S60 - Power location for [Front] parking sensors

[Phandy]

Hello all. I have purchased a set of FRONT bumper parking sensors. It is actually an electromagnetic strip:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3016534976...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I have installed rear parking sensors, and a reverse camera in the past, by splicing into the reverse light wire, so they only worked whilst the car is in reverse.

I need help with a power source for the front parking sensors. The source needs to be switched live, so the sensors only receive power when the ignition is on.

The power source will need to be in or adjacent to the engine, as that is in the location where the sensors will be located (front bumper)

I have tried to piggy back off fuses before, but this did not work. I would ideally like to find a switched live wire that I can splice into. Can anyone help?

I realise the sensors will be active as soon as I start the car, and will start beeping as soon as I get into traffic. I intend to circumvent this by introducing a toggle switch :

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/dpdt-toggle-switch-fh39n

[pphilpot]

Seeing that you have to come into the cabin for the switch anyway, I would go the fuse piggyback route (it works fine for my dashcam). and I'd pop a nicer looking switch on the lower centre console, next to the gear lever perhaps. Maybe this type of switch: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390849153274

[Phandy]

Hi PhilPot, thanks for your reply. I will have to work out how to use the switch you listed.

Do I run the parking sensors power and earth wire to the driver's side fuse box? Then run a wire from the fuse box to the switch you listed, which is then located somewhere in my cabin so I can switch the sensors on off?

[pphilpot]

Originally Posted by Phandy

Hi PhilPot, thanks for your reply. I will have to work out how to use the switch you listed.

Do I run the parking sensors power and earth wire to the driver's side fuse box? Then run a wire from the fuse box to the switch you listed, which is then located somewhere in my cabin so I can switch the sensors on off?

Earth the parking sensor anywhere close to it – it doesn't matter. Run the positive to one point on the switch, take the switched positive from the switch and run it to the piggyback fuse holder. If you want the light to work on the switch then you earth it to the nearest earth point that you can find. Attached is the switch mentioned above that I have laying in the drawer – just in case I need one

[Phandy]

Ok, I think I am getting there - electronics are not my strong point.

Is this what you mean?

http://www.oznium.com/rocker-switch/tech

Obviously we can take the battery out of the diagram and replace it with the fuse box or the wire coming out of the back of the driver's cigarette lighter?

[pphilpot]

Yup, you got it. Your earth points will be to existing screws that go into the metal bodywork close to the sensor strip and close to the switch. You'll need a 19mm drill bit to fit that switch into your dash/centre console.

[Phandy]

Ok, I am with you now. I can tap into Fuse 13 (driver's side fuse box) ; Electrical Socket 12V.

Or, (as the reverse camera did not work when I tried to piggy back that power source) is the cigarette socket power wire easily accessible to splice into?

From the videos I have watched, if I take out the climate control unit I can get to the power wires for the cigarette lighter socket

http://mys60project.blogspot.co.uk/2...1_archive.html

I am just not sure how to run the power behind the ccc back into the cabin, if I can locate the correct wires.

[Missing Lincs]

Tapping into the fusebox with a piggy back fuse holder is much easier than taking out the climate unit. Remove the chosen fuse, put it and the new fuse into the piggy back holder and attach you new wire. Just make sure you get the piggy back holder the right way round, the supply end (opposite end to the wire) must go to the supply end of the fuse holder in the fuse box, you might need to establish this with a test lamp or meter.

One question, do you need a switch. I'm just thinking that if the range of your front sensor isn't that great, would it go off during normal driving? Might be worth a test before fitting the switch. If you don't need the switch, so long as the supply you tap is switch with the ignition, you don't need to do anything else.

[Simon Jones]

I fitted a push switch in the panel next to the existing switches.

[Phandy]

Thanks for all the replies; Simon, thanks for the photo. I have just come back from Maplin and hope to install my switch tomorrow. I am going to try and fit it in the switch panel.