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Radio Install- having trouble getting power
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Whaanga
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PostPosted: Sat May 25, 2019 6:20 pm    Post subject: Radio Install- having trouble getting power Reply with quote

I am working to install a Sapphire XIX but am having with the power source on my bus. I’ve bench tested the radio and it’s fully functional
. But - when I connect it to the fuse box in the bus (1973), there is now power. I connected it to the number 7 circuit that is assigned to the ‘Accessories’ function. I’ve connected the ground to the spades mounted on the metal column (I’ve forgotten the name) that carries air up to the dash. But - the radio does not fire up. I changed the fuse and still nothing. I then connected the radio to the number 1 fuse terminal (marked Tail light left, side marker light left) but still no power to the radio. I know this circuit works beacause the left tail light and side marker light when the head light switch is turned on.

Am I missing something here? Should the radio be connected to the number 9 or 10 circuit rated at 16 amps instead of 8 like the other circuits?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Jeff
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skills@eurocarsplus
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PostPosted: Sat May 25, 2019 6:33 pm    Post subject: Re: Radio Install- having trouble getting power Reply with quote

Whaanga wrote:


Am I missing something here?


yes...

the tail light circuit only has power when you have the lights on.

did you check for power at the accessory fuse?
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PostPosted: Sat May 25, 2019 8:19 pm    Post subject: Re: Radio Install- having trouble getting power Reply with quote

S7 should get power from 30 but that does not mean someone has not changed it. Check with a volt meter on both sides of the S7 fuse for power both with the key off, and with the key on. Did someone add a kill switch or electrical lock to the bus?
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Whaanga
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PostPosted: Sat May 25, 2019 8:29 pm    Post subject: Re: Radio Install- having trouble getting power Reply with quote

My multi-meter is on the fritz so I was not able to check to see if the circuit has power.

Steve, I tried to run the radio with both they ingniton on as well as the engine running but still no power regardless of which circuit used. I also tried a different ground tab. I also rechecked the radio on the bench and it ran perfectly.

Jeff
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PostPosted: Sat May 25, 2019 8:31 pm    Post subject: Re: Radio Install- having trouble getting power Reply with quote

Whaanga wrote:
My multi-meter is on the fritz so I was not able to check to see if the circuit has power.

Steve, I tried to run the radio with both they ingniton on as well as the engine running but still no power regardless of which circuit used. I also tried a different ground tab. I also rechecked the radio on the bench and it ran perfectly.

Jeff


Jeff you you have a 12V test lamp, or a spare 12V light you can solder a couple wires to? Are you using the same speaker?
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Whaanga
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PostPosted: Sat May 25, 2019 9:34 pm    Post subject: Re: Radio Install- having trouble getting power Reply with quote

Thanks Steve,

I will try the light bulb idea. And yes, I used the same speaker on the bench and in the car.

Plus, I’ll get my meter back in shape.

Jeff
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PostPosted: Sat May 25, 2019 11:45 pm    Post subject: Re: Radio Install- having trouble getting power Reply with quote

if you open the back of the meter you may find a burned out fuse and a spare.
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PostPosted: Sun May 26, 2019 12:12 am    Post subject: Re: Radio Install- having trouble getting power Reply with quote

SGKent wrote:
if you open the back of the meter you may find a burned out fuse and a spare.


Bad weed, too.

Laughing

Seriously, take the time to fix your VOM do that the next job is easier, too.
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PostPosted: Sun May 26, 2019 12:39 am    Post subject: Re: Radio Install- having trouble getting power Reply with quote

Abscate wrote:
SGKent wrote:
if you open the back of the meter you may find a burned out fuse and a spare.

Seriously, take the time to fix your VOM do that the next job is easier, too.


You can always use the toe and hand connection test to see what happens...

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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Wildthings
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PostPosted: Sun May 26, 2019 5:38 am    Post subject: Re: Radio Install- having trouble getting power Reply with quote

You probably have two wires that need power to get your stereo to work. One powered all the time and one powered through the ignition switch or the "KEY IN" switch.

Meters cost maybe $25 at Walmart these days.
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PostPosted: Sun May 26, 2019 11:15 am    Post subject: Re: Radio Install- having trouble getting power Reply with quote

Thanks Wildthings -

The fuse was blown in my meter - I’m back up and running.
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PostPosted: Sun May 26, 2019 1:21 pm    Post subject: Re: Radio Install- having trouble getting power Reply with quote

OK - mystery solved.

I checked the amperage on each spade and all registered except #7.
Then I looked closer and discovered that #7 does not have a power supply as seen here:


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Now I’ve got to track down the wire that should supply #7. I’m not too conversant in reading schemestics but it looks like this is where the power source comes from:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


What is the physical source of the power wire?

Thanks,

Jeff
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PostPosted: Sun May 26, 2019 3:42 pm    Post subject: Re: Radio Install- having trouble getting power Reply with quote

Fuse #7 is typically shipped to the US unwired. Tie the bottom fuse connection with a short female to female 1/4" blade terminal wire either to the bottom terminal where all the red wires are (full-time power) or where all the black wires are (ignition switched), depending on how you want it to work.
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PostPosted: Sun May 26, 2019 4:57 pm    Post subject: Re: Radio Install- having trouble getting power Reply with quote

Thanks Telford dorr -

I connected a small wire with 1/4" spades to the black wire connections on the #12 circuit (switched) and the radio fired right up.

Thanks to all for your help and advice.
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PostPosted: Sun May 26, 2019 5:17 pm    Post subject: Re: Radio Install- having trouble getting power Reply with quote

buy a spare fuse when you can. I have quite a few sizes for meters here I've collected over the years. They are usually about 3/4" long by 1/8" but it is metric as I recall. You may need a magnifying glass to see the rating. Post the size if you find it.
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PostPosted: Sun May 26, 2019 5:51 pm    Post subject: Re: Radio Install- having trouble getting power Reply with quote

There's usually a schematic on the inside of the cover that shows fuse ratings, or sometimes it's printed on the circuit board under where the fuse goes.

When the last Sapphire had died and I installed the simple AM Blaupunkt I switched the power source to red (#30) battery power, no more worrying about the points burning, or coils and choke heaters killing the battery when listening while parked. The Blaupunkt has a nasty red dot in the middle of the dial that shows when it's on so it's hard to leave the bus and forget to turn it off, some Sapphires have a light that's visible in the daytime, some don't. Just offering my findings over years of dealing with an ignition switch with no Acc. position, YMMV.
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PostPosted: Mon May 27, 2019 7:21 pm    Post subject: Re: Radio Install- having trouble getting power Reply with quote

Thanks Bus Daddy - I connected mine to the switched circuit. My electric fuel pump is noisy enough that 'non-driving' radio listening will not be in my future anytime soon. (Perhaps it's time to replace the fuel pump.

Also, I was able to secure a replacement fuse for my multi-meter.
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PostPosted: Mon May 27, 2019 9:02 pm    Post subject: Re: Radio Install- having trouble getting power Reply with quote

If this is an AM radio be sure to trim it. If it is FM set the antenna to 30" . If it is AM/FM you need to trim the AM on that too. Most radios have a trim screw (make sure you get the right one so not to detune something else. You set the dial to a weak station about 1200 on the AM dial and tune the trimmer to match the radio to the antenna. Most radios of that period had a trimmer. Not all did. It can be on the back, the sides, or even thru a small hole on the front plate. We used to use a plastic tuning wand.
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