Question about the radio in an 85 minnie winnie

[Weblamer]

Did this radio work only when the key was turned, or did it run off the coach batteries as well?

Radio on mine (old tape player) is currently not working. Fuse on the fuse block is ok, and the inline fuse is ok, there is just no power leading into it.  (or the cig lighter port)

Since there are speakers all over the place my ultimate plan is to wire it up to some wireless sound input and use it for audio when I am watching television. However, I am curious as to why I am not getting power. Wondering is there is yet another fuse/connection somewhere I need to check.

[Lefty]

Sounds like either a break in the line at some point between the fuse block and where it splits off to go to the radio and cig lighter. It's possible also that a PO cut the wiring to supply power to another device (CB Radio, Fans, etc...)
Honestly, most times it's better and easier to just run a new dedicated power wire for a new stereo off a vacant spot on the fuse panel. As long as there is a fuse in the circuit at the fuse panel, there is no need to also install one as the radio hookup point.

Many in dash receivers today have either USB, Iphone hookups, or standard 3.5mm aux input jacks... Some have the standard Red,White,Yellow RCA inputs as well, to allow you to hook up a video game system to the stereo system. A few have HDMI also... I've seen a couple that had HDMI input and output jacks on the rear, both were in dash dvd players.

BlueTooth is another option, if you are wanting wireless hookup... Some have BlueTooth capability so you can play media from a device and hear it thru the stereo.

[Oz]

The radio was the same as in a car.  It's wired off the chassis electrical system, not the coach, so it would only run when the key is turned to on or with the vehicle running.

[Weblamer]

Aaah, thanks. There is indeed a CB antenna and some wires hanging out, so I guess there was a CB in there at one point and it got yanked.

I'm surprised the radio only ran with the key considering the speakers are all over the camper. 6 i counted, I think?

[Oz]

Check that.  Given you have a 1985, I don't really know if it would also be wired into the coach batteries at that time. 

Given the unkown state of the wiring, it's also unkown how it was wired.  You certainly could hook up to the coach battery system if it wasn't already.  That's what you'd need to find out.

With 6 speakers, I think an amp would have had to been added as well.

[Nuttcaze]

I installed a new stereo in my '86 Minnie Winnie, the only original wire I used was the switched power wire (from the key), my original radio was a shaft style radio that had the speakers sharing the ground wires, it was horrible so I cut the dash panel so I could fit a normal cd player in it and just ran new wires. Its actually really easy to wire in a new stereo, the aftermarket radio wire colors are almost always the same these days and you can get 100' spools of speaker wire off ebay cheap.


Most are like this

[Stripe]

Nuttcaze has been taking art lessons from Dave..

[Weblamer]

Great diagram, thanks!

[M & J]

You should use the illumination lead to connect to the dash or instrument panel lights. The radio dispay will dim assuming it is night plus the display brightness should also vary with the dashlight(s) dimmer.

[Rickf1985]

I have an 89 Chieftain so it is probably different but there is a switch on the dash for the radio to be on with the ignition or the house batteries.

[Oz]

Holy cow!  Now that you mention it, Rick, the PO installed a toggle in my 74 Dodge which a cut-off for the radio as well.  In some post, years back, I recall it being made mention that the radio can be the source of phantom power drain on the chassis battery.  And that's exactly is what was happening with mine.  The switch took care of the problem.

[Rickf1985]

Glad I could be of help. My switch is built in and labeled just like the other switches but I could see it easily being a drain, especially if you are not using the camper.

[Stripe]

Oddly enough I too have two switches on my dash (OE) one for the Radio and t'other for the backup camera.