BC RV Camping Forum

I posted this on the BCRV forum in 2016. Lost to Tapatalk. I happen to have a backup so I would like to post it here again. 

I would like to be able to use the 2004 Ford radio without using the ignition key.
I would sure like to know if other Fords around 2004 have their headlights on when the ignition is on ACC.
I was amazed how easy it was to get that radio out of the dash! I'm surprised it hadn't jumped out on its own. Just a gentle pry to pull the plastic surround off and then grab the radio with two fingers and slide it out.

All these wires! Only two provide power to the radio.  The yellow wire has 12 volts all the time. This power wire comes through a choke in a little black box, presumably to reduce engine noise. The red wire is powered up when the ignition is on or in ACC and its voltage enables the radio to be turned on. It draws a full amp through the yellow wire, for the amplifiers I suppose.

I can get all the power for the radio from the yellow wire, eliminating the red one from the ignition.

I noticed that the radio draws 300 mA from the yellow wire when the radio is turned off but the input from the red one is energized. Can't have that going all the time while camping or parking. Have to use an external switch to turn the 12 volts from the yellow wire to the red input to turn the radio on.

Looks a bit crude but it works!