Cab radio without having the ignition on

[Maluisarot]

I wanted to be able to have music on at times other than when we're driving. I didn't want the hassle and weight (small I know but it all adds up) of an additional system in the back but I also didn't want the crude method of joining the radio ignition and permanent cables together for fear of waking up one morning to a flat battery.

Step in the 60p relay. I ran a cable from one of the spare aux ports on my CBE DS300 through to the dash, hiding it along side the other cables under the door trims and connected up the relay.

Now when I turn on power at the control board for the hab area the radio gets a 12v feed from the hab battery or ehu. As soon as I turn the key in the ignition, the relay engages and switches the supply to the original 12v feed from the vehicle battery. Ignition off, jumps straight back over to the hab supply.

No more flat starter battery worries, no loss of music.

 

[jezport]

I kept mine simple, wired it to the habitation battery via a switch with an led for the perm +ve and directly to the constant +ve, both via a fuse. also wired in a usb socket in the cab from the habitation battery at the same time so we can sit in the cab with the ignition off and have power points working.

 

[Coolcats]

I wanted to be able to have music on at times other than when we're driving. I didn't want the hassle and weight (small I know but it all adds up) of an additional system in the back but I also didn't want the crude method of joining the radio ignition and permanent cables together for fear of waking up one morning to a flat battery.

Step in the 60p relay. I ran a cable from one of the spare aux ports on my CBE DS300 through to the dash, hiding it along side the other cables under the door trims and connected up the relay.

Now when I turn on power at the control board for the hab area the radio gets a 12v feed from the hab battery or ehu. As soon as I turn the key in the ignition, the relay engages and switches the supply to the original 12v feed from the vehicle battery. Ignition off, jumps straight back over to the hab supply. View attachment 483151

No more flat starter battery worries, no loss of music.

Our Hymer’s Cab radio is linked to the leisure battery and the front and rear speakers so it works all the time, there is a switch on the dash to disconnect it whilst layed up so there is no power drain.

 

[Offagain]

We have a small, very light, Bluetooth speaker which we can pair with a smart phone or iPad to listen to radio, downloaded music, podcasts, audio books etc. No need for an extra system and it’s portable. The only down side is it needs charging occasionally.

 

[glenn2926]

We have a small, very light, Bluetooth speaker which we can pair with a smart phone or iPad to listen to radio, downloaded music, podcasts, audio books etc. No need for an extra system and it’s portable. The only down side is it needs charging occasionally.

We do the same. It seems to work for us.

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[IRHP]

I use a JBL tuner. Great sound, battery lasts ages and recharges from usb. Use it as a radio and also as a speaker for my tv, gives a much better sound. Not cheap but great quality. Amazon product ASIN B07B9NPZVX

 

[cmcardle75]

Rewired mine with main power to the leisure battery. Ignition switch line is on a switch between the cab ignition and the leisure 12V. This means any drainage comes off the leisure battery and I can manually turn on, or just leave it as ignition switched.

 

[Lenny HB]

Every time I fit a head unit I wire them to the hab battery via the distribution unit.

 

[WESTY66]

Every time I fit a head unit I wire them to the hab battery via the distribution unit.

Wish I could do stuff like that, I wouldn’t know where to start, it is a right pia having to have the ignition on to have the radio on Still haven’t got my phone working through mine, I’ve given up
Drop a valve on number three cylinder I’d have a crack at that, engine out, strip down, no problem

 

[Podney]

Wish I could do stuff like that, I wouldn’t know where to start, it is a right pia having to have the ignition on to have the radio on Still haven’t got my phone working through mine, I’ve given up
Drop a valve on number three cylinder I’d have a crack at that, engine out, strip down, no problem

Ditto! Well,truthfully,the last time I took an engine to bits it was a Morris minor in about 1971,but having had an old banger in bits it does teach you the basics.

For the radio,I’ve put some free apps on my iPad so I can listen to the radio without having the ignition on. It works via the tinternet apparently.......god only knows how!!!!!!!! Now I worry if I’m draining my internet “allowance” when linked to iPhone so the duchess has got me using an unlocked mifi thingy.

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[WESTY66]

Ditto! Well,truthfully,the last time I took an engine to bits it was a Morris minor in about 1971,but having had an old banger in bits it does teach you the basics.

For the radio,I’ve put some free apps on my iPad so I can listen to the radio without having the ignition on. It works via the tinternet apparently.......god only knows how!!!!!!!! Now I worry if I’m draining my internet “allowance” when linked to iPhone so the duchess has got me using an unlocked mifi thingy.

Likewise, bluetooth speaker with Greatest Hits Radio app on phone. Haven’t sussed out the avtex sound bar yet with phone! God I’m such a Luddite

 

[Richard n Ann]

Our radio goes off with ignition but you can switch it back on again and it stays on hours I think, never timed it. There's a setting somewhere on some radios you can set the time allowed on

 

[movan]

Our Hymer’s Cab radio is linked to the leisure battery and the front and rear speakers so it works all the time, there is a switch on the dash to disconnect it whilst layed up so there is no power drain.

Wish I understood electrics. I'd like to do that.

 

[Jasz]

Our 2016 Ducatto based van can be set to stay on for up to 3 hours on the radio settings.

 

[Coolcats]

Wish I understood electrics. I'd like to do that.

this is the switch on the dash that allows the radio to be on when the ignition is off.

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[steve69]

TBH....if you have the internet, just tune into the station of your choice on your phone/tablet/PC or whatever. I found that to be the easiest way.

 

[Maluisarot]

Might work for some but we go out in the van to get away from everyone and thankfully that usually means no mobile signal either

 

[Don Campbell]

Every time I fit a head unit I wire them to the hab battery via the distribution unit.

Lenny, if I wire the radio to the Hab batteries so I can use it when parked up without turning on the ignition, is the battery drain for memory retention so low that I can ignore it and not fit a ON/OFF switch. I do have 300w solar. We used to have a Winnebago View which had a CAB/HOUSE switch which was brilliant but that's apparently not used in Europe.

 

[Lenny HB]

Lenny, if I wire the radio to the Hab batteries so I can use it when parked up without turning on the ignition, is the battery drain for memory retention so low that I can ignore it and not fit a ON/OFF switch. I do have 300w solar. We used to have a Winnebago View which had a CAB/HOUSE switch which was brilliant but that's apparently not used in Europe.

The memory circuit draws only a few millamps so you wouldn't notice it.

There is a problem with a lot of the modern units is they don't turn off but go into standby some like the Pioneer's draw a few amps in standby.
I would measure it then decide if it need a switch in the main power feed.

 

[Don Campbell]

The memory circuit draws only a few millamps so you wouldn't notice it.

There is a problem with a lot of the modern units is they don't turn off but go into standby some like the Pioneer's draw a few amps in standby.
I would measure it then decide if it need a switch in the main power feed.

Thanks so much for that. After I posted the question I did find a loom incorporating a On/Off switch costing £25 from SCR Distribution, but even though my unit is a Pioneer I have never ever noticed any drain on the starting battery as the solar panel keeps it at 100% all the time. I probably wouldn't need it, but the switch might be "nice to have" making it more convenient to use.

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[Lenny HB]

Thanks so much for that. After I posted the question I did find a loom incorporating a On/Off switch costing £25 from SCR Distribution, but even though my unit is a Pioneer I have never ever noticed any drain on the starting battery as the solar panel keeps it at 100% all the time. I probably wouldn't need it, but the switch might be "nice to have" making it more convenient to use.

It 's a common problem on Carthago' s fitted with double DIN Pioneer units. They wire it to the starter battery via a switch on the control panel if you don't turn the switch off at night quite common to have a flat starter battery in the morning especially if there is no sun.
Pioneers appear to be the worst I don't have any problems with my Clarion it has a proper on/off switch.

 

[Don Campbell]

Thanks Lenny. If I had known that before it was fitted a few years ago I would have been more careful about the spec. It was so expensive I just assumed it would have an ON/OFF switch.

 

[L' Hobo]

Wish I could do stuff like that, I wouldn’t know where to start, it is a right pia having to have the ignition on to have the radio on Still haven’t got my phone working through mine, I’ve given up
Drop a valve on number three cylinder I’d have a crack at that, engine out, strip down, no problem

I'm the same. I work these days on the KISS theory so I've just got a, rechargeable battery, portable radio which I can use anywhere, even outside!

 

[steve69]

I just use my phone to get internet radio. Not the best sound quality, but it'll do.

 

[L' Hobo]

I'm the same. I work these days on the KISS theory so I've just got one, using rechargeable batteries, portable radio which I can use anywhere, even outside!

I should have added, that it can be plugged into the mains when on EHU. (Note: it uses rechargeable (or normal) batteries) brilliant stereo!

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[SpeedyDux]

My Rapido Van has a switch on the dash so that the Pioneer radio can be powered by the hab battery when the engine isn't running.

It's a cheap and obvious feature for MH converters to include as standard. It must cost a lot more to provide speakers in the bed area.

Next time you visit the NEC, ask the manufacturer's marketing person why this switch isn't a standard feature on their humungously expensive new models.

 

[acropolis22]

I kept mine simple, wired it to the habitation battery via a switch with an led for the perm +ve and directly to the constant +ve, both via a fuse. also wired in a usb socket in the cab from the habitation battery at the same time so we can sit in the cab with the ignition off and have power points working.

Ditto, works a charm.

 

[Tricky One]

The previous Owner/s have been at the wiring as I can only use the Radio when driving if I press the 'on' button on the Power Board and that of course includes the reversing camera. So, I assume wired to the Leisure Batteries.

 

[Tombola]

My Rapido Van has a switch on the dash so that the Pioneer radio can be powered by the hab battery when the engine isn't running.

It's a cheap and obvious feature for MH converters to include as standard. It must cost a lot more to provide speakers in the bed area.

Next time you visit the NEC, ask the manufacturer's marketing person why this switch isn't a standard feature on their humungously expensive new models.

Same on my rapido..cheap little black switch to the right of the unit tells it not to use leisure. Brilliant speakers and sound throughout the van though.

 

[Don Campbell]

Just had a local auto electrical expert wire in a loom with a switch that allows me run the radio off the house batteries with the ignition off. Nice tidy quick job.
He asked me who had fitted the radio and then showed me how badly it had been done with so much excess wiring behind the radio frame and the radio that they were not properly located and simply pulled out together. Why is that not standard on a leisure vehicle that a dealer is retrofitting a radio/GPS/back up monitor to?

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