Volvo Community Forum. The Forums of the Volvo Owners Club

Forum Rules Volvo Owners Club About VOC Volvo Gallery Links Volvo History Volvo Press
Go Back   Volvo Owners Club Forum > "Technical Topics" > 400 Series General

Notices

400 Series General Forum for the Volvo 440, 460 and 480 cars

Information
  • VOC Members: There is no login facility using your VOC membership number or the details from page 3 of the club magazine. You need to register in the normal way
  • AOL Customers: Make sure you check the 'Remember me' check box otherwise the AOL system may log you out during the session. This is a known issue with AOL.
  • AOL, Yahoo and Plus.net users. Forum owners such as us are finding that AOL, Yahoo and Plus.net are blocking a lot of email generated from forums. This may mean your registration activation and other emails will not get to you, or they may appear in your spam mailbox

Thread Informations

Power supply advice in 480, please.

Views : 1483

Replies : 6

Users Viewing This Thread :  

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old Jan 9th, 2019, 01:19   #1
blue and cream
Brian T
 

Last Online: Feb 28th, 2024 01:20
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ely
Default Power supply advice in 480, please.

I would like to have a permanent power supply for my Garmin SatNav, rather, than plugging /unplugging into the cigarette lighter.
I tend to rely on the Satnav for a speed reading rather than the temperamental and unreliable speedometer: over the years the garage has fitted a new circuit board, a new speedo head, and a new speed sensor. There are still problems. Otherwise I love the car, a 480 Celebration Auto.
The Satnav normally sits in the recess shelf in front of the speedo, and it seems easy to take the cable from the back of the Satnav through the gap where the horizontal shelf meets the bottom of the instrument panel glass. But where can I take a power supply from? I would prefer the source to be ignition-controlled, to eliminate leaving the Satnav switched on and draining the battery.

Any help would be appreciated.

Brian
blue and cream is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 11th, 2019, 13:36   #2
mhuk
Senior Member
 

Last Online: Mar 1st, 2024 09:41
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: London
Default

try on https://www.volvo-480-europe.org/forum/index.php
mhuk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 12th, 2019, 12:16   #3
dcw
VOC Member
 
dcw's Avatar
 

Last Online: Jan 19th, 2024 15:52
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: YORK
Default

I would echo MHUK's advice...indeed, for all things 480...

Even so, why not tap into the power supply to the 12 volt socket behind the centre console? Very easy to get into (call for guidance if not sure).

Despite having 2 480s sitting outside at this very moment I cannot remember if the 12 volt socket is permanently live - sorry, that is the sort of thing I should know by now! But what you could do (maybe in any event) is run the wiring up and through a switch so you can power the sat nav when you want to. Neatest - if you can get hold of one - is to install a switch in the blank next to the heated seat switches - you just need to find another spotlight switch (those panels still come up on ebay every so often).

David
__________________
VOC 400 Series Register Keeper
The current fleet:
1997 440 LE, 1996 460 CD,
1994 480 GT and 2007 V50 SE Sport
dcw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 15th, 2019, 11:53   #4
blue and cream
Brian T
 

Last Online: Feb 28th, 2024 01:20
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ely
Default

Thanks to mhuk and dcw for replying.

I am re-trying the Europe site having now received the mystery code from Jeff.

David: the 12v supply is permanently live, because that's where I have my solar battery charger permanently plugged in - the 480 is used about once a week, so the battery is vulnerable - and why I wanted an alternative non-permanent power supply. I gave up trying to remove the 12v socket once (following the Haynes manual) because I am conscious of how easy it is to break any mounting clips for the trays above (I think this is necessary to slide the ashtray out, having undone the fixing screw in the base) but will try again.

Brian

1995 480 Celebration Auto
2004 C70 GT T5 Auto
2007 V70 D5 Geartronic

Last edited by blue and cream; Jan 15th, 2019 at 11:53. Reason: my poor typing
blue and cream is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to blue and cream For This Useful Post:
Old Jan 16th, 2019, 12:21   #5
dcw
VOC Member
 
dcw's Avatar
 

Last Online: Jan 19th, 2024 15:52
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: YORK
Default

Thanks Brian

Removing the centre storage cubbies is not a problem if you are careful:

Remove the ashtray as you would to empty it.

Either side of the centre console is a strip of carpet, velcro'd down and tucked up under console edge. Carefully pull this back from the seat end. You will then find that you can reach up inside the console and press the twin lugs inwards on the storage cubbies. Remove the lower one first as it clips over the ashtray fitting - push in the 2 lugs one side and ease it forward enough to stop them folding back into place, then go round the other side and do the same - the cubby then pops straight out.

Remove the upper cubby the same way.

You probably won't need to remove the ashtray housing at all but if it makes access to the wiring easier then just undo the single screw in its base.

Clearly if the 12 volt socket is permanently live you will need to put a switch in the wiring somewhere - you will see when you open it all up why I suggest the blank next to the heated seats is easiest, if you can get hold of another switch panel and transplant the switch.

I hope that helps - but come back again as needed.

David
__________________
VOC 400 Series Register Keeper
The current fleet:
1997 440 LE, 1996 460 CD,
1994 480 GT and 2007 V50 SE Sport
dcw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 24th, 2019, 16:45   #6
blue and cream
Brian T
 

Last Online: Feb 28th, 2024 01:20
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ely
Default Power supply advice in 480, please.

David:

Thank you immensely.

I have successfully removed the cubby trays following your excellent guidance. The only difference was that I found it impossible to depress the tabs on the lower tray first - I couldn't twist my hand sufficiently to press the two tabs on either side. However, it was relatively easy to reach the tabs on the upper tray, remove it, and then reach down into the vacant space to access the tabs on the lower tray, which then came out easily.

I also removed the ashtray, and it should relatively easy to piggy-back into the cigarette lighter / 12v socket supply wires at that point. I will do this once I have obtained a spare cable (USB at one end) for my Garmin SatNav, so I can join the original cable to the cigarette lighter power supply, and have a spare when I use the SatNav in another car.

I will think about a separate switch, but if not the SatNav has its own.

I am really grateful for your help.


Brian
1995 480 Celebration Auto
2004 C70 GT T5 Auto
2007 V70 D5 Geartronic
(and 2000 MGF Steptronic)
blue and cream is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to blue and cream For This Useful Post:
Old Jan 26th, 2019, 20:41   #7
dcw
VOC Member
 
dcw's Avatar
 

Last Online: Jan 19th, 2024 15:52
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: YORK
Default

Thanks for the update Brian - it sounds as if you are making progress!

All the best

David
__________________
VOC 400 Series Register Keeper
The current fleet:
1997 440 LE, 1996 460 CD,
1994 480 GT and 2007 V50 SE Sport
dcw is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 00:23.


Powered by vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.