Well, after a lot of messing around with volt meters and wires my Classic Panda has a stereo that comes on with the ignition and turns off on the key too. For good measure I've also fitted a double USB and double axillary socket that does the same.

Very happy bunny

Witchcraft I tell you!

bah. i had that before it was cool.

i wired my radio into the side lighting live, before the switch. so even when starting the engine the radio does not power off

Write a guide?

Dragon Man said:

bah. i had that before it was cool.

i wired my radio into the side lighting live, before the switch. so even when starting the engine the radio does not power off

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Mine has a power feed from the battery via a relay (& fuse) powered from the live feed to the tailgate washer.

I have had this in cars before and Its quite good, but my panda is the first car I havent had this. To be honest I prefer to listen to the engine etc most of the time

onemanmade said:

I have had this in cars before and Its quite good, but my panda is the first car I havent had this. To be honest I prefer to listen to the engine etc most of the time

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While I would normally agree with you, this vehicle is going to be used as a daily driver for my daughter and so I don't want to be going out jump starting her every time she leaves the stereo on :bang: and of course she'll need to be able to charge her phone too

scout said:

While I would normally agree with you, this vehicle is going to be used as a daily driver for my daughter and so I don't want to be going out jump starting her every time she leaves the stereo on :bang: and of course she'll need to be able to charge her phone too

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Very sensible

scout said:

While I would normally agree with you, this vehicle is going to be used as a daily driver for my daughter and so I don't want to be going out jump starting her every time she leaves the stereo on :bang: and of course she'll need to be able to charge her phone too

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Don't forget to remind her not to sit with the ignition on to listen to music if it's a carbed Panda as it could burn the coil out (so I've been told).

scout said:

While I would normally agree with you, this vehicle is going to be used as a daily driver for my daughter and so I don't want to be going out jump starting her every time she leaves the stereo on :bang: and of course she'll need to be able to charge her phone too

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Mine turns itself off after 30 mins if I leave it on & I can change the delay via the menu! Of course it's not on a Panda, but I'd have thought someone with your electrical talents would have incorporated it! :devil:

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Don't forget to remind her not to sit with the ignition on to listen to music if it's a carbed Panda as it could burn the coil out (so I've been told).

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What? Pardon? I wasn't told this, my radio is wired into a switched live in the loom behind the dash. I've only many an occasion listened to the radio with the engine off for short periods...

An easy way to do this is to use the switched feed from the brake light switch. Really easy to install as you can feed the wire through the dash without having to remove any trim or dash plastics and it doesn't require any hacking about of the original wiring if you use a piggy back connector on the spade terminal.

Just make sure you connect it to the correct side of the brake light switch otherwise the radio will only work when you brake!

panda1408 said:

An easy way to do this is to use the switched feed from the brake light switch.

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I did this... -- it's a great tip...!

Wot listened to the radio with the brakes on..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you use the handbrake feed you could only listen to the radio when stationary

scout said:

If you use the handbrake feed you could only listen to the radio when stationary

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Nonsense - most Panda's are capable of motorway speeds with the handbrake on!

scout said:

If you use the handbrake feed you could only listen to the radio when stationary

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...which would be a good way of wiring up a DVD player (were such a thing possible...)!

Palio said:

Nonsense - most Panda's are capable of motorway speeds with the handbrake on!

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I was actually surprised at how well Pippin's handbrake works, when I bought him... -- although Hal's certainly leaves something to be desired...! (Good job you can just leave him in Park.)

BTW: scout -- and this is a serious question... -- how are you (and the scoutette...) getting on with the braking qualities of Po...? I know you initially had reservations, when driving Pinky, about classic Panda's 'limited' stopping capabilities, when compared to a more 'modern' car....

Also, have you let my namesake drive Po, yet? I remember some rather excellent manouevring being carried out in the 500c, at Chiltern Hills...! :worship:

homeward said:

I was actually surprised at how well Pippin's handbrake works, when I bought him... -- although Hal's certainly leaves something to be desired...! (Good job you can just leave him in Park.)

BTW: scout -- and this is a serious question... -- how are you (and the scoutette...) getting on with the braking qualities of Po...? I know you initially had reservations, when driving Pinky, about classic Panda's 'limited' stopping capabilities, when compared to a more 'modern' car....

Also, have you let my namesake drive Po, yet? I remember some rather excellent manouevring being carried out in the 500c, at Chiltern Hills...! :worship:

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On the first point, the brakes on Po are better than Pinky's. There is none of the spongyness I felt through the pedal with Po (this could be due to the fact Po's had just been overhauled when I first drove him). Katie is coping fine although the Panda would not be her first choice, her instructors car is a diesel so no clutch control required for slow speed stuff and has power steering . Once she's passed her test and driving it evey day she'll be fine. She's already talking about saving up for her own car so Po will be mine sooner rather than later!
On the second, Stephen has not driven Po yet but its only a matter of time, when I find a nice big open private field I'm sure he will have a go.

panda1408 said:

An easy way to do this is to use the switched feed from the brake light switch. Really easy to install as you can feed the wire through the dash without having to remove any trim or dash plastics and it doesn't require any hacking about of the original wiring if you use a piggy back connector on the spade terminal.

Just make sure you connect it to the correct side of the brake light switch otherwise the radio will only work when you brake!

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You beat me to it Freddy, this is where I take my ign. feed too.

VmanC said:

You beat me to it Freddy, this is where I take my ign. feed too.

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Great minds think alike