Wiring Ipod Connection for Power

[madmaxwell87]

I recently bought and installed a PAC ipod connector because I was tired of the FM transmitter. It works great but I would like to wire up the wires so that it will charge my Ipod too. I have an aftermarket Pioneer head unit. In the reviews of the cable people have been told to ground to the same place the head unit grounds to and to wire the power to a switch 12v source so the ipod doesn’t drain the battery when the truck isn’t on. Questions- Does all of this sound right? Do I tap into the wiring harness for the headunit to get the ground and power or should I use outside sources (cig lighter and a separate ground)? What’s the best method to tap into existing wiring? I have used the clips that look like a y with the incoming wire being connected to the existing wire with a metal band that taps through the wire coating and have had no luck (cut through wire and didn’t get power to the incoming wire when it did work) Thanks for all your help

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[Sundevil2188]

Yeah...t-taps suck. They are shoddy and, in my opinion, have no room in audio installations.

Im assuming you used a harness that plugs into your factory plug, and wired that to the pigtail coming off your pioneer? How did you connect the two together?

We use butt connectors (i know i'll probably get flamed by the pureists that perfer soldering) but they work great and I have yet to have a wire come lose in the three years ive been installing. If you used crimps/butt connectors, simply but the connections already made, twist the wires together, and reconnect them. Ground is black and 12v switched is red.

Also cig lighter wont work in your truck...its a constant 12v, not switched 12v.

[madmaxwell87]

Yeah i used the harness to connect to the factory harness. I used the simple tube crimps that you stick both ends in and crimp down on(dont know technical name). It looks like Ill just cut the wires,add the power and ground wires and then reconnect with new crimps like I used before(what you suggested). Thanks for the help

edit- butt connectors are what i was talking about so im glad were on the same page

[Sundevil2188]

haha yup butt connectors.

Does your pioneer not have a ipod interface? Whats the model on it?

[madmaxwell87]

its an old one-like 5 years old. DEH 6700mp sounds familiar but dont quote me on it

[Sundevil2188]

oh right now. Yeah it might be kinda tough finding an interface for it if one even existed.

[madmaxwell87]

whats the benefit of an interface? I dont know anything about them. Does it just allow you to use the headunit to control the ipod? If so the cable I got is more than enough for my needs.

[Sundevil2188]

yeah...they all also charge without having to tap into power and ground with seperate wires.

[aswaff400]

a simple ipod charging has such little amp draw it wont drain a battery on its own, Ive left my ipod plugged into my truck for a few days at a time on 4wheeling trips (not starting my truck once) and have yet to have a dead battery from simply charging an ipod and cell phone. i prefer a constant 12v source for charging so i don't have to worry about leaving my radio on and keys in the truck just to charge my ipod when we're out on the 4wheelers...

the only time i had a dead battery is when i was towing a trailer at night with all lights on, a/c on full blast, stereo/amp on, and my laptop plugged into the 115v inverter, and my 90 amp alternator couldn't keep up. a 160amp alternator fixed that... that's the only time i had a dead battery since ive owned my truck

[madmaxwell87]

thanks for the info fellas. the interface sounds like more than I need or want to deal with.

As for tapping into switched vs constant 12v Ill take a look and see which is easier to get to and tap into cause either would work for me

[madmaxwell87]

ok tapped into the head units harness, hooked up switched 12v and ground and its good to go, thanks for the help fellas