Is it OK to use the Ignition switch as a power source for a car audio device?

[cjchaps]

My fiancee got a Sirius portable unit, and it hooks up to the cig lighter. The problem with this is that she has a 98 contour, and the cig lighter power is always on! So the sirius unit would always be on. I decided to hook it up to a ground wire and the reg ignition wire instead, and it seems to be working just fine, since the ignition wire gets turned on and off from using the key? Is it OK to use the ignition wire as a power source?

 

[Xionide]

I would just split the red wire from her deck. Safest way.

-Xionide

 

[dmurray14]

Yeah, I guess...but the unit should have a power, ground, AND ignition wire. This way, it will only take power when the ignition power is on.

 

[MichaelD]

Honestly, no, it's not OK to use the ignition circuit for anything but the ignition. BUT the Sirius reciever draws very little power; you should be OK.

Make SURE there is a FUSE on the positive wire b/t the power source and the receiver. It should've come with a little fuse holder. If it didn't go to Radio Shack and buy one and install it inline, like this:



Power Source----------->fuse holder with appropriate rated fuse------->Sirius receiver

 

[cjchaps]

Thanks for the advice...

 

[virtueixi]

Originally posted by: Xionide
I would just split the red wire from her deck. Safest way.

-Xionide