Electrical Question

[FzCobra]

I'm trying to install an HD Radio. (Visteon HD Jump) The 12v adapter it comes with has two raw cable ends to hardwire it.
I've tapped into a +12 and a ground wire from under the glove box, and confirmed with a circuit tester that lights up red or green.
When I hook the HD radio up to these wires I get nothing, but when I hook it up to the 12v outlet\cigarette lighter using an old cut up cell phone charger, it works.
Is the positive & negative on cigarette lighter the same as a +12v and a chassis ground?

[smwalker]

What color is the wire you are hooking to that has 12 volt positive?

I think there was a orange wire that had something like 5-12 volts depending on how fast you were going or something. So if you are hooked to the orange one get off that one.

[FzCobra]

Thanks for the reply, Steve.

I had used the white\red stripe wire. I checked it with an actual volt meter and it showed 11.2v, so I changed it to the pink\blue wire which
showed 11.9 on the meter, and the HD radio now works.

[smwalker]

So those wires are from your auxiliary battery. I would be curious to know how many volts you are getting on those wires with the car running. Because 11.9 with the car off means your aux battery is about done. Although should check it at the battery terminals to be sure. Wondering if you battery isolator is not working and not charging your aux battery?

EDIT: No I am wrong the Pink Blue not from Auxillary system. Its from the main car system. That should be OK although it is ignition, meaning satellite radio will cut out when you turn off the car eventhough your radio will stay on due to the retained accessory relay.

[FzCobra]

My car only has 1 battery. Now that I think about it, the ignition had been on for a little while.
After I drive it, I'll check the voltage at the battery to be sure, the hot weather we've had kills battery life.

[smwalker]

Oh then I do not know what Red/White you were on, there is one from the auxiliary system, but with no battery I think it should be dead unless someone hooked up a jumper wire to make the accessory wires active. Being Toms old car I would not doubt it.

[FzCobra]

This was the Red/White wire I originally used, under the glove box.

[FzCobra]

Here is what I ended up doing, soldered a pin on and inserted it into the harness to tap the pink\blue.
The brown wire is to the wig-wag.