[Zonker]

I sometimes have a need to power accessories only when the radio is on, only while retained accessory power is on, or on at all times. In my truck, I have an always on lighter socket in the ashtray, an accessory outlet I've configured to only be on when with RAP, and a third outlet controlled by the radio's power antenna pin. I want a similar arrangement in the Solstice but without adding additional sockets. My plan is to cut the 12V supply to the existing socket and add a 3-position switch and a relay:

The switch position will allow only one power source to activate the relay which will close the original 12V path to the accessory outlet. The question is, before I rip apart the dash, do these radios have a pin that's on only when the radio is on? The radio in my truck has a pin that controls a power antenna. It's high as long as the radio is on. The truck doesn't have a power antenna, but the radio is also used on other vehicles that do. I don't need a lead; I can deal with that. I just need to know if there is a pin on the power connector that provides 12V only while the radio is on.


For anyone who's interested, the reason for this is to turn off certain accessories when the radio is turned off. I listen to audio books in MP3 files and I have a plug in FM transmitter that plays the files through the radio. The trouble is that when I park the car, if I forget to unplug the FM transmitter, the book keeps playing and when I return I'm several chapters further than when I left. If I can control the FM transmitter with the radio, playback will stop when power is shut off and I can retain my place in the book. Assuming there is a power out pin on the radio, I could rewire the outlet to always be controlled by the radio power. The switch just gives me more flexibility. If anyone has any thoughts on a better way to do this, please say so.

Thanks!

 

[TomatoSoup]

Not really, no. There IS a pin (Conn 2 pin 3, Pink wire) that's RADIO ON SIGNAL, but it appears to be an amplifier muting signal with different voltage levels signal, that you probably couldnt rely on for your relay. But you could always try/test it and see.

From your mission statement though, it would seem that the ability to switch between RAP and Always-On would be enough, no? Or just use the third switch position for Always-Off.

 

[GrandpaSolstice]

How about a a simple relay in the woofer line? Nothing going to the woofer, turn off the transmitter.

 

[Radio Doc]

For anyone who's interested, the reason for this is to turn off certain accessories when the radio is turned off. I listen to audio books in MP3 files and I have a plug in FM transmitter that plays the files through the radio. The trouble is that when I park the car, if I forget to unplug the FM transmitter, the book keeps playing and when I return I'm several chapters further than when I left. If I can control the FM transmitter with the radio, playback will stop when power is shut off and I can retain my place in the book.

Many (most?) people leave the radio on when they leave the car, and the radio (at least my stock radio) turns off when the door is opened.

First thought:

Run your FM transmitter /audio book player from the radio power lead.

Second thought:

If you are going out of your way to remember to turn off the radio, why not just remember to turn off the audio book instead? Seems like as you have to remember to do something anyway, just remember to disable the transmitter / player. It would save all that messin' with the wiring.

Just askin'... :devil:

 

[Zonker]

Not really, no. There IS a pin (Conn 2 pin 3, Pink wire) that's RADIO ON SIGNAL, but it appears to be an amplifier muting signal with different voltage levels signal, that you probably couldnt rely on for your relay. But you could always try/test it and see.

From your mission statement though, it would seem that the ability to switch between RAP and Always-On would be enough, no? Or just use the third switch position for Always-Off.

I seem to recall that the wire on my truck (Chevy S10) for radio on was pink, so maybe we're talking about the same application on this radio. I don't remember if I was told that the lead I used was actually for the power antenna or if I just assumed as much. But I did confirm that I had 12VCD with the radio on and 0VDC with the radio off.

For the application of the FM transmitter, you're right about only needing a 2-position switch (which is probably easier to come by anyway). I'd rather have Radio On and Always On options, though. If I use RAP and manually turn off the radio, the transmitter remains powered. It's the same as always on while the car is running.

The third option of RAP works in my truck where I have multiple outlets. There, I use my phone charger in the RAP outlet, the transmitter in the Radio On outlet and all but ignore the Always On outlet in the ashtray. I did that because I had the real estate and it was easy to add the outlets. In the Solstice, I don't want to drill multiple big holes in the dash but a small switch next to the accessory outlet might not look too out of place.

Thanks for the heads up on the pink wire. That's where I need to start.

 

[Zonker]

First thought:

Run your FM transmitter /audio book player from the radio power lead.

Do you mean the lead feeding power TO the radio? That would be RAP (retained accessory power) which stays on for a few minutes after the engine is shut off (until you open the door). That would work except that if you turn off the radio for some reason while driving, the transmitter is still powered.

Second thought:

If you are going out of your way to remember to turn off the radio, why not just remember to turn off the audio book instead? Seems like as you have to remember to do something anyway, just remember to disable the transmitter / player. It would save all that messin' with the wiring.

Just askin'... :devil:

Like most, I usually don't turn off the radio when I get out. If the radio was on, I leave it on and the power goes off when I open the door. In that case, with standard Always On power to the accessory outlet, the transmitter keeps playing and transmitting the audio. Rewiring the accessory outlet to RAP would fix that but only if I'm ALWAYS listening the radio.

The problem comes in when I'm NOT listening to the radio or I choose to turn it off while driving. Normally, the accessory outlet is Always On, the FM transmitter keeps playing and transmitting the audio files, and then I DO have to remember to turn it off or unplug it. That's happened a few times. Driving to work, turn off the radio so I can think about something, park the car and when I go to start listening to the book again, I'm five chapters further into the story because I forgot to turn off the transmitter when I turned off the radio. Or in a drive through or at a traffic light, I can silence the radio and pause the story by turning off the radio if the transmitter is powered by the radio's Power On lead. Rewiring the accessory outlet to the Radio On lead would fix that but then the accessory outlet would only ever be on when the radio is on. Hench the switch. That would return things to normal Always On operation for my phone charger or GPS.

No harm in asking. I'm looking for ideas.

 

[Zonker]

How about a a simple relay in the woofer line? Nothing going to the woofer, turn off the transmitter.

Do you mean the amplifier's Radio On line? Or one of the leads going to the woofer itself? Does it provide 12VDC at all times when the radio is on and 0VDC when the radio is off?

 

[TomatoSoup]

Do you mean the amplifier's Radio On line? Or one of the leads going to the woofer itself? Does it provide 12VDC at all times when the radio is on and 0VDC when the radio is off?

No it doesn't. All the speaker lines are 'balanced' with both wires resting at 6V when no sound, and swinging from almost 0V to almost 12V (in opposite phase) at full bore.