Another I just don't understand electricity question

[longbridgehealey]

I'm about to install a 12v power source in my Bugeye. Years ago I disconnected the AM radio and capped the hot wire. As I recall the radio always had power whether the ignition was on or off, so this wire must be constantly hot. If I use it as my positive connection on the adapter, will I be setting up a slow drain on the battery, or would that only apply if I was using the adapter with the ignition off?

Thanks,
Larry

 

[Keith_M]

Hi Larry,
Unless I'm misunderstanding what the adapter is, you should only drain the battery if you have something plugged into the adapter, and that thing is on.

 

[longbridgehealey]

Hi Keith, that's what I thought. It seems to be the easiest way to wire it in using the existing radio wiring. My original plan was to tie it in to the back of the cigarette lighter. I had totally forgotten about the old radio wiring tucked up there behind the dash.

 

[BillW103]

Are you + ground?

 

[longbridgehealey]

No, I converted to neg and installed an alternator last spring.

 

[longbridgehealey]

Ah man, sometimes I just don't think! Why can't I just run it into the back of the ignition switch where the cig lighter connects

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Here is he way I set Bugsy I up and I'll do the same thing for Bugsy II. You have a couple of terminals on the fuse box currently unused. One is switched when the ignition is on and the other is always hot. I added a Single Pole Double Throw(SPDT) Micro Switch that I got a Radio Shack that I mounted to the to the lower left hand dash support bracket by drilling a 1/4" hole in the bracket where it is totally unseen. Now this switch allow you to run the radio whether the engine is running or not. There are three posts/ pins on the SPDT Switch. Connect the power wire from the radio to the center post of the switch. Connect the other two wires to the switched and unswitched spare posts on the fuse box. Radio needs to be grounded. Use likely the black wire on the radio to connect the radio to ground. There may be a wire that needs to be connected to power all the time which is the radio keep alive switch to keep your channel buttons programmed on the radio. That is what drains power over time.


Now flipping the micro switch one way allows the radio to be turned on and off every time you put the key in the ignition. Working in the garage, parked with your favorite sweetie watching the sun set, turn off the engine and flip the micro switch the other way and voila power to the radio. As always, make sure there is a fuse going to the radio and I would use an inline fuse holder that goes to the always on hot circuit just in case.