Headrest monitors, constant power?

I may have made a mistake, so here's the rundown.

I wired 2 6' headrest monitors directly to constant power rather than switched power. The reason being that I tapped into a cable run to the back which goes to an inverter that needs to have access to power which is always on.

So when I installed the monitors, I tapped that power wire run since it was convenient & didn't realize the monitors have a passive power draw; when off, there is still a dim indicator light for the on/off switch.

So my question is, how much of a power draw are those monitors when off? Should I rewire them to switched power? Is my wife going go apedoodie on me when she goes to start it and the battery is dead?

I would wire them up to a switched 12v just to be save, just incase you leave it on

-------------
RTFM

Just rewire them, shouldn't take more then a couple minutes. And yes your wife will go "apedoodie" on you when she can't start the vehicle.

-------------
Certified Security Specialist
Always check info with a digital multimeter.
I promise to be good.
Tell Darwin I sent you.

I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.

the problem is i have no idea where to easily get to switched power. anyone here know where switched power is under the console of an LX470?

why not just wire up a relay triggered off just about anything that is ignition switched but draw your power from the same place you are now
should solve all your problems

If you can't get to the igntion switch harness to get the correct wire, try checking any cigarette lighter outlets. Some of these may have a switched source.

-------------
sparky

man i wish i wasn't such a n00b. finding switched power is killing me, and i cant easily get to any of the lighter outlets

So I bought a voltmeter. Do I just keep trying wires until one shows 12v when the ignition is on & tap it?

yes keep checking until you find 1 that shows power with ignition on and then no power with it off and then you can use that to trigger a relay tapped off the constant power u originally tapped from this way you dont overlaod any of the vehicles wiring

Well, I'm keeping the original wire constant because it is going to an inverter I mounted in the back.

I found an unused pigtail/molex that had switched power and tapped it. Since it was unused, do you think I'll overload it? I guess I could run another wire from the battery and put in a relay as you suggested. The load will be 2 monitors, a mobile dvd player, and a hardwired fm modulator.

Thanks for the help so far!

i wasnt saying to not keep the original wire constant but to tap your relay's power off of it and then switch the relay using the switched wire you found.
best of both worlds
safety and convenience