Switch to activate upon ignition?
 

Hi. I've currently got a device wired up to a toggle switch in my '98
Mustang. Right now, I've got it wired right to the battery, so if I
forget to turn the switch off, naturally it drains the battery
(something I don't want to do). I was wondering: does anyone make a
switch (always-on or toggle) that will only send power when it
receives a signal from the ignition. I'd rather it be setup this way,
but I'm currently unable to find a suitable switch. Any help would be
greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Michael Gaskins wrote:

> Hi. I've currently got a device wired up to a toggle switch in my '98
> Mustang. Right now, I've got it wired right to the battery, so if I
> forget to turn the switch off, naturally it drains the battery
> (something I don't want to do). I was wondering: does anyone make a
> switch (always-on or toggle) that will only send power when it
> receives a signal from the ignition. I'd rather it be setup this way,
> but I'm currently unable to find a suitable switch. Any help would be
> greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks.

I dont know if it would work in your car, but I had the same predicament
as you with my stereo amplifier and I just wired it to the cigarette
lighter circuit. Works perfect since that circuit is only active when
the ignition is on. It's in an 85 RX-7. I know in some ford models the
cigarette lighter circuit is always active, but it may be worth checking
out.

David

You can hook up a standard Bosch relay so the toggle still works for on
and off 'provided' the ignition sends the trigger signal to it.

The relay can handle 30 amps and the trigger signal is very small so you
can tag it to the lighter or something else that turns on with the key.
Most fuse panels have an empty 'acc' socket you can plug a spade
connector into for the trigger even.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Michael Gaskins wrote:
>
> Hi. I've currently got a device wired up to a toggle switch in my '98
> Mustang. Right now, I've got it wired right to the battery, so if I
> forget to turn the switch off, naturally it drains the battery
> (something I don't want to do). I was wondering: does anyone make a
> switch (always-on or toggle) that will only send power when it
> receives a signal from the ignition. I'd rather it be setup this way,
> but I'm currently unable to find a suitable switch. Any help would be
> greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks.