted, but you can stay up to date with the progress by checking out our Scion’s ride page!      

Everyone at CarDomain is getting psyched to go to SEMA, and we’re even more psyched to see—in person—what the guys from the Snake Pit have done to our little Scion. We’ve been stoked about the progress so far, and with all the late hours this team has been putting in, we’re prepared to be blown away. Of course, in the car show world, keeping the final product under wraps is a time-honored tradition, so the guys have been reluctant to post anything that’ll spoil the surprise. Don’t worry, as soon as we get some more info, we’ll let you know. Oh, and thanks for all the hard work guys!

We delivered our brand new Scion XD to the DEI Snake Pit last week and they have already started tearing into it.  Check out the pictures on the Scion XD Build Page to watch the progress of the guys at DEI turning our XD into an outrageous show-stopper.

Voting for the second phase of the Scion XD Build is underway.  Whether you like sound quality, heavy bass, or a balance of the two, the DEI Snake Pit is going to turn our xD into a car audio MONSTER. PPI, Polk and Orion are in the running for our custom install so vote for your favorite now.