Enable accessories to be powered in the ignition Aux position.
Reproduced with kind permission of Brian Millar
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We cannot guarantee that this procedure will be appropriate for all models.
This modification allows power to be available for items such as the radio etc. without the need to switch the ignition circuits on.
I have carried out this modification to my own 1998 Chimaera 500. I believe it is applicable to Chimaeras and Griffiths.
This is a fairly easy modification to carryout but care must be taken when dismantling the ignition switch as the plastic casing is fairly delicate and easily broken.
The contact for the AUX circuit is present but it's use has been restricted by the way the casing has been moulded.
The contacts on the switch are numbered as follows: (Fig 1)
30 Live Feed from Battery
15 Ignition/Running Circuit
15a Auxiliary Circuit
50 Starter Circuit
P Powered when Ignition switch is in OFF position
Figure 1
1. Carefully remove the grey section of plastic containing the terminals from the black switch casing. This is done by levering the black casing over the 3 holding lugs on the grey casing with a thin bladed screwdriver (or two). (Fig. 2). Caution. Remove the grey plastic part slowly as the wiper plate inside has two springs behind it.
Figure 2
Figure 3
2. Once the switch is dismantled and cleaned it can be seen where the switch has been designed specifically to prevent the use of the contact in the AUX position. (Figs 3 & 4). As you can see from the pictures there is a plastic shoulder that prevents the wiper arm from touching the Auxiliary contact when the switch is in the AUX position.
Figure 4
3. The next step is to remove the plastic shoulder with a sharp knife to allow the wiper to sit on the contact. (Fig 5) The area to remove is shaded with black marker (Figs 5, 6 & 7).
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
4. After removal the contact should be showing above the plastic to enable the wiper to make contact with it. (Fig 8).
Figure 8
5. Next step is to clean the contact and the wiper and reassemble the switch. I coated the contact surfaces with silicon grease before re assembly. I also found it useful to hold the small spring in place with a small amount of silicon grease (Fig 9). (Fig 10 shows the Wiper plate in place with silicon grease on the contact faces).
Figure 9
Figure 10
6. The only thing left is to connect a new wire using a spade connector to the aux connector (15a) and test it. I used a spade connector with an insulated crimp section as this part of the wire is clear of the switch and there is a remote possibility to short it to earth bearing in mind that the circuit is live all the time the ignition is on. Then it is just a case of running the new cable to the auxiliary feed on the radio and whatever else you wish to power without the ignition being on.
