Probably cut the wire that feeds the stereo when you did the splice. Stick
a pushpin into the positive wire between the splice and the stereo and see
if you still have volts in that wire there.
--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
Bend, OR
KG6RCR

On 6/4/2009 12:55 PM Costello, James L wrote:

> Hi Volks,
>
> I recently attempted to install a very basic voltmeter into my '81, and
> during the process something has gone incredibly wrong.  The voltmeter's
> instructions said to splice into the Positive line on an accessory that
> runs on battery (such as the stereo, as I did) and then run the negative
> directly to ground.  Simple enough right?
>
> Here's what happened.  I did exactly that, and once I turned the key to
> accessory, the voltmeter sprung to life... PERFECT!  Except, now the
> stereo would not turn on.  I turned off the key and back on again a few
> times, and on the 3rd time, neither the stereo, nor the voltmeter works.
> ARGG!  Did I destroy the stereo on this?  What happened?  Circuit blew?
>
> So, any advice on this?  I figure that I should actually be attaching
> the voltmeter as an in-line system instead.  So, connect positive to the
> battery line for the stereo, and then run the negative out to continue
> the electrical line to the stereo.  I am not a pro at this, so I could
> definitely be wrong.  I have heard about running the voltmeter off the
> ground line directly at the battery, but this one did not say to do so.
>
> Any electrical geniuses out there?  I would love a hand.
>
> Cheers,
>
>
>
> James ('81 Van Halen)
> P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail
>
>
>
>
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