Amp getting constant power from HU

[Regal911]

My amp is connected to a HU with the blue remote on line. The problem is it is providing constant power and running my battery down. Are there any suggestions what to do or is this a common issue with a simple solution.

Thanks

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[matt_bennett05 10+ year member]

I would say that you need to go and make sure that you have the remote wire wired correctly... best way to check is to turn the vehicle off (and headunit) and get a dmm (digital multi meter... fluke, greenlee, auto parts cheapo, whatever you have access to) and check to see if the wire that the remote wire is connected to still has 12v (which may fluctuate up and down)... if so you need to try and check all the other wires (turning vehicle on and off) until you find one that is switched to your ignition

 

[Regal911]

My HU turns on/off when I turn the ignition key on/off or ACC on. Is there some reason why the blue remote line on would have 12v power with the HU off? My amp is hard wired to the Batt + terminal and grounded to the frame. If I disconnect the remote line from the amp, the amp loses power. I could use a toggle switch on the remote line, but I don't believe the remote line should have continuos 12v.

BTW ... thanks for the reply! I am new to this, and any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[matt_bennett05 10+ year member]

No problem man... I really would check to be absolutely sure why the remote saw constant 12v when off. I think its a wiring issue. Yes you could use a toggle switch but it will be very aggrevating and when you turn it off then back on you will have a delay everytime it is turned on

 

[Regal911]

My HU turns on/off when I turn the ignition key on/off or ACC on. Is there some reason why the blue remote line on would have 12v power with the HU off? My amp is hard wired to the Batt + terminal and grounded to the frame. If I disconnect the remote line from the amp, the amp loses power. I could use a toggle switch on the remote line, but I don't believe the remote line should have continuos 12v.

BTW ... thanks for the reply! I am new to this, and any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[fox_forma 10+ year member]

what kind of vehicle? GM uses a different color wire for the remote to connect to the HU harness. If you connected the blue wire off the GM harness to the new unit I believe it is a constant 12v. I think the pink wire off the GM harness is the switched 12v if I remember correctly. Like I said though this is with a lot of GM vehicles.

 

[matt_bennett05 10+ year member]

what kind of vehicle? GM uses a different color wire for the remote to connect to the HU harness. If you connected the blue wire off the GM harness to the new unit I believe it is a constant 12v. I think the pink wire off the GM harness is the switched 12v if I remember correctly. Like I said though this is with a lot of GM vehicles.

Sounds right. But it almost sounds as if his remote wire is wired into the factory harness and not to the actual headunit itself....

 

[fox_forma 10+ year member]

That could be true as well, I know I made this mistake when I first hooked up my HU to my Silverado and used the factory blue wire and attached it to the aftermarket harness and I got the same result.

 

[Regal911]

Its a 65 Mustang with a Retro Sound Classic HU. There is is only 1 blue remote line and a power antenna line coming out of the HU harness. The HU is also wired directly to the battery for +12v constant for memory.

What seems odd to me is that the HU turns off when the key is off and yet it is still delivering power to the amp and draining my battery. That said, the only indication of power is the LED on light on the AMP. If the LED is the only thing drawing power I would guess that it is not much. Although the battery is old (2007) and I don't drive the car much, I would not think that it would drain the battery in a weeks time.

 

[DukeNut 10+ year member]

Ah I had a 65 'Stang back in the day You could run the turn on wire directly from the accessory fuse in your fuse block straight back to your amp. When you turn the key to on/accessory then you'll get the power to turn the amp on.

 

[shiipseki 10+ year member]

Ah I had a 65 'Stang back in the day You could run the turn on wire directly from the accessory fuse in your fuse block straight back to your amp. When you turn the key to on/accessory then you'll get the power to turn the amp on.

I'd also add a fuse on remote wire incase anything happens =)

 

[Regal911]

Thanks DukeNut! Although I'm not sure I follow. Would I bypass the turn on wire (blue) coming out of my HU and run a line directly from the accessory fuse to the AMP?

 

[DukeNut 10+ year member]

Thanks DukeNut! Although I'm not sure I follow. Would I bypass the turn on wire (blue) coming out of my HU and run a line directly from the accessory fuse to the AMP?

Yes you got it. Be sure to cap/tape off the hu blue wire as it appears it is live all the time.