How to change the console 12v source to always have power?

[bman6074]

Does anyone know how to rewire the center console 12v power source so it has power when the car is turned off. I like to use it to charge my phone or MP3 player while the car is off.

[Mad Dragon]

You don't want a constant draw on the battery. It won't enter sleep mode correctly.

[bman6074]

THeres a sleep mode???? Huh??

[InsaneSkippy]

Originally Posted by bman6074

THeres a sleep mode???? Huh??

Yes after the car has been shut off for like half an hour it goes in to a "sleep" mode.

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by Mad Dragon

You don't want a constant draw on the battery. It won't enter sleep mode correctly.

Having 12v power on the lighter socket won't prevent the car from going into sleep mode. How would it know that there's a microscopic drain on the battery?

[Mad Dragon]

It monitors battery current, among other things. The energy diagnosis test plan tells you closed-circuit current, state of charge, etc...

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by Mad Dragon

It monitors battery current, among other things. The energy diagnosis test plan tells you closed-circuit current, state of charge, etc...

Even if they are monitoring battery current, it's not going to pick up something as small as a cell phone charging. We're talking about tenths of an amp MAX. If they're really moitoring battery current, it would have to be a monitoring circuit capable of reading about 100 amps. You're not going to get milli-amp resolution out of something like that.

I doubt they do current monitoring on anything other than the charging circuit anyway.

[Mad Dragon]

The car usually knows which modules are causing excessive current draws. If you splice into an unknown module, it will cause problems.

Performing any kind of electrical modifications on these cars is not a good idea, especially if you don't know how the different systems interact. Splicing into what you think is a 12V source could cause all kinds of bus problems.

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by Mad Dragon

The car usually knows which modules are causing excessive current draws. If you splice into an unknown module, it will cause problems.

Performing any kind of electrical modifications on these cars is not a good idea, especially if you don't know how the different systems interact. Splicing into what you think is a 12V source could cause all kinds of bus problems.

Sure, but jumping around a relay to supply constant power to the lighter socket isn't going to do anything to the bus. There's no good reason under the sun why the lighter socket can't stay hot all the time.

[B25 Jim]

It can read very little draw. I've worked on a lot of vehicles professionally and very minute voltage draws can cause interesting problems in a vehicle. It's very likely that milliamps could prevent sleep-mode. I'm not particularly familiar with the system, so I can't say with certainty, but it is definately not out of the realm of possibilities.

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by B25 Jim

It can read very little draw. I've worked on a lot of vehicles professionally and very minute voltage draws can cause interesting problems in a vehicle. It's very likely that milliamps could prevent sleep-mode. I'm not particularly familiar with the system, so I can't say with certainty, but it is definately not out of the realm of possibilities.

Look, I'm an electrical engineer. There's no reason the lighter can't be powered all the time to charge a cell phone. The computer in the car draws that much current even when it's in sleep mode.

[bman6074]

Wow I didn’t mean for my question to become a heated conversation. I think I will go to the dealer and talk to one to the techs and see what they say. I will update if I find out any info.
Thanks for all the posts though.

[B25 Jim]

Eh, you're right, no point in pushing it, I deleted my response... no disrespect was meant, just trying to bring a different thought process to the table.

[Mad Dragon]

Originally Posted by jeremyc74

Look, I'm an electrical engineer. There's no reason the lighter can't be powered all the time to charge a cell phone. The computer in the car draws that much current even when it's in sleep mode.

The entire car draws 30-40mA when it's in sleep mode.