Another Diagram

[DMDrew812]

Yeah.. I wanted to use MSPaint again. Heres my idea
I wanted to power my stereo without having to put the key in the ignition. Dont ask me why, I've yet to figure out. But here was my plan for doing so.

I.. dont know if I can interpret this easily, but its a Single Pole, Double Throw switch, attaching to the head unit's "Ignition" input line from two points on opposite "circuits." One of the circuits (Route 1) is attached to the stock ignition cable coming from the car, yeilding the normal circuit that turns the head unit on along with the car (or when the key is on "ACC")
The other circuit (Route 2) is attached directly to the battery, so when that side of the switch is "thrown," then the head unit turns on, reguardless of what the key is doing.
I've had this switch lying around for almost a year now, and I just want to do something with it already!
Also, random idea if this dual powering mode thing doesnt work, can I attach some LEDs inline with the "Ignition" cable, or the "remote" cable coming out of the HU? would that work or would it drain too much power and keep things from turning on?

[klaymen333]

you are trying to kill an ant with a cannon

hook the head unit up to the constant power or run a wire to the battery
and im pretty sure you can just hook the ignition wire to the constant as well
then you can turn your radio on whenever you want

im not positive on this
but i know you dont have to run a bunch of switches
you just have to hook the wire that usually hooks to the igniton
to a constant power source

nice picture tho....

[DMDrew812]

so I can strap the "ignition" to the positive post and be kosher?
(my HU has a fuse on it, btw, so maybe doing this and bypassing the cars "stereo" fuse may not kill it)
Oh, and I suppose I should cap the end of the "ignition" lead that comes from the car (and is left unused) so it doesnt short.. or maybe use THAT for my LEDs... hmm

[klaymen333]

i think you know the answer to the dangling wire question...you never want wires dangling half exposed...
and you shouldnt kill the head either way...it gets 12volts one way or the other


in its current setup it only gets 12volts when the car is on
with it on constant power it gets 12volts whenever you hit the power button on the radio

putting your led's on your ignition wire isnt a bad idea but be sure to put an inline switch on it before you run the wire to wherever its going

you never know when you might need to turn them off

and might as well put a switch...the wire is already near the driver seat

[McTimson]

Connect the HU's +12V and ACC wires to the car's +12V wire, they can both splice into the single wire with no problems, I have mine wired that way just because I couldn't get the car's ACC line to work...you have to turn the HU on and off manually, but it doesn't bother me that much.