Radio wiring probs

[MrMPuk]

That can be the only cause of the memory loss, either that or the stereo is knackered. I would pull the stereo back out and check with a multimeter that you do have a permenant live feed to the right terminal.

[daddy cool]

Definitely have a permanent live. Also tried using the live from the cigar lighter. Tested the radio on the bench with a switched and permanent live from a 12v power source and that worked ok.
It works fine until first thing in the morning when it has remembered the stations over night but as soon as the key goes to the starter, it's gone in an instant.
Does the van do anything differently electrically when the engine is stone cold?

[MrMPuk]

It sounds like the permenant live you have isn't permenant when you start the van, I would put a meter on it when you are starting the van and see if the voltage goes.

[daddy cool]

Right have just been out and tested

I have 12.7V at the feed. On turning the starter it momentarily goes down to about 9V (split second), but the radio stayed on, keeping the saved stations. First thing in the morning it will cut the radio completely as though it is drawing more current (the van I mean). Will put the meter on it in the morning to see what happens.
One good thing when the engine was running I had 14V, so the alternator is ok

[Terry]

At the day's end turn off the radio before killing the engine.
Then in the morning start her then turn on the radio.
If this solves the problem you will know you need to use a different
'permanent live' !

[daddy cool]

Tried that Terry!
This morning the stations were ok overnight. Had 12.3V (little low) at the feed with ignition off. Lost 1V when ignition was turned on. Went down to about 7V when cranking. Radio turned off and lost the stations. Guess 7V is too low to run this radio, even for a second
Thinking perhaps my battery is losing a bit of charge overnight as well?
Anyway think the only solution is to run a new wire as Rover suggested

[MrMPuk]

Try sticking a meter on the battery when you crank the engine and see what voltage you've got to see if it is a voltage drop through the wire to the stereo.

[daddy cool]

I've just put a meter across the battery and cranked the engine. The volts went from 12.7 to 8, which means even if I put a new lead straight to the battery, it will probably cut the power to the radio anyway!

Take it the battery is probably knackered, even though it zips the starter over. Have been meaning to put in a leisure battery so will probably cheat and wire the radio to this!

[MrMPuk]

Does sound like the battery could be U/S.

[stevew]

You could try putting a capacitor across the back of the radio (between the ground and permanent live wires). You'd probably also have to put a diode in series to stop the starter dragging down the capacitor voltage. This would work if you have a big enough capacitor.
Steve

[Serpens]

Ok have been trying all this while to get this radio sorted. Have finally wired the switched live to the permanent live so that the radio works independent of the ignition.
Having a strange phenomenon with it now that I hope someone can explain . The radio keeps all the programmed stations overnight as you would expect, until I turn the key to the starter position. Van always starts within a second but in that time the radio switches itself off and loses the stations. Only happens first thing in the morning. No matter how many times I start the van or turn the radio on and off during the day, it keeps the stations until first thing in the morning!
Any ideas?

In the morning its harder for the van to start, so the starter motor drains more power from the battery then during the day, It causes a momentary lack of power which wipes the memory on your deck.
Best way around is to simply run fused wire from the battery (fuse as close to the battery as possible) to the deck, when ever I install a stereo into a car from a factory unit, I can never find the earth, so I usually run one of them to the chassy too turns the whole thing into a 10 minute job, then all you need is the ingition wire and your sorted, unless its a japanese car or a hyundai in which case their are about a 1000 wires going to the speakers that you have to decipher

ohh and the blue cable on ome wiring is also usefull for running realays to things if you want something else switching on at the same time as the deck, say lights ect.....