Class C radio problem

[MikeyInNY]

Fleetwood Tioga Class C radio. Is there supposed to be a way to turn the radio on when the key is removed? Radio in dash, doesn't work if ignition is off. I'd like the ability to turn on the radio any time. I know I can add a switch to power the radio anytime, but I don't what to do that if there is another way. I know there is an outside entertainment center with outside speaker switch, but I'm not sure how to make this system work. I looked in the camper manual, but didn't find any detailed information. Any suggestions?

 

[DonTom]

Fleetwood Tioga Class C radio. Is there supposed to be a way to turn the radio on when the key is removed? Radio in dash, doesn't work if ignition is off. I'd like the ability to turn on the radio any time. I know I can add a switch to power the radio anytime, but I don't what to do that if there is another way. I know there is an outside entertainment center with outside speaker switch, but I'm not sure how to make this system work. I looked in the camper manual, but didn't find any detailed information. Any suggestions?

A class C is made from a van, not designed to be an RV--but a van to start with. So just like cars, the radio goes off with the key.

In this Tioga, I rewired the radio to run from the house battery and I also changed the cigarette lighter outlet for the engine battery to stay on and not go off with the key, as I use it for several things such as a battery maintainer to keep the vehicle battery well charged--with the key out.

So yes, it can be done, and a couple of different ways--but you will have to change things a bit. I don't think I could explain exactly how I did it, as I do all these changes the first couple of weeks with any RV that I newly own. There are always many things I want to change to make an RV the I want it to be. This Y2K Class C as well as my 2022 Class A were no exceptions.

I will be happy to answer any questions you have but the first step is to get into the wiring for the radio and change where the (usually) red and yellow wires are powered from.

-Don- Why, AZ

 

[John From Detroit]

Often there is a switch one side labele "AUX" for the radio AUX = House batteries. Main = Ignation acc circuit.

This not to be confused with a switch that JUST says AUX or AUX On/Off (Main house battery disconnect)

 

[Lou Schneider]

Your ignition switch has a position that turns on the just the accessory circuits without also powering up the engine circuits. It may be one click before the ignition actually turns on or you may have to turn the key one click in the opposite direction.

 

[gwinger]

There are actually two power sources for the radio. One is main power and the other is the memory power. The memory power is present even with the key off. You would have to install a SPDT switch to supply main power to the radio when the key is off. You will need a wiring schematic for the radio to do this.

 

[DonTom]

Your ignition switch has a position that turns on the just the accessory circuits without also powering up the engine circuits. It may be one click before the ignition actually turns on or you may have to turn the key one click in the opposite direction.

Yeah, but Mikey asked, "when the key is removed" Sometimes when parked, I want to turn on the radio without the hassle of putting the key in and I assume that was what Mikey was asking.

I have my radio rewired to run from the house battery, so whenever the "salesman switch" is on, I can turn on the radio without getting the key out of my pocket.

BTW, my Class A came that way new, but in this Class C Tioga, I had to run the house battery wires up front. I also use the house battery for my GPS and my TPMS. None of it turns off with the ignition key, which is the way many people prefer.

-Don- Why, AZ

 

[Kirk]

The year and make of the chassis may make a difference. The radio probably came installed in the chassis and probably has not been changed from what the van chassis does. If you know where the fuse for the radio is located, it wouldn't be too difficult to change.

 

[MikeyInNY]

I do have a Main/Aux switch next to the steering wheel. The previous owner told me that was to use the house batteries in case the main engine battery is dead to start the vehicle. So if the ignition is off and the keys are removed, if I put the switch in AUX I don't know which of the engine circuits are on and if it would drain the house batteries quickly if left on. If this switch just parallels the main battery and all circuits, it seems it would drain quickly. If it only energizes the aux circuits, such as the radio, then not a problem. We mostly have at least an electric hookup, so I want to be able to use the radio any time. As long as the house batteries don't get drained in the AUX position, then I'm happy.

 

[John From Detroit]

If that main/aux is a push. release then it is "Emergency start"
If it is a toggle. it's for the radio.

Normally the Emergency start will be so labled or Aux Start of Boost or something like that but it will NEVER be a two position toggle.

 

[MikeyInNY]

I just went out and looked, it is labeled as Emerg Start. We just took possession of this camper 2 weeks ago, and haven't camped yet in it. I did winterize it, and have been making some other modifications. We have slept in it in our driveway, but our first trip will probably be in April. In the meantime, I will explore installing a two position switch for radio power, one from normal source tied to the key, and the other from the house batteries. I think I'll make it illuminated when in the "house" position as a reminder.

 

[CharlesinGA]

My Winnebago View had a radio power selector switch to operate off the chassis, or the coach. The problem was that it, of course, had an aftermarket radio in it, which in itself was crappy, and WBO failed to provide power for the memory circuit.

Basically they had made a T shaped wiring harness that plugged into the Dodge/Mercedes harness and into the radio and then had a leg that ran off down to the selector switch on the lower left of the dash.

Even if they had provided a DPDT switch to switch over both the main power and the memory power, which they didn't, you would still interrupt the memory for a split second and lose everything anyhow. If they took the memory straight thru from chassis to radio, then there would be a drain on the chassis by the memory.

End result was that you started up the vehicle and let it find a station, set the time, and when you shut it off, you lost everything. Similarly, if the radio was on coach power, and you manually switched the radio off, you still lost everything.

I got so mad at the whole thing that I removed the radio and the wiring harness and threw it in a box. The Mercedes blanking plate for the radio opening was in the glove box, the factory was rather thoughtful and didn't throw it away. I don't listen to the radio anyhow, but didn't like it flashing the incorrect time at me while I was driving. So the whole time I had it, there was no radio.

Before I sold it, I found someone on Ebay with a batch of brand new Sprinter AM/FM/CD players that were a perfect fit and worked perfectly for a measly $100. All I had to add was a antenna adapter to take the US antenna coax to the European radio.

Long story, but yes, Winnebago does screw things up too. Later models just had a separate radio in the coach.

Charles

 

[Kirk]

it is labeled as Emerg Start.

That is because the switch is for that purpose. While there could be some differences to the power for the radio, depending on the chassis you have, that switch was put in by the coach builder and it just parallels the RV battery and the chassis battery and will change nothing for your radio. The switch should also be spring return style that you have to hold down to keep things paralleled. If you have an onboard generator, it probably is started from the coach battery and so that Emergency Start switch could be used to start the generator if the coach battery is depleted and the chassis batter is charged.