10 replies to this topic

[BaggieBoy]

Could someone please tell me the best/easiest permanent live, either behind the dash, in the engine bay, or even in the boot?
I bought a tracker at Top Gear live last week, and want to install it at the weekend.
Unfortunately I do not have a meter to check, so any help with wire colours etc. would be appreciated.

I was thinking of perhaps the cigarette lighter/12 volt socket.

Thanks for any help

[danie garry]

if you want the engine bay then the starter is the easiest, if the cabin then the ignition barrel, thick red wire on the starter, could be red on the barrel, cant quite remember! i suggest the ignition barrel as the inside of the car is slightly more secure than under the bonnet

[Bungle]

there's a battery in the boot with a very large permanent live

under the bonnet is the other end of the battery permanent live at the starter solenoid

both places are unfused

[tiger99]

Make sure you do fit an in-line fuse (one or two amps is enough for what you want), and that the unfused part of the wiring is as short as possible, and well protected against shorts. As said, the battery is an easy place, or the starter solenoid, but you can pick up on any brown wire (permanently live, unfused) or purple (permanently live, fused).

[Barman]

I've just bought a tracker....

I'm fitting it in the boot right next to the battery.... Great live and earth available... The tracker comes with a fused live feed.

Car thieves please ignore this post...

[carbon]

If the wiring is using the Lucas colour coding then brown is unfused permanent live, and purple is permanent live via fusebox (horn and door switched interior light).

[Alex_B]

I've just bought a tracker....

I'm fitting it in the boot right next to the battery.... Great live and earth available... The tracker comes with a fused live feed.

Car thieves please ignore this post...

well that is a very safe post, car thieves wont look at that because they are very genuine and wouldnt do anything you tell them not to do

[bmcecosse]

The point I'm sure is - this shouldn't be discussed openly and any 'tracker' must be very well hidden, as must the wiring to it. I would hope it has it's own battery - since any thief will simply tuck the car away, and disconnect the battery......... Where's your 'tracker' now??

[Alex_B]

Quite, that was what I was getting at, the best tracker systems are embedded into the car, running off its own power supply thats completely separate from the cars battery system, but keep any details secret because this is a public forum and anyone can view it!

[jetblack81]

bmcecosse is exactly right. Without sounding rude if your not sure where to find an appropriate live and dont have a meter to check, do you have the correct electrical equipment and knowledge to fit it. Time and time again i see poorly fitted audio and security equipment using poor consumables,tools and know how, ending in a host of issues inc fires. If you want to protect your car invest £100 or so in someone spending a few hours doing it for you, especially if you can find a car audio/security installer. Appoligies if this sounds blunt.

[Barman]

Quite, that was what I was getting at, the best tracker systems are embedded into the car, running off its own power supply thats completely separate from the cars battery system, but keep any details secret because this is a public forum and anyone can view it!

There is a separate thread on the subject here...

Ultimately it is impossible to protect your car if somebody wants to steal it.

So protection is about perceived value and cost. There is no point spending ££££££s on security systems for a car that is worth £££.

For me, ~£50 plus €1 per month for the SIMM seems a worthwhile investment while the car is all in pieces and fitting won't disrupt anything.

Who knows? it might be the best £50 I've ever spent or it might prove to be a waste of money - hopefully I'll never have to try it out.

It is frustratingly easy to be negative about such things on a forum.