Electrics question

[sinlessgunner]

This isn't specifically an FTO question but a question that you could apply to all cars. Other than the lights of a car, is there any other power supply in a car that runs off its own power supply that can be activated when the car is turned off?

I need something that has a constant supply but that will turn on & off with the ignition.....

Otherwise, how hard is it to wire a switch that has the same effect as this either?

[sinlessgunner]

Will this not mean I have to disconnect my battery everytime I want to cut the supply?

And what is an in-line fuse? Sorry I'm a bit of a car noob!!

[colm_mcm]

the stereo gets both a permanent live from the battery, and a live from when the ignition is turned on. the clock gets a permanent live too.
the permanent live on the radio is to store the preset stations etc.

[steelroe]

Supply will depend on what oyu want to run off it.

[sinlessgunner]

Its hard to explain......because it's not really for an FTO.

Basically the van needs a constant supply or it dies. I bypassed the immoblilser and it now runs off the lights but I want to sell it now and its not really ideal for selling when you tell people they have to keep the parking lights on to start and keep the car moving....

CJ you might actually move this to the "Other Cars" forum?

[kevinod]

Done!

Sounds dodgy, why does the van need a constant supply?

[sinlessgunner]

See theres 3 wires going to the throttle. 2 of them are for the immoblilser and the other is to start it and keep it going. The immobiliser was bypassed in September and the power stopped going through the single wire in January. The car needs a constant supply to the throttle or it dies. The lights provide this power. It's not dodgy it's fine except for nobody is going to buy a van powered by the lights.

If i can get it wired up so a switch or even better, the ignition, supplies this power, it'll be much better

[colm_mcm]

you need your power supply coming from the ignition live. so something like the cig lighter supply should do provided the load isn't too heavy. unusual that the electrician wired it through the lights though. you could use this "feature" as a selling point!

[sinlessgunner]

Somehow I can't imagine it being a desireable feature to most people!

Yeah the ignition live would be perfect but I wonder would that overload the cig lighter? Maybe theres another live I could run it off....

The stereo sounds like a good option. Like the van is mint other than that and I'm letting it go for a grand so I reckon this guy is getting a good deal anyway!

[colm_mcm]

Best thing to do would be to go back to an auto electrician.

[sinlessgunner]

Who needs an auto electrician when I'm on the job!!

6.30 this evening, went out and said I'd take a stab at the thing. After half an hour of searching, cursing and dead ends I managed to run a wire from the throttle, round the engine bay (well hidden) and up into the ignition barrell. I found the constant live and viola, at 7.45 the car was finally running off the ignition again and not the lights!

Now I hope this lad decides he wants it on Saturday! If not theres a Megane van for sale and I'm letting it go for a grand if anyone is interested!