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Topic: Black box above dash both 120V AC and 12V DC? (Read 464 times) previous topic - next topic

Black box above dash both 120V AC and 12V DC?

As I redo the area above my dash I have hit a proverbial technical roadblock.  The PO had already revamped a few things so I am trying to differentiate OEM from already customized.  I am suprprised at how many outlest there are up there for one thing.  The one the new TV was plugged has me stumped.  It was plugged into a single surge protector that was plugged into a pass-through black box that has low voltage wires coming out of it.  I cut the wire to try and put a tone on them to chase them but that failed.  The low voltage wires show around 7.8V on them.  So they have voltage going to the 120V pass-through box.  I'm stumped.

The attached pictures show the outlet it was plugged into with everything a little cleaner, as well as the original setup as I found it.  There are no markings on the black box and no screws to take it apart. 

Re: Black box above dash both 120V AC and 12V DC?

Reply #1 –
I believe this box has a relay triggered by 12v.  Keeps TV from turning on when ignition is on. 

Re: Black box above dash both 120V AC and 12V DC?

Reply #2 –
Chuck, you are spot on!  When we went with the "In motion" Tracstar on our '98, we bypassed that.  Now, that wasn't for me, but for anyone else that was riding in the coach that wanted to watch TV or listen to music.  Personally, a waste of money, but at the time, sounded good.  lol 

Re: Black box above dash both 120V AC and 12V DC?

Reply #3 –
Yes, Chuck is right it keeps TV off when key is on. I took mine out when I move the TV to the side of the coach, one less thing to go wrong.
Chris

Re: Black box above dash both 120V AC and 12V DC?

Reply #4 –
I'll have to put a meter on it with key ON.  So is it some voltage with key OFF and no voltage at key On and it shuts the outlet off?  Or some voltage with key OFF and with key ON full voltage and it shuts the outlet off.  I'm just trying to figure out if I can use those two wires for anything else activated by key ON.

If I'm watching TV while driving we have bigger problems...
 

Re: Black box above dash both 120V AC and 12V DC?

Reply #5 –
Quote from: coastalbuilder –
I'll have to put a meter on it with key ON.  So is it some voltage with key OFF and no voltage at key On and it shuts the outlet off?  Or some voltage with key OFF and with key ON full voltage and it shuts the outlet off.  I'm just trying to figure out if I can use those two wires for anything else activated by key ON.

If I'm watching TV while driving we have bigger problems...
Full voltage key off, no voltage key on. Could be used while camping for an accessory.