UPDATE: 22/7/07

"How To" here:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/new-octavia/hard-wiring-road-angel-12v-0v-thread/85129/#post976921

Want to hardwire a Road Angel into the car.

Would ideally like to stick it on windscreen by top of A pillar. Then I can run the power cable neatly inside the A pillar trim and into the fuse box (where there must be a 12v line at least).

It would be doubly useful if I could actually use a spare fuse hole to act as the RA unit's fuse aswell.

Thanks

The fusebox has a switched connection thats not used, but you would need to get the required bits to connect to it from your local dealer. The only source for the ign switched supply is the fusebox as all the power feeds in the rest of the car are always on with the devices being controlled by the canbus. I think Stu has some info on his website. Octavia-vrs.com

There is one marked Phone I think which is vacant.

Thanks Manny and Stu.

I pressume this PHONE line is 12v only and can you confirm it is IGN switched?

Where can I tap a 0v line (a nice wire or terminal rather than using body earth)

Certainly on the models I've looked at there is a phone fuseway which is 12v switched. There is no such thing as 0v. It's ground which is the chassis. A ring tongue under the securing screw of the fuse box is ideal.

See if you can pick it up on the search as I've given instructions and there are pictures.

Thanks Stu

Checked out the posts, just trying to be as tidy as possible with the "install".

Do let us see some pictures when you have finished...

I have ordered a VW connector wire to create a new output on the PHONE fuse space. 000 979 227 (226?)

I hope to do the install on Saturday PM.

Basic Plan (all in theory, based on VRStu's threads mostly) :

Remove A pillar trim (AIRBAG requires removal of said badge and under screw) by carefully prizing off clips from top down posibly requires soft trim removal tool/creit card/flat blade/fingers - will have to see what works best.

Clip off fuse cover at dash end by door

Remove headlamp switch and ally trim and then lower knee panel to access back of fuse board

Remove fuse board, unlock using purple latch - insert new terminal on IGN switched PHONE fuse socket/hole

If I can get a low enough rated blade fuse I will use that instead of inline fuse. Else add inline fuse and wire up to 12v-5v converter circuit (modified cigarette adapter)

Lay in Road Angel wiring up to top of A pillar and cable tie to pillar holes

Reverse disassembly of trim etc.

Fire up RA

I have modified the RA to only glow red when there is danger and no blue backlight. The permanent blue might be ok with VW but aswell as the clash with green skoda dash it is too bright at night. You can read the speed and compass heading quite easily during the day without backlight anyway.

This way it only bothers me when there is a hazard.

I will take piccies if I can/remember to.

Reverse disassembly of trim etc.

Fire up RA

Personally, I would reverse these - last thing you want to do is to put all the trims back together and then find it doesn't work

Good point about testing - I may or may not have done that "automatically", but I think I kinda meant take it out for a spin and "use" it once it is fully fitted.

The 12/5v converter has a little light on to tell you it is powered up. So as long as I haven't broken/damaged USB power cable up to unit it *should* work if the converter led is on (which I will know once it is connected into fuse and earth line).

The RA doesn't do much when you aren't moving (no speed/heading etc) and it takes a few mins to acquire sats.

Looked at the fuse box today and couldn't work out which fuseway was PHONE.

I know I could use a multimeter to find IGN switched output, but anyone any idea of its position number? I must be blind because I looked over the fuse guide on the fuse door with the various icons for ages but I can't find a phone symbol.

Cheers

There is one marked Phone I think which is vacant.

yes indeedee, there is, I took a feed from the reverse of this to hardwire my talex in, and mounted the unit at the base of the A pillar. I pooped my fuse box out and soldered a wire with "dual" feeds with inline fuses as I am bound to want a feed for something else at some point (like to power the phone up in the oddment cubby by t't drivers knee)

Ok "Fluff" where is the fabbled PHONE fuseway!! (please)

9 rings a bell....

I can't remember which one exactley, I did it all last year when fitting my Parrot, and I can't nip out and look as I am in Guernsey working, and my car is in Warrington

probably quicker for you to do what I did and get the multimeter out

9 rings a bell....

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, Quasimodo rings a bell

On my fuse box the number 9 small sized fuse holder has no terminal in place so no power feed.

my Parrot resides in the spare phone terminal. this is an ignition switch feed.

Number 7 = second top row, rightmost terminal.

should be an index card attatched to the inside of the fuse box cover

OK, by multimeter these are the only IGN switched fuseways:

19 = Trailer detection (5A)

30 = Auto gearbox controller (20A)

31 = Vacuum Pump (!) (20A)

41 = AIR CON (?)

For completeness I also have PERMANENT 12v powered at fuseways 14, 17

As the RA is low current (2A/3A) I will be using fuseway 19

"How To" here:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/new-octavia/hard-wiring-road-angel-12v-0v-thread/85129/#post976921