RE: Installing Radio in Coleman

[Camping Coxes]

 
We d like to install a car radio/cd player with speakers into our  98 Sun Ridge.  How would I go about wiring the stereo in so it will run on either battery or electrical hook-ups at the campsite?  What s the best place to tie in to the electrical system?

[Tim5055]

 Camping Coxes
This is actually very easy.  As all car radios are 12v DC powered, just use (tap into) any 12v DC power wire.  These may include those going to the refrigerator, furnace or in most models there is a 12v DC " cigarette lighter"  outlet.
 
 I would try to avoid any circuit that has a motor on it (pump or furnace fan) as it may cause noise on the radio.
 
 Powering it this way will allow it to work on both 12v battery as well as powered by the converter when you are plugged into the campsite power.

[mike4947]

 Camping Coxes
One thing to watch out for is many of the newer car radios have a continious circuit in them to power the clock and station memory curcuits. While it isn t a high draw it can be like the propane detector and draw a battery down over time. CHeck the instructions to find out what NOT to hook up so there is no draw.
 You ll have to reset the clock and station presets everytime you camp.

[MtnCamper]

 mike4947

 

ORIGINAL:  mike4947
 
 One thing to watch out for is many of the newer car radios have a continious circuit in them to power the clock and station memory curcuits. While it isn t a high draw it can be like the propane detector and draw a battery down over time. CHeck the instructions to find out what NOT to hook up so there is no draw.
 You ll have to reset the clock and station presets everytime you camp.
 

Or if you re kinda  handy, I think somebody posted on the old board, you can wire the clock to a 9 volt battery. One battery will last all year. If you got an old 9V pad +/-, just solder it in. Then lay the battery behind the radio, or tape it up.

[CAPEd CODger]

 Camping Coxes
Some converters in camping trailers are poorly regulated, and can cause hum and / or buzzing noise in your radio. If this does happen, you can add a filter capacitor and  a choke to aid in the filtering of the DC supply.
 
 Happy Camping!!