I did a search on this and couldn't come up w/ anything.

I'm hardwiring my HK Drive + Play Ipod controller in my R56 and hit a snag.

The hardwiring harness included w/ the HK unit has 12v switched, ground, and batt flying leads. I was going to pull power off of the cigarette lighter. The problem is, I don't think there's a battery connection in that area of the interior.

Now here's a question -- the same HK Drive + Play also includes a cigarette lighter adapter, that has the the same 3 wire plug up top (that plugs into the HK control box), the three wires being ground, 12v, and battery.

Obviously, it only gets ground and 12v switched from the cigarette lighter socket, which raises the question of if I cannot find a battery source down there, do I run the battery lead in the HK harness to the 12v source, or leave it disconnected?

It's shielded so I can't disassemble the cigarette lighter adapter they include w/ it but I'm guessing that they go together, maybe I'll stick a multimeter in there.

I don't think there's any danger in connecting both the 12v switched and battery wires on the HK unit to 12v switched in the Mini cig socket, as all that would result is that the power and batt would be cut every time the car was turned off (I don't think the unit has anything stored that can be lost either). Please correct me if I'm wrong.

FYI the HK unit has a built in fuse on the 12v line.

If anyone knows of a good spot on the dash to wire into the battery current please advise.

 

If you use the cig adapter you will get 12v continuous to your HK unit as long as the power is available at the cig lighter outlet, which depowers itself some minutes after the car in shut off. This is to prevent anything from draining the battery. A dead battery means that you would not be able to unlock the car. I would not recommend using any other unswitched source. You will be ok to use your adapter.

 

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=071-585

 

DJam- thanks for the info, I think this is a good thing that I powers off the outlet w/ the ignition off. I was going to hardwire into the cig lighter wires.

Any idea if I should just leave the batt. wire disconnected or run that to 12v switched? I think if the unit works w/ the batt wire disconnected I'll just leave it off.

Arnbut, thanks for the info, I think I'm going to tap the cig lighter wires though. I'll definately use that to power my gauges though.

FYI the HK unit sounds great on the R56 w/ the Aux in and does not have the volume drop I experienced with other units that used the digital out on the ipod. It's an excellent solution for the mini and is ~~$60

 

IMO when you use the cig light adapter the third wire in the the mateing plug is not connected to anything. You will be just connected to the cig lighter + and -.power.. The three wires in your power cord are (pos switched) ,(pos constant) and (negative). this is for conventional cars that have an aux position on the ignition switch..

 

Candyman , look at the Sticky (hot or Not )at the begining of this forum. lots of info there.