Yup. That's the Fershure way.

--
Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
Bend, Ore.

On 09/01/2015 09:37 AM, Larry Alofs wrote:
> A lot of the speculation and contradictory "understanding" can be cleared
> up for any given radio by actually measuring the current draw thru the
> wires with the radio in various modes, on, off, high volume, low volume,
> etc.
>
> Larry A.
>
>
> On Tue, Sep 1, 2015 at 11:16 AM, Rocket J Squirrel <
> camping.elliott@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> This page also seems to indicate that the fatter wire (the constant-on
>> wire) is the main source of power for the radio, and the skinnier wire
>> (switched) is only used to wake the radio up.
>>
>> <
>> http://avic411.com/index.php?/topic/36319-which-wire-is-the-power-source-yellow-or-red/
>>>
>>
>> "Without a doubt B+ (the yellow wire) is the main current carrying wire,
>> but this is only up to a point, as you have seen due to the radio fuse
>> not being more than about 10A typically on vehicles. Acc/ignition is
>> just a turn-on signal. While it can be used at a lower current
>> application, it is not typically meant for higher loads."
>>
>> --
>> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
>> 1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
>> Bend, Ore.
>>
>> On 09/01/2015 07:57 AM, Jon VO wrote:
>>
>>> Well, my understanding is a bit different; the ignition switch controls
>>> /switched/ power to the stereo, and is the source of the amplifier &
>>> control power which is usually multiple amps for a high-powered stereo.
>>> The other continuous power lead is supposed to draw only a few milliamps
>>> to keep the memory charged and for control functions, and is powered all
>>> the time. At least that is the way the stereos worked when the Vanagon
>>> was current. If you want to reduce the current through the ignition
>>> switch, you would need to add a relay, and I believe some newer vehicles
>>> already do this.
>>> Jon
>>>
>>> On 9/1/2015 8:45 AM, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
>>>
>>>> The keying wire itself draws little current, it just provides a signal
>>>> voltage to the unit to put it to sleep or wake it up. The designers
>>>> assume that you don't want to draw a bunch of amperes through your
>>>> ignition circuit, so it's the the always-on wire that is the main source
>>>> of power for the unit.
>>>>
>>>> How much current the unit itself draws from its always-on wire when
>>>> asleep (standby) is a matter of design. But the key wire is not a
>>>> significant current-drawer.
>>>>
>>>> What I'm saying is that you can put the unit into standby with the key
>>>> wire and it can still be drawing hundreds of milliamperes through its
>>>> always-on wire. That's the one you have to watch out for.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
>>>> 1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
>>>> Bend, Ore.
>>>>
>>>> On 09/01/2015 07:30 AM, Jim Felder wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I remember when you went through all that, about the same time I bought
>>>>> my radio. So, using the keyed hot wire will draw very little or no
>>>>> current? I like the idea from a previous post that I could install a
>>>>> switch to connect it to either circuit, aways hot and switched hot.
>>>>>
>>>>> Jim
>>>>>
>>>>> On Tue, Sep 1, 2015 at 9:26 AM Rocket J Squirrel
>>>>> <camping.elliott@gmail.com <mailto:camping.elliott@gmail.com>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>      Many car stereos/radios don't really turn off. They mute and the
>>>>> front
>>>>>      panel goes dark, the power amp sections shut down, and the
>>>>> controls go
>>>>>      to sleep, but they are still partially on and drawing current. I
>>>>> guess
>>>>>      the manufacturers assume that you drive your car frequently.
>>>>>
>>>>>      The current draw is through the main power wire, the other wire,
>>>>>      frequently connected to the ignition switch, doesn't draw much
>>>>> current
>>>>>      at all -- it is used to signal the unit to wake up.
>>>>>
>>>>>      I had to search high and low to find a unit that actually powers
>>>>> off --
>>>>>      not only from the front panel power button, but from the remote,
>>>>> too. So
>>>>>      I could turn off the music when I get into bed rather than have
>>>>> to lean
>>>>>      up to the dash to shut things down.
>>>>>
>>>>>      --
>>>>>      Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
>>>>>      1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
>>>>>      Bend, Ore.
>>>>>
>>>>>      On 09/01/2015 06:08 AM, Jim Felder wrote:
>>>>>       > About a month ago I wrote about having installed two pairs of USB
>>>>>      ports and
>>>>>       > an LED voltage display in my Vanagon. The round double outlet on
>>>>>      the dash
>>>>>       > took the place of my factory Eberspacher heater knob and the
>>>>>       > outlet-and-voltmeter combination set neatly into what was the
>>>>>      rear ashtray.
>>>>>       >
>>>>>       > That's when I noticed a drop in voltage that would flatten the
>>>>>      battery
>>>>>       > after a couple of days of being parked. Long story made very
>>>>> short, I
>>>>>       > discovered that it was my radio in standby mode that was
>>>>> draining the
>>>>>       > battery. I pulled the fuse to the radio on Saturday and this
>>>>>      morning the
>>>>>       > voltage is showing 12.9, exactly where it was when I pulled
>>>>> the fuse.
>>>>>       >
>>>>>       > The reason that this was unknown to me all this time is that
>>>>>      coincident
>>>>>       > with the addition of the USB ports the Vanagon was, except for
>>>>>      use of my
>>>>>       > wife's Prius, my daily driver had been the Vanagon. When I got a
>>>>>      TDI Jetta
>>>>>       > the Vanagon started sitting for days or a week at a time, and
>>>>>      that's when
>>>>>       > the problem showed up.
>>>>>       >
>>>>>       > I could wire the radio to the switched 12v circuit that no doubt
>>>>>      came with
>>>>>       > it, but then I would have to have the key on to listen to
>>>>> music while
>>>>>       > camping. Is anyone using a switch on the circuit, and if so how
>>>>>      was it done
>>>>>       > and how does it work out for you?
>>>>>       >
>>>>>       > Jim
>>>>>       >
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>