12v power/ Aeriel recepetion?

joel88 · Post by **joel88** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 2:22 pm

Hi, so heres the thing. I bought an ipod RoadTrip what plugs into the 12v cigarette lighter socket to power it.
The thing is, it stays powered on (got an led screen) after i have taken the key out of the car.
It's not the sort of thing i want to keep plugging in and taking out everytime i use it and i can't leave it plugged in if it's draining my power can i?! Any ideas?

Petrol_Head · Post by **Petrol_Head** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 3:52 pm

If you any good at wiring???

I would suggest wiring up to your 12V supply for your radio thats connected with the key in the ignition.

On my car its simple to see which wire it is as they are all labeled.

If your the daring type, you could axe off the cigarete adapter on your ipod road trip and wire the wires into the back of your head unit.

joel88 · Post by **joel88** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 4:13 pm

Hmm, daring indeed eh!

Does it draw constant power then through the 12v? I read somewhere it possibly switches off after a certain time (something i haven't tried), but i guessed this is a modern car feature?? Seems weird the 12v would continue to draw power none stop?!

pip_polo · Post by **pip_polo** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 5:09 pm

i've had my ipod plugged into the 12v socket for nearly a year, never took it out. i doubt it will pull enough power to drain the battery. the ipod on the otherhand.. mine lasts for about half an hour from full charge if it's not plugged in now

Petrol_Head · Post by **Petrol_Head** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 6:28 pm

If you wire it, into the correct wire in the head unit, it wont be constant power unless the car is turned on.

Its what I did to wire in my fog lights that have a separate L.e.d Halo,

It needed a 12 V power supply and now works every time I turn the car on!

jaycee · Post by **jaycee** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 11:05 pm

as you may need the high amp supply from the cigarette socket at some point or other then i would fit a 30 amp relay before the point then drop a switched feed from the head unit to power the relay that way you will get full amps to the aux point with no current draw down a smallish wire !

joel88 · Post by **joel88** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 10:09 am

Say whaaaaaaaat?! Lol. Man, it sounds all a bit complicated for me!
I think i might just unplug it when unused!
But this does bring me onto my next problem:

The recpetion through the RoadTrip is quite poor, yet in my girlfrinds Yaris it's awesome, also i can't get MW/AM on my radio at all. Never have been able to since i switched the OEM sony head unit for a kenwood one.
Reading on the net, i sounds like i need to buy an PC5-90 adapter, like this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PC5-90-Volkswagen ... 240%3A1318

Will that help me?

jaycee · Post by **jaycee** » Sat Nov 22, 2008 11:33 pm

yeh i would say give it a go you got nowt to loose but it should make things better ... jamie

Q86ARR · Post by **Q86ARR** » Sun Nov 23, 2008 7:45 pm

An amplifier will help. The standard headunit has a built in booster so it is advised to fit a booster when changing headunits.