Does the ignition wire from a radio harness actually provide power?

**noobified** · 07-01-2009, 02:45 AM

Can I tap a small screen's 12V power to the ignition wire in my radio harness so that it will turn on when my ignition is on?

**colin** · 07-01-2009, 04:24 AM

It supplies power, but not much at all.
The answer is no, you can not.

**Crinos** · 07-01-2009, 05:52 AM

You can use this 12V to control a relay.

**bad_luck** · 07-01-2009, 06:11 AM

it will sure work like crinos said, but in my car i just attached the screen to this wire, works perfectly. A screen doesn't use much power, so probably won't be trouble. A friend of mine did it the same way, but that's the same car (same brand, same type). Maybe other cars will have trouble with it !

**Crinos** · 07-01-2009, 06:20 AM

Originally Posted by bad_luck

it will sure work like crinos said, but in my car i just attached the screen to this wire, works perfectly. A screen doesn't use much power, so probably won't be trouble. A friend of mine did it the same way, but that's the same car (same brand, same type). Maybe other cars will have trouble with it !

As you said... Some cars can handle it with out a problem, others can't power jacks a... from the ignition wire.

On my BMW the ignition cable is "low powered", but there are several "free" 12V cables that light up when ignition is ON.