Phone Car kits, stereo and relay issues

Submitted: Monday, Aug 01, 2005 at 11:05

ThreadID: 25244 Views:2614 Replies:3 FollowUps:9

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Alan S (NSW)

Hi, looking for some advice here.

I installed a new car kit for a nokia 6230 in my wife’s car at the weekend. The stereo in her car doesn’t have a mute so I bought a relay as suggested in the installation booklet and wired it up accordingly.

With the ignition on and the engine off it all works well i.e. when I use the car kit the relay opens the contact and the radio turns off, the ignition 12v wire connection is cut and when the call is finished the radio comes back on. However, with the engine running it doesn’t work as well, what happens is that the contact opens and then closes again so the radio turns off and then back on about half a second later. So, now with the motor running I have the phone ringing and the stereo still on. Any ideas on how to fix this problem? It is sure confusing me.

Anyone seen this before or know of a fix?
Thanks,

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Reply By: BenSpoon - Monday, Aug 01, 2005 at 14:40

Monday, Aug 01, 2005 at 14:40

I'd say go back and check that you stuck the relay on the right wire going into the stereo. I have come across cars before that have 2 ign wires going into the stereo- one is for a 1 hour timer that turns off the stereo if the engine is not running, and the other is the common ign wire.
Did you take into account power maybe coming off other wires like the headlights-on circuit, or maybe a power aerial circuit?
Have you tried testing it just using the CD player, not the radio?

AnswerID: 123151

Follow Up By: Alan S (NSW) - Monday, Aug 01, 2005 at 14:50

Monday, Aug 01, 2005 at 14:50

I have tripled checked all the wiring to the stereo. I have intercepted the ignition 12v line to the stereo. There is a permanent 12v line to the stereo but I haven't cut that because if I did I would loose all stereo memory every time the phone rang. The same issue exists using the CD player. Thanks for your suggestions.

One possible guess coule be that there is noise on the wiring that is causing the relay to trip but I can't be sure.

Thanks for your suggestions.

FollowupID: 378230

Follow Up By: BenSpoon - Monday, Aug 01, 2005 at 19:40

Monday, Aug 01, 2005 at 19:40

Theres a good one... I looked thru the Nokia destructions for installing and it really has me wondering how/why it would be different when the engine is running- it is a pretty simple setup.

Have you tried sticking a multimeter onto the 85 terminal (-'ve) and seeing if it wavers at all when the radio comes back on when it shouldnt? It should drop to 0V when the radio gets turned off and only get back to 12V when the radio is to come on/call is ended.

Can you actually hear the relay click back closed when the engine is running and you still have an active call?

FollowupID: 378280

Follow Up By: Alan S (NSW) - Tuesday, Aug 02, 2005 at 08:58

Tuesday, Aug 02, 2005 at 08:58

Yep, I can hear the relay click back closed when the engine is running. I did all testing with the ignition on and the engine off. I replaced the dash before I discovered the problem. I'll have a closer look next weekend.

Thanks

FollowupID: 378356

Follow Up By: Alan S (NSW) - Tuesday, Aug 02, 2005 at 08:59

Tuesday, Aug 02, 2005 at 08:59

Looks like Captain may have the answer!

FollowupID: 378357

Reply By: Member - Captain (WA) - Monday, Aug 01, 2005 at 22:05

Monday, Aug 01, 2005 at 22:05

Hi Alan,

I have the Nokia 6225 kit (same as 6230, except CDMA) and had the exact same problem. The issue is the type of relay used as the Nokia kit does not have enough amps to close (well open acutally) the normal "spotlight" relay. I simply went to Dick Smiths and bought a relay that needed much less amps to close and solved the problem instantly.

Cheers

Captain

AnswerID: 123246

Follow Up By: Alan S (NSW) - Tuesday, Aug 02, 2005 at 09:01

Tuesday, Aug 02, 2005 at 09:01

Thanks for that, that is a great help. I'll head off today and try to source one.
I have never played with relay's before, do you know if lower amp relays have the same configuration / pin numbering etc??

FollowupID: 378358

Follow Up By: Member - Captain (WA) - Tuesday, Aug 02, 2005 at 10:38

Tuesday, Aug 02, 2005 at 10:38

The relay I used had no numbers on the 5 pins. But it had a clear case and you could easily see where each pin was connected. Just a matter of working out which pin goes to which part of the relay then comparing to the diagram in the Nokia install kit manual. I soldered leads onto the relay pins as they were designed for use in a circuit board configuration. I commoned the 12V radio supply (pin 30 in Nokia diagram) and the 12V supplied to the coil (pin 86), saves running an additional wire.

Cheers

Captain

FollowupID: 378370

Follow Up By: BenSpoon - Tuesday, Aug 02, 2005 at 11:39

Tuesday, Aug 02, 2005 at 11:39

I recall the manual saying something like the relay must be less than 100 Ohm resistance at <16V. All the relays I have come across have had the same numbering format on them on the pins.

FollowupID: 378380