Stereo

[Mck VW]

When we are parked up at a site, sometimes we like to play some quiet background music. The problem I have is that after a certain amount of time 20mins I think, the stereo shuts down.( this is with the ignition turned off)So I have to go to the stereo and press the power button and away she plays again. This is frustrating me, and I’m not going to leave the ignition turned on. Is there a way that the stereo will stay on with the ignition turned off?

 

[WelshGas]

When we are parked up at a site, sometimes we like to play some quiet background music. The problem I have is that after a certain amount of time 20mins I think, the stereo shuts down.( this is with the ignition turned off)So I have to go to the stereo and press the power button and away she plays again. This is frustrating me, and I’m not going to leave the ignition turned on. Is there a way that the stereo will stay on with the ignition turned off?

Not without flattening the Engine Battery.
You have 2 Options.
1. Most California Owners use a USB Bluetooth speaker to play music from their phone, or, and this is what I use, a USB rechargeable speaker that plays MP3 files stored on a USB or SD card memory store.

2. Find an Autoelectrician who can figure out a way to power the onboard Music system from the Leisure Battery AND disable the automatic 20 minute switch off which is controlled by the onboard computer system. Not easily done.

There is a 3 rd way. Change the Onboard radio for a 3rd party system.

 

[Hotel California]

You verhicle details say Grand California , wich verhicle type are you talking about?

 

[Mck VW]

You verhicle details say Grand California , wich verhicle type are you talking about?

We have an Ocean. Not sure what happened in my profile and I’m struggling to edit it. Thanks for pointing this out.

 

[Brian’s Dad]

Apparently the 6.1 will allow the stereo to stay on when on EHU. They must have tweaked the power supply. I wonder if anyone will work out how to retrofit this to a T6?

 

[Eber123]

Good morning,

We bought a small DAB radio for this purpose. We use it with batteries which gives us the freedom to put the radio where ever we need it. Can't remember the cost, but it was not more than EUR 45.00.

Also we have a small set of speakers in the van as well. We use them either for the TV or for the radio if we want more than background music. Can't remember the cost of those, but surely not more than EUR 30.00.

Regards,
Eberhard

 

[Amarillo]

Good morning,

We bought a small DAB radio for this purpose. We use it with batteries which gives us the freedom to put the radio where ever we need it. Can't remember the cost, but it was not more than EUR 45.00.

Also we have a small set of speakers in the van as well. We use them either for the TV or for the radio if we want more than background music. Can't remember the cost of those, but surely not more than EUR 30.00.

Having a second sound system in the Cali if you have children is a real boon. You can have a bedtime story bluetoothed from iPad to a speaker in the roof tent while you and your partner can hand and foot jive to Showaddywaddy while lounging on the lower bed.

 

[No_heroes]

Apparently the 6.1 will allow the stereo to stay on when on EHU. They must have tweaked the power supply. I wonder if anyone will work out how to retrofit this to a T6?

After my last few weeks of camping - this did cross my mind about why can't I use the 'cab battery' functions whilst on EHU if both batteries are being charged? I would really like to be able to use Apple Car Play for phone (charging)/music/apps etc whilst on the campsite connected to EHU. Also I quite like the front cab reading lights...

I have not tried to see if it will stay on - does anyone have any insight?

 

[WelshGas]

After my last few weeks of camping - this did cross my mind about why can't I use the 'cab battery' functions whilst on EHU if both batteries are being charged? I would really like to be able to use Apple Car Play for phone (charging)/music/apps etc whilst on the campsite connected to EHU. Also I quite like the front cab reading lights...

I have not tried to see if it will stay on - does anyone have any insight?

1. It won’t stay On unless Ignition On. Not a good idea.
2. I have proven to my own satisfaction that on Mains Hookup the Engine battery is trickle charged and I do mean “ trickle “. This is not by design and whereas it might cope with more frequent use of the radio what you are referring to, on a continuous or more frequent basis, Unlikely.

You could try and let us know how you get on, but the Cab lights and ICE will still switch Off after 20 minutes or so.

 

[Jodalo]

We use iPad with or without Bluetooth speaker or ‘Pure’ rechargeable DAB radio.

 

[66tim99]

Good to hear the T6.1 stereo is powered by the leisure battery.

 

[Mehdime]

Does it mean that the 20 min automatic shutdown doesn’t happen anymore on the T6.1? The video doesn’t mention that.

 

[andyinluton]

If it’s like my T6.1 was it auto shuts down after a random amount of time whether you are driving or parked up.

There were suggestions early last year that the power supply had been changed to the Leisure batteries but even if it had been changed it did still auto switch off.

 

[66tim99]

If it’s like my T6.1 was it auto shuts down after a random amount of time whether you are driving or parked up.

There were suggestions early last year that the power supply had been changed to the Leisure batteries but even if it had been changed it did still auto switch off.

Yes - at the weekend mine continued playing on the campsite (not on hook-up) for, I would say 3 hours. The weekend prior it had switched off after about 20 mins. I'd like to know what I did differently (if anything).
Good to know though that keeping switching it back on won't drain the starter battery.

 

[Hawthorn37]

Good to hear the T6.1 stereo is powered by the leisure battery.

I commented back on this video that ours MY22 6.1 turns off after 20 minutes. We now carry an ancient portable wireless.

 

[Cavvy]

Anyone know how to stop the radio switching off after 20 mins when parked up, ignition off?

Chris seems to suggest T6.1 will continue to run off the leisure batteries but that’s not the case with mine, any tips?

 

[Baldrick]

Sorry, this has been the subject of many ‘column inches’ on this forum and incensed me similarly.
Because of the high level of power drain with audio systems it auto turns off hopefully before the battery levels fall to a point where you’d need a jumpstart. There are really good stand alone Bluetooth speakers - Bose and Anker Soundcore 3’s have been mentioned on this forum, others probably - that play for an exceptionally long time before needing recharging. Thought to be the easiest high quality music solution whilst parked up. We have both of them. I was particularly impressed with the Soundcore 3’s which say (and do) run for 24 hours and sound very good (to my ears anyway) on a VW dashboard.

I thought it was exceptionally poor for a campervan’s stereo not to work on mains hook up or solar as well, surely it should be a voltage based auto off. But a decent car stereo can draw 600w and a timed system is easiest and probably most cost effective.

Hope you find something that works for you.

 

[myvanrodney]

Sorry, this has been the subject of many ‘column inches’ on this forum and incensed me similarly.
Because of the high level of power drain with audio systems it auto turns off hopefully before the battery levels fall to a point where you’d need a jumpstart. There are really good stand alone Bluetooth speakers - Bose and Anker Soundcore 3’s have been mentioned on this forum, others probably - that play for an exceptionally long time before needing recharging. Thought to be the easiest high quality music solution whilst parked up. We have both of them. I was particularly impressed with the Soundcore 3’s which say (and do) run for 24 hours and sound very good (to my ears anyway) on a VW dashboard.

I thought it was exceptionally poor for a campervan’s stereo not to work on mains hook up or solar as well, surely it should be a voltage based auto off. But a decent car stereo can draw 600w and a timed system is easiest and probably most cost effective.

Hope you find something that works for you.

If you catch the power button on the dash quick enough it switches back on straight away. We suffer in silence (well until we press the power button again) ...

 

[Coachella]

Forget trying to do it through the vehicle stereo.
For the cost of getting all that done to work off leisure battery or other solutions -
a small DAB radio is what we use

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08Q31T4JS/?tag=eliteelect-21

You can take it outside when eating at your table, or the beach.
Lasts a long time - and quick to charge.

 

[Allard Jongebloed]

I ran into the same problem. Of course I can take a speaker with Bluetooth, works fine. But that's not the point, you buy an iconic, and very expensive camper, then you don't expect something like that. What, sane designer comes up with such an idea?
I wonder if anyone has ever aprroached VW about this.

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

Unfortunately, the California is a pop top caravan on the back of a transporter, the radio is part of the transporter, some of the pop top caravan functions are integrated, some are not, and most appear to be integrated badly.

Just wait for all the disagreements this one will generate!

 

[TripleBee]

A bit late for the OP perhapse, but there is a workaround for the T5.1.
I had the same "problem" that after about half an hour the radio shut down.
I had a look around in some settings of the radio (VAS PC, or VCDS, or anything else that can adjust settings in VW cars), and suddenly I found a channel that stated "30". I thought: 30 = half an hour in minutes. I put the number down to "1" and after 1 minute, the radio shut down. Then I entered "99999", but the highest number I could enter was "199" = over 3 hours.
From that time my radio didn't shut down after 30 minutes.
I don't know what channel I altered anymore (over 12 years ago, and since then I have installed an Android system).
If anyone can fiddle around with a VCDS or Carista or something to try to find out?

 

[Allard Jongebloed]

Unfortunately, the California is a pop top caravan on the back of a transporter, the radio is part of the transporter, some of the pop top caravan functions are integrated, some are not, and most appear to be integrated badly.

Just wait for all the disagreements this one will generate!

That's probably also the reason for the five auxiliary power outlets, (the cigarette lighter), what on earth you need that for in 2024...

 

[Cavvy]

Sorry, this has been the subject of many ‘column inches’ on this forum and incensed me similarly.
Because of the high level of power drain with audio systems it auto turns off hopefully before the battery levels fall to a point where you’d need a jumpstart. There are really good stand alone Bluetooth speakers - Bose and Anker Soundcore 3’s have been mentioned on this forum, others probably - that play for an exceptionally long time before needing recharging. Thought to be the easiest high quality music solution whilst parked up. We have both of them. I was particularly impressed with the Soundcore 3’s which say (and do) run for 24 hours and sound very good (to my ears anyway) on a VW dashboard.

I thought it was exceptionally poor for a campervan’s stereo not to work on mains hook up or solar as well, surely it should be a voltage based auto off. But a decent car stereo can draw 600w and a timed system is easiest and probably most cost effective.

Hope you find something that works for you.

Yes I already have a really good bluetooth speaker Audio Pro T3 highly recommend but sometimes it’s nice when you’ve been driving along using the in built radio to continue to listen when parked up, but then it just cuts out? I used to own a Passatt and it did the same, just thought I was doing something wrong and not a VW trait.

 

[TripleBee]

Yes I already have a really good bluetooth speaker Audio Pro T3 highly recommend but sometimes it’s nice when you’ve been driving along using the in built radio to continue to listen when parked up, but then it just cuts out? I used to own a Passatt and it did the same, just thought I was doing something wrong and not a VW trait.

In fact it is absolutely plausible.
What do you think will happen when you keep listening for hours to your radio? Yes, the starter battery will go flat, and you won't be able to start your engine.
It is a built in power saver to preserve the starting capacity of the starter battery.
In the California they could have wired the live feed for the radio to the leisure batteries, making it stay on for much longer when EHU connection is detected.
But as the California starts it's life as a Multivan/Caravelle, that part of the electrical installation stays the same, with the same limits.