need 12 volt constant power

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Mar 11, 2008 | 09:49 PM

dholifield

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Instructor

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need 12 volt constant power

installing an new digital radio in my 72 and it requires a constant 12v source to hold the memory. Can someone tell me where i can get this? I remember when i was in my teens and we needed it we just jammed the wire on one side of a fuse. Thanks...Don

Mar 11, 2008 | 09:56 PM

Glass Act

Melting Slicks

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From: 406ci SB, AFR 180 Heads - 490 HP @5,600 RPM 529 lb-ft @ 4,100 RPM

Fuse panel (Batt) is one area, clock is another, there are a few places.

Mar 11, 2008 | 10:05 PM

dholifield

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Thanks Batt. Ill give it a shot. Don

Mar 11, 2008 | 10:06 PM

dholifield

Thread Starter

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sorry, meant Glass, brain malfunction. too many beers in the 80s.

Mar 11, 2008 | 11:38 PM

another-user

Safety Car

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i just ran a fused wire right off my battery terminal to the radio.

Mar 11, 2008 | 11:42 PM

1981Z06Vette

Pro

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 741

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From: Woodstock GA

If you have a test light, just see which terminal is hot all the time. There may be an unused one so you don't overload the circuit.

Mar 12, 2008 | 12:16 AM

ptroxx

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From: Henderson Nv-Rohnert Park/Sonoma C o. ca/born in NY Rockaway Beach.

Cig lighter is a constant 12 i think

Quote:

Originally Posted by dholifield

Mar 12, 2008 | 12:56 AM

rudman72

Cruising

Joined: Mar 2008

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From: Surrey BC

You'll find there's several male "quick-connect" terminals right in the middle of the fuse block. One for constant power, one off the accessory, and one switched with the ignition. Use your test light to find the right one. Good luck.

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Mar 12, 2008 | 07:12 PM

RunningMan373

Melting Slicks

Joined: May 2007

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From: Bay Area CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by rudman72

Tap from the "Batt" terminal at the fuse block. Red female lug connector crimped to a 14 gauge wire. Use your stock yellow stereo wire for "acc", ie- switched on lead.

Mar 13, 2008 | 03:05 AM

#10

highlander751

Intermediate

Joined: Oct 2007

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On a '74 it looks like the Batt terminal on the fuse block has a 20A fuse and is named ctsy-ltr-clk ( curtousy, lighter and clock maybe?). ACC also is fused at 20A and is named TCS-Sol-RDO ( not sure what the TCS is, maybe Theift Control System?, Sol could be Solenoid, and RDO - radio).

Looks like a good places to get your power from.
Robert in Ridgecrest, CA

Mar 13, 2008 | 04:11 AM

#11

SteveG75

Race Director

Joined: Jun 2000

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From: FL

Quote:

Originally Posted by ptroxx

Cig lighter is a constant 12 i think

Cigarette lighter works great. That is what I used in my '75. Nice convenient place to tap into as well.

Mar 13, 2008 | 10:47 PM

#12

VCuomo

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 1,047

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From: SoCal

I just Y-ed off of the orange clock wire. It's right next to the radio, so it's a very short run. If you do it that way you'll have less constant hot wire running through the car.

Mar 13, 2008 | 11:04 PM

#13

J Koehler

Advanced

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 65

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From: Long Valley NJ

alot of the ideas are good but just be sure that the conection is fused. You do not want to burn you car up.

Mar 14, 2008 | 02:16 AM

#14

RunningMan373

Melting Slicks

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 3,246

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From: Bay Area CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by VCuomo

I just Y-ed off of the orange clock wire. It's right next to the radio, so it's a very short run. If you do it that way you'll have less constant hot wire running through the car.

More bad advice, some of these supposedly "free" connections are set up to handle only a limmited amout of current, you could burn up wires or otherwise cause problems. So to the *****-nilly- just tap it anywhere people

- you are very wrong, so if you don't know,

- let it go!!!

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