Continuous live when ignition off?

Post by **Pushki** » Mon Apr 08, 2013 5:04 pm

I'm useless at electrics!!!

Can anyone tell me if there is a continuous (+) and (-) in the 4G?
Either at the ignition or stereo or elsewhere. I will need the wire colours too please.

I've looked in the manual but as I said, I'm useless at electrics.

Post by **indigolemon** » Mon Apr 08, 2013 5:53 pm

Chunky white wire in the loom to the ignition barrel is permanent +, - is any metal point in the car of your choice!

Post by **Pushki** » Mon Apr 08, 2013 5:59 pm

Awesome, thank you Indigo.

Is there a permanent live to the stereo? This would be most convenient to me.
I'll dig out my stereo manual when I get a chance.

Post by **indigolemon** » Mon Apr 08, 2013 6:18 pm

Yes there is another permanent live from the fusebox to the clock and stereo - it allows the clock to keep it's time and the stereo to remember things like radio stations and the place you were at on a CD etc.

Can't remember the wire colour for that one though, sorry! Do you have an aftermarket stereo fitted? If so what make is it? The backup power is usually orange on the stereo to car cables.

judderod · Post by **judderod** » Mon Apr 08, 2013 6:24 pm

Have you got a multimeter puski? If so just set it to DC and connect the black probe to the chassis like a bolt or nut head, and touch the red probe on the stereo connector pins until you get about 12v.

Don't pull more than a couple of amps off that wire tho, it isn't supposed to handle much juice.

Post by **Pushki** » Mon Apr 08, 2013 6:26 pm

My stereo is a Pioneer. I had to attach a harness to convert from JDM to Pioneer.
I've had a quick look through my stereo's manual, and there's no wiring guide that I could see.

Thanks anyway Indigo. Once I pull it all out it may become clearer.

No judder, I don't have a multimeter. I'll only be running a single LED from it.

Post by **Pushki** » Wed Apr 10, 2013 4:31 pm

UPDATE: Require help!!!

I've wired a switched LED into the stereo's constant + and -
I now keep blowing the 10a clock/radio fuse.

HELP!!

Can I just fit a higher rated fuse in there or is there a bigger underlying problem?

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Wed Apr 10, 2013 4:39 pm

LED's draw bugger all current, so it should have made no noticeable difference to the circuit load, so fitting a higher rated fuse is a bad idea/wouldn't solve it.

The problem is that an LED has bugger-all resistance (unlike a filament bulb) so in effect when you switch it on, you're creating a dead short between the permanent live and ground. You'll need to add some resistance into that part of the circuit. You could do that by buying a resistor from Maplins and putting it in series after the LED.

Post by **Pushki** » Wed Apr 10, 2013 4:47 pm

Thanks for the reply Wurly.

I really wouldn't know where to start when looking for a suitable resistor.
Would you kindly link me one on ebay please.

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Wed Apr 10, 2013 4:52 pm

'fraid I'm right on this one newkid

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LED_circuit