Club 80-90 Forums

I thought I'd post here to see what ingenious ways people have found to power their van radios, given that they're likely often used while the ignition is off.

This evening I've fitted a replacement radio. Like most current units it takes two live feeds - one permanent live (to maintain preset memories and settings) and one ignition controlled live (to control main power). I started by connecting both of these wires to a permanent live so that I can continue to use the radio while parked up without having to have the ignition on. But when I remove the fascia plate it leaves a couple of lights showing, which rather draws attention to the radio during darkness hours, and also it seems like an unnecessary drain on the battery while the van is off the road for long periods between outings.

So I'm thinking of using a switch somewhere instead of that ignition controlled live, so that the preset memories are retained by the permanent live and the main power is controlled by the switch and not the ignition (I hope it's not the permanent live that's powering these lights - I suppose I'd better check). I may use the currently vacant HRW switch slot on my dash for a radio power switch, but I'm wondering if anyone has any clever suggestions for how to provide the main power automatically while I'm parked up, independent of the ignition.

Do you have a leisure battery fitted ? If so then wire the radio to that circuit. Thats what most people do. No risk of flat starter batt this way.

I'd exect the flashing "security" light would be powered off the permenent live.

RobH wrote:I'd exect the flashing "security" light would be powered off the permenent live.

Yes, I think you're probably right, no point in it only being powered when the face plate is on. Oh well. So hooking up to the leisure battery, via a soon-to-be-fitted LVD, seems like the best option, with maybe a bit of electrical tape over the security light. It means I'll lose the radio presets and the audio settings whenever the LVD disconnects the leisure battery, but I can live with that. And it means I can do without a separate on-off switch in the ignition-controlled live wire - I'll just hook both live wires to the leisure battery and use the radio's power button.

Thanks folks.
Chris

If you intend using the van fairly regularly, say at least once a week, you can leave the "memory" wire (usually yellow) on the main battery, that way you keep the time and station pre-sets. Some radios do have a bit of a high drain on that yellow wire, do you have a meter to measure current. Anything less than 100 milliAmps will present no problem as long as the main battery is in good nick, and as said, you use the van.

ghost123uk wrote:If you intend using the van fairly regularly, say at least once a week, you can leave the "memory" wire (usually yellow) on the main battery, that way you keep the time and station pre-sets. Some radios do have a bit of a high drain on that yellow wire, do you have a meter to measure current. Anything less than 100 milliAmps will present no problem as long as the main battery is in good nick, and as said, you use the van.

Thanks John

Yes, I do have a meter, so I'll see what it tells me. No idea yet how often I'll be using the van - it's still quite a new purchase, and I'm not even sure where I'm going to keep it over the winter! I've had various 'occasional use' vehicles over the years, and the thing that bugs me about storing them is that either the battery or one of the tyres will inevitably be flat when I come to use them. I'm minded to keep the memory wire on the leisure battery now that I've thought about it a bit more. Resetting the radio is a lot less hassle than jump starting the van!

Chris

CJH wrote: I'm minded to keep the memory wire on the leisure battery now that I've thought about it a bit more. Resetting the radio is a lot less hassle than jump starting the van!

That is true !

By the way, do remember that a battery is usually knackered to a large extent if it is allowed to go "flat". Best to take it off if you intend not using the van over winter (which is never a good idea of course and keep it in the house, charging it once a month.

I use an A4 sized solar panel with a float charge controller. This more than keeps up with all the parasitic drains from the radio and all the electronic gubbins etc. even in the winter. By setting the voltage at exactly 13.7 volts, it initially charges fast, but tapers off to nothing automatically when the battery is full. Van is always ready to go. When it's not connected to the van, it's doing the mower or the truck. The system pays for itself by making batteries last years longer.

[E D I T]Oh, and because the battery is in the engine compartment, I charge it through the lighter socket[/E D I T]

I wired my radio to a spare switch on my zig unit, both the permanent live and the normal live. My zig has a three way switch that allows me to select whether the internal electrics are running either from the leisure or starter battery, with the middle position isolating the zig(OFF) I use the off position when the van is not to be used for a while and have found that the radio remembers all the presets even when turned off for weeks at a time.

I agree that it is easier to reprogram a radio than jump starting a van

Also an intelligent charger could be a sound investment if the van is garaged/hooked up at home. (that's one of my projects for this winter)

Posted this a good while ago works great!

https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/VW ... _batteries

jamesc76 wrote:Posted this a good while ago works great!

https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/VW ... _batteries

James

That's a neat solution - exactly the sort of ingenious approach I was hoping for!

I haven't measured the current on the 'memory' feed yet, but I'm tempted to hook it to the leisure battery so there's no risk it'll flatten the main battery. I should test this on my specific radio, but In your experience, will a radio function without this memory feed? I'm thinking that your arrangement will allow the radio to work while I'm driving, even if I remove the leisure battery during the winter. If the memory feed is attached to the leisure battery though, this arrangement would only work if the memory feed isn't required for the radio to function (without memory, of course).

Chris

nevill3 wrote:Also an intelligent charger could be a sound investment if the van is garaged/hooked up at home. (that's one of my projects for this winter)

Thanks Nev - yes, I think some form of trickle charging might be a good idea - I have one in another vehicle that's stored in my garage. Once I figure out where I'm going to store the van then I can choose between a mains version or a solar version.

colinthefox wrote:I use an A4 sized solar panel with a float charge controller. This more than keeps up with all the parasitic drains from the radio and all the electronic gubbins etc. even in the winter. By setting the voltage at exactly 13.7 volts, it initially charges fast, but tapers off to nothing automatically when the battery is full. Van is always ready to go. When it's not connected to the van, it's doing the mower or the truck. The system pays for itself by making batteries last years longer.

[E D I T]Oh, and because the battery is in the engine compartment, I charge it through the lighter socket[/E D I T]

Colin

I have a cheap A4-ish panel with a lighter plug on the end. I don't know how the voltage works though - I think it just puts out a few volts in low light, and more in better light. Is your float charge controller part of your panel, or is it a separate unit?

You don't need a charge controller for such a small panel. You could leave that one on in full sun 24/7 and it cannot over charge a car sized battery.

the memory on mine is taken from the main battery, this set up alows the radio to work on both and auto switches to the les. battery once the ignition is switched off

jamesc76 wrote:the memory on mine is taken from the main battery, this set up alows the radio to work on both and auto switches to the les. battery once the ignition is switched off

Yeah, sorry, I got that - I was just wondering if you've ever tried your radio without the memory feed. I'll do a quick test on mine myself.