I have found the two power cables to my radio, both are two core cables. I understand one set is for radio channel memory and settings and one for powering the radio/cd. Looks like speaker cables have been used. They were removed from the leisure battery to stop the lights on the radio draining it when I bought it. I do not know which cables go to which terminals on the leisure battery and would like to know if I can work it out with a voltmeter? Do I just try both or will I damage the radio? I have bought a switch so I can leave the cables attached, I think i can wire the switch to just the positive cable for on off control? There is a two connection fuse box coming of the leisure battery that I will need to replace with one with more connections for my overall plan. I don't have the tool needed to remove the radio to look at the back and crawling under it in position has not allowed me to see enough after removing some of the "hot" air stuff
Not going to attempt a wiring job to switch it between the main and leisure battery just yet and as i am electrics noobie as you have worked out!
I have managed to get my main sockets working for external hook up. The fuses had blown and on the old continental input on the van I had to remove it and find them under some waterproof screw off tubes on the rear of the input
You will probably pop a fuse if one has been fitted that is. My advice, go and buy a meter as it will not be the last time you will need it during camper ownership inc checking if you have knackered batteries which we all have to do from time to time. £20 will get you a half decent one for what you want.
I have a meter but little know how on what to do with it! How would I identify the positive and negative cables. I am sure this is a very basic question but i did not understand electrics when at school but now have the motivation to try and work it out. A basic book is needed but right now a few hints to get my radio working would be great.
Set the meter to read 20v DC, or something similar. Connect the black lead of the meter to an earth point. (any bare metal part of the chassis, dash, bolt etc will do.) Connect the red lead from the meter to the wire you want to test. You should get a reading of +12v Ish. If you don't get a reading check the black lead is making a good connection to earth. If you still can't get a reading the chance are the red lead isn't connected to a 12v feed. You can do the same test just using a 12v bulb and a couple of bits of wire, or a Poundland test screwdriver.
2ltr Aircooled CU with twin Solex's & originally a 009 dizzie, but now back to standard.
Thank you. So that will ID the positive on the battery? How do ID the positive on the radio please? Or will the bat in the meter give me necessary to test the cables going to the radio? Confused! You say the red lead is not connected to a 12v feed if the reading is zero....but I know the radio is disconnected as the cables are removed from the bat at present.
Yellow and red on the stereo will be +ve. one is perm +ve and one is on the key. Wont hurt if you get em backwards but you will loose your presets. If you are going to disconnect the battery all the time anyway then connect both to the perm live from battery. You wont have to have the ignition on then to listen to it.
