12v Source For Sirius Radio

jjohns · January 1, 2010

Just added Sirius Satelite radio to my 2004 Z71. It was an easy job until I started looking for a 12v power wire that is only hot when the ignition is on. I hooked up to the orange wire that powers the radio, but that wire is always hot. Does anyone know where I can find a 12v source that is hot only when the ignition is on? I have used the search function, but have not found anything that helps. Thanks in advance for your help.

jrod332 · January 1, 2010

Do you have an aftermarket radio? The wire you found was constant power for radio memory. You should be able to find a wire coming from the ignition that has power when you turn the key. Get a wiring schematic or just go through them. I have tapped off of the ignition wire to the radio a few times in the past for certain accessories like a radar detector.

jjohns · January 2, 2010

The radio is the stock unit. I don't have access to a schematic. I was hoping someone had done this before and would know which wire to tap into. I suppose I will have to pull out the tester and start searching.

cgalford · January 3, 2010

You're not going to find a wire at the back of the radio thats switched. The radio uses signals instead of a wire that goes high(12V) or low (0V). Try tapping into a fuse, i think the 800s still had some switched circuits.

[email protected] · January 4, 2010

Just added Sirius Satelite radio to my 2004 Z71. It was an easy job until I started looking for a 12v power wire that is only hot when the ignition is on. I hooked up to the orange wire that powers the radio, but that wire is always hot. Does anyone know where I can find a 12v source that is hot only when the ignition is on? I have used the search function, but have not found anything that helps. Thanks in advance for your help.

i'd tap into the radio fuse on the left side of the dash.. it should work fine that way, radio turns on, sirius turns on with it

damion · January 5, 2010

use the wiper fuse.. its a 20amp

8balla · January 22, 2010

I used to use a part from one of those interfacing companies that would wire into the DLC connector and basically become an electronic digital relay if you will, it would read the data codes and provide a RAP ignition lead for adding after market gear. I used to use them for the Satellite radio installs, sometimes for RSE installs, and lots of times for iPod installs before I started using the actual iPod interfaces. I will do some looking again to see if I can find the part number and company name for you if your interested, it has been about 2 years since I did it everyday.

jdubya · January 22, 2010

you can go right to the ignition wire in the lower dash under the steering wheel. GM typically uses the same colors for all of these wires. The 12v ignition wire is pink.

Neutron · January 25, 2010

When I had my 2007 Classic I used one of those Add-a-circuit fuses and tapped into an unused fuse location for an accessory that I did not have. It was painless and worked quite well.

NealC · January 30, 2010

Just added Sirius Satelite radio to my 2004 Z71. It was an easy job until I started looking for a 12v power wire that is only hot when the ignition is on. I hooked up to the orange wire that powers the radio, but that wire is always hot. Does anyone know where I can find a 12v source that is hot only when the ignition is on? I have used the search function, but have not found anything that helps. Thanks in advance for your help.

Goto to Pep Boys and get an "Add-a-Circuit" for a mini fuze. On the very left side of you dash is a fuze panel. Open the driver's side door and you will see it. Pop of the cover. I found only one fuze that toggle with the ignition switch (it was one that only had a 2 amp fuze). Add the "Add-a-Circuit" and you will have a 12V source that switches on and off with the ignition switch.