mx5cartalk.com

Could someone please post a picture of a constant power source that i can tap into other than the battery. It has to always have power running through it and be reletively easy to get to. I would prefer something like a fuse i can tap into but if i have to splice a wire i guess that would have to do.

Easy to get to? From where?

Tried the wiring diagrams linked-to around the place?

From the drivers footwell. Yeah ive looked at the wiring diagrams. They are highly confusing. I have a really basic understanding of electronic diagrams, i need a more simplified version. I.e, this wire in this picture lol

The main fuse will always be live. This is the one that is directly fed from the battery before it goes through the ignition switch and separates off into separate circuits.

Just make sure you tap in on the right side of the fuse.
Unfused power can result in fire

Good point Blue

Might not be what you want, but I always run my own power wires from the battery if I need them with an inline fuse as well.
Not hard to get into the cabin either, through the drivers side tunnel, under carpet to sills, remove sills to run wire under carpet from there then up into footwell.

I used it for my video setup

I had to find one for my Immobilisor and ended up going through the firewall to the fuse box on the drivers side.

But exactly which fuse am i looking for?

Also, is there a fuse point in the cabin fusebox under the steering wheel with a constant source? I tried one that said engine with a testing light but got nothing?

Source yourself a wiring diagram, look for the main fuse (the highest current rating).

You'll have to do a bit of work yourself

If you trace the wires to the ignition switch I'm sure you'll find that one of those is constant 12V, another source is the memory wire to the headunit or the wire to the interior light, but thats on the passenger side. Otherwise get under the dash with a multimeter.

But exactly which fuse am i looking for?

Use a multimeter.

Also, is there a fuse point in the cabin fusebox under the steering wheel with a constant source

I had to find one for my Immobilisor and ended up going through the firewall to the fuse box on the drivers side.

Yeah i was using a test light to try and find something. The car audio memory wire sounds good, ill see if i can find that thankyou.

The constant 12V on the ignition switch would be much easier to find and get to. Just make sure you use a fuse on the take off wire that suits your application as the fuse on that ignition switch circuit is pretty big.

If you look at the relay panel in the engine bay (driver's side), There is a lug underneath that you can get to with a deep socket. This is a constant 12V source direct from the battery.
If you use this remember that it is unfused. You NEED to protect it as soon as it is physically possible, i.e. where the cable exits the relay panel.

Chris