Internal lighting and radio

[Steve_gray2]

Hi all,

Away in our 2021 Ocean for 10 nights and a couple of things are bugging us - no lights over the front seats and Discover Media Pro won’t run from the leisure batteries and/or the 240 volt plug in. Has anyone solved these issues?
Cheers
S&K

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

Hi all,

Away in our 2021 Ocean for 10 nights and a couple of things are bugging us - no lights over the front seats and Discover Media Pro won’t run from the leisure batteries and/or the 240 volt plug in. Has anyone solved these issues?
Cheers
S&K

Hi @Steve_gray2 I think you have to have the ignition on to use your Discover Media Pro (maybe not) and it uses the starter battery not the leisure batteries (or EHU). It will also switch itself off after a period of time to protect your starter battery.
Lights above the mirror should work. Without checking my van I seem to remember that one of the switches disables them? Check that it’s not in the wrong position.

 

[Steve_gray2]

Thanks - we can get about 30 mins from the Media Pro before curfew, but have tried all the switch options for the lights but no luck (maybe i should read the manual??)

 

[The Tall Luthier]

Don’t read the manual Steve. Two reasons: one your a man and this represents failure; two, it’s crap at answering questions like this.

Once you put the van into camping mode it pretty much locks off the front lights.

The media centre is designed to Bluetooth to when your driving only, which is shonky to say the least.

We’ve tried watching films on the iPad and putting the sound through the van. It works but then gets all arsie and switches off.

 

[AlanC]

The Media Pro/radio is controlled by the onboard body computer. It is surprisingly thirsty so the body computer will switch it off after 20 mins or so when the ignition is off to preserve the engine battery charge.

Even if you rerouted the power from the leisure batteries (as some have done) unless you also disconnect the Canbus system via a switch the radio will still be turned off by it after 20 mins.

On the T5 it was possible to extend the switch-off time to about 50 mins by re-programming the body computer. It may also be the same on the T6 and T6.1.

The best solution is to use a small portable radio/media unit when camped.

Alan

 

[DavidofHook]

Our van is 2012 and without any media stuff. We use WiFi, if available or the phone with mobile phones & iPads. Gives radio & some tv suchas BBC News & iPlayer.
We also have a DVD player with pathetic sound system which I plug into the socket in the front passenger box. Need the ignition on to avoid mind shattering shriek. Works ok if you don’t mind a few wires around

 

[Hawthorn37]

We have a tiny, old school transistor radio that takes AA batteries and pull out aerial. Given up trying to keep the infotainment system on.

 

[yossarian]

The Media Pro/radio is controlled by the onboard body computer. It is surprisingly thirsty so the body computer will switch it off after 20 mins or so when the ignition is off to preserve the engine battery charge.

How do you know that its control is not autonomous?

Even if you rerouted the power from the leisure batteries (as some have done) unless you also disconnect the Canbus system via a switch the radio will still be turned off by it after 20 mins.

Do you know anyone who has successfully disconnected the canbus and had the radio run for an unlimited period?

Genuine questions. If it's a simple as interrupting (or filtering) the canbus I'll get on it right away. My assumption was that the radio listened for "vehicle is on" messages on the canbus not "switch yourself off" messages.

 

[AlanC]

How do you know that its control is not autonomous?

Do you know anyone who has successfully disconnected the canbus and had the radio run for an unlimited period?

Genuine questions. If it's a simple as interrupting (or filtering) the canbus I'll get on it right away. My assumption was that the radio listened for "vehicle is on" messages on the canbus not "switch yourself off" messages.

Yes, someone from a thread back in 2016 had a switch fitted that routed the power from the leisure batteries and switched the Canbus as well.

RADIO - CONNECT TO LEISURE BATTERY​

see post 14.

Alan

 

[AlanC]

Yes, Feeley had it done to his van back in 2016.
Search for:

CAR STEREO ON LEASURE BATTERY?​

• Thread starter bmassaer
• Start date Nov 6, 2014

Alan

 

[yossarian]

Car stereo on leasure battery?

I just realised that the car stereo is connected to the main battery of the car. Would it be possible to connect it to the leasur battery, or do just have to accept this fact and use an mp3 player when camping?

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Interesting. Not via the BCM and I don't see if it worked but still interesting.