Date:         Tue, 21 Feb 2006 21:58:41 -0500
Reply-To:     Neal Barrentine <vwneal@BLUEMARBLE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Neal Barrentine <vwneal@BLUEMARBLE.NET>
Subject:      '86 GL electrical (sound system) question
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

Hi folks. This is my first posting to the list, and I'm trying to be
concise. I just installed Van Cafe's headlight relays and upgraded to
the higher wattage bulbs. I cleaned all the ground wires and the crowns
they plug onto behind the fusebox with some de-oxidation spray and a
wire brush. It all looks good, but before I re-connect the battery and
check if I did it right, I want to run a wire to power my stereo. Right
now I have spliced into the rear window defogger switch, which is a
switched circuit. Which brings me to my question. I would like to be
able to use my stereo without the ignition being on, like at the drive
in theatre where they broadcast the soundtrack over an FM frequency.
But I would at least like to require a key to do so, like an accessory
position on the key switch, which my Vanagon does not have. What would
be ideal would be if just having the key in the ignition switch closed
a circuit that was supposed to trigger an alarm letting you know the
key is in and the engine off (like my other car.) I have looked at my
Bentley and can't figure out if it has such a circuit that could be
used to power my CD player. Does anybody out there have any suggestions
other than just having it powered all the time? Thanks, Neal from
Bloomington, Indiana, (brrrrrrr...)