Holly Hill, FL – November 5, 2024 – Install Bay® by Metra Electronics® will display new additions to its comprehensive collection of professional installation products at SEMA, November 5th to 8th at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Visitors can see these new products in Metra's main booth, #10439, in the North Hall and at its off-roading and powersports booth, #24743, in the Central Hall. The brand will debut a new 120 series SB® connector kit, flush mount USB type-C charging socket, a level controller with voltmeter, extension cables, cable management clamp sets, window tint installation tools, and more.

120 Series SB® Connector Kit

The SB120-G is a gray connector housing kit, ideal for use on battery or charger applications, that provides a quick disconnect for power distribution systems. It is designed using reliable SB® flat-wiping

contact technology so that the contacts wipe or slide against each other during connection and disconnection, minimizing the build-up of any non-conductive deposits on the contacts themselves. The mated housings are color-matched for easy identification of plug and receptacle connectors.

Flush Mount USB Type-C Charging Socket

The IBR142 socket provides fast charging for smartphones, tablets, and other devices with a Type-C port. The PD3.0 power supply standard ensures a faster battery charge than traditional USB chargers and prevents devices from draining while in use. It can be installed by mounting it within a port in the vehicle's dash or center console or mounting it to the dash surface with the supplied flush-mount bracket. This socket features weather-resistant components, including a protective cover and a pre-wired mini-ATC fuse holder, making it an ideal solution for marine applications.

Level Controller with Voltmeter

The IBR143 is a level controller with a built-in voltmeter that prevents damage to a vehicle's audio equipment. It combines a power switch, bass knob, and voltmeter, making it easy to adjust the bass level and consistently monitor amplifier voltage to avoid drops or spikes. This unit offers remote gain control, a rotary pushable ON/OFF switch, and a digital voltmeter display.

Flush Mount USB 4.0 Type-C Extension Cables

Available in 1-meter (IBR144) or 1-foot (IBR145) lengths, Install Bay's new USB 4.0 Type-C extension cables can be installed by feeding through a port in the dash or by mounting beneath the dash with the supplied flush-mount bracket to easily connect USB-C devices. USB 4.0 is the latest specification of USB, offering data transfer speeds up to 40Gbps to ensure reliable CarPlay® and Android™ audio performance.

100-Piece Modular Cable Management Clamp Sets

The Install Bay has two new modular cable management clamp sets in 8GA to 4GA (IBCTKIT75) or 4GA to 1/0GA (IBCTKIT100). These cable clamp sets make it easy for installers to secure and organize wiring for show-quality audio installations. The included cable clamps feature a unique dovetail click-lock design that attaches single or bundled wires to surfaces and allows multiple clamps to be assembled in creative configurations, keeping wires evenly spaced in straight runs or around corners.

Window Tint, PPF, Vinyl, and Film Installation Tools

New hard cards and specialized scrubbing tools for tint and film installers will be at SEMA. The cherry suede blade tool (GT2097-4) and lemon suede blade tool (GT2096-4) are multipurpose card-shaped installation tools with both hard and soft edges. They each offer their own level of flexibility and contour to surfaces to smooth bumps and bubbles from materials. The GT2003PLT is a platinum easy-reach hard card designed to reach difficult corners. The tint installer's scrubber tool, the GT209, has a 15-inch handle that extends its scrub pad, allowing installers to scrub the lower windshield and other hard-to-reach areas. The scrub-it blue pad (GT2120B) is an ergonomic scrubbing tool that attaches to an installer's hand with an included hook-and-loop style strap for easier scrubbing of stubborn glue and contaminants.

The Install Bay's new products also include UV-stable interior protection tape, bulk roll black speaker acoustic grille cloth ideal for custom fabrication and speaker grille repair, and more. Additional product information is available at theInstallBay.com.

About Metra Electronics®

At Metra, 12volt installation and integration is our passion. We strive to continuously offer the highest quality products to meet the fluctuating technological challenges of the automotive world. We actively listen to our customers’ requests and invest resources in developing the highest quality dash kit and harness solutions. We make dash kits for more vehicle applications than anyone else in the world. That’s why we’ve been known as “The Installer’s Choice” ® for 75+ years. Our other brands include: Axxess®, T-SPEC®, The Install Bay®, Heise LED Lighting Systems®, iBEAM Vehicle Safety Systems®, Shuriken High Performance Batteries®, Raptor®, Ballistic®, AmmoTenna®, Metra PowerSports®, Saddle Tramp®, Metra Marine®, Daytona Lights®, and Tsunami®. For ordering information and pricing, visit Metra Electronics online at MetraOnline.com or call 386-257-2956.

Better Than Yesterday

To break out of a stalling career mindset six years ago, Matt Schaeffer made the conscious choice to challenge himself every day. Today, he stands atop the 12-volt industry as Installer of the Year.  

Words by Ted Goslin
Photos by Tim Causa

Not everyone knows what they want to be when they grow up. Some wander the world in search of a dream job with no particular focus, hoping that some mystical force will guide them into their ideal life. But it doesn’t work that way. Some people never find their calling and wind up taking whatever career path is most convenient. And then there’s Matt Schaeffer.

At the age of 11, Schaeffer received his first four-wheeler and fell in love. Cars became a passion off the bat for the future installer, who learned quickly what his favorite hobby and future career would become.
“I became obsessed with building it, customizing it, making it my own. I even got into making panels and customizing my four-wheeler,” Schaeffer said. “Then when I was in high school I got an Eclipse GSX. Using the mentality I had with my four-wheeler, I customized the GSX with panels, fabricating and installing.”

It was during this time period in the early 2000s that master fabricators like Dave “Fishman” Rivera, Steve Brown and Chris Yato were making the rounds in various magazines, showing off their work to a new generation of 12-volt enthusiasts. The build articles featured things like how to build fiberglass panels, Schaeffer recalled. “I would reverse engineer my parts from those articles to figure out what I wanted to build,” Schaeffer said. “For me, I fell in love with building, making things my own. I built my Eclipse to be a show car on the East Coast. It won Best in Show at the Funk Master Flex show in Daytona. It showed the artistic place where my passion lies and I knew that’s where I wanted to take my career.”

After high school, Schaeffer sought out a school to learn his craft. But instead of heading straight for 12-volt, he started with the basics at the Universal Technical Institute (UTI) in Orlando, Fla., where he received an education in automotive repair. “I learned transmissions, suspension, all the things I wasn’t versed in. As I’m installing something in a car, I’d want to be more versatile and be able to diagnose problems in a car,” Schaeffer said. “I had a lot of fun there and use a lot of what I learned now with wheels, tires, lift kits and performance upgrades. It’s something I hold dear to my heart that’s a nice change of pace from doing custom installs and head units. In my opinion, Universal Technical Institute would be the college for our industry.”

Upon graduating in 2006, Schaeffer attended the Installer Institute, which lasted about two weeks. He then went to a week-long training with his idol, Dave “Fishman” Rivera, called “Fish Camp.” The camp opened his eyes to what is possible with fabrication.
“That was the first time I realized how easy it could be. Fish made it look so easy and effortless,” Schaeffer recalled. “Seeing him layer different pieces together, this piece into that piece, I never realized how easy it could be. I just looked at it and thought, ‘so that is how they do it.’”

Click here for the full article.

The Magic of Carbon Fiber

Expert installation technician Matt Schaeffer reveals how carbon fiber can change the game for even the most challenging of fabrication jobs.

Foreword by Joey Knapp

Words by Matt Schaeffer

I hope you liked our series on building a false floor. I think Bing did an excellent job breaking down the process of installing equipment into a spare tire well. For the right client, that is an excellent location to fit audio gear, and still keep the functionality of the trunk/hatch space.

In this article, we are going to be taking a look into using carbon fiber in our installations. Admittedly, I don’t know too much about carbon fiber. I recently completed an installation in which I had to machine and clear coat some carbon fiber pieces. I kind of cheated, though, and used pre-made sheets of carbon fiber. We are going to learn how to make pieces using real carbon fiber cloth.

When I decided this needed to be the next topic for an article, two people came to mind as guest authors. The first was Junior Ngim of Sound Innovations in Union City, Calif. I have always followed Junior’s work on Facebook, and was fortunate to meet him during a visit his shop a number of times when I lived in California. Junior makes a number of carbon fiber accessories for cars, and does a great job integrating carbon fiber in his installations. The second person I thought of—and the guest author of this article—is Matt Schaeffer. Like I do with Junior, I have followed Matt’s work on Facebook and Instagram for quite some time. Matt does incredible work. In addition, he makes some really great videos highlighting his work and techniques. He has one such video on laying carbon fiber. To provide insight on the subject, Matt agreed to share his steps for creating and finishing pieces in carbon fiber. Let’s see what he has to say. Click here for the full article.