I'm looking to install the Blackberry Bluetooth Audio Gateway in the car for some wire-free audio and wanted to install it near the rear 12v and aux-in outputs, but the power is always on. Is there an easy way to make it switched or will I have to extend a connection off the front 12v outlet?

Thanks!

You could split off the front socket which is ignition controlled but they would both then use the same fuse. A slightly more advanced option would be to interrupt the +12V to the rear socket with a relay and fire its coil from the front socket. Just make sure to use a 12VDC coil relay with a suitable contact rating. Something like this would be suitable:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=37526
If you don't trust yourself to do it safely an auto electrician shouldn't take more than an hour to sort it for you.

We dont use the front 12v so that might be the simplest option; the car's also due for it's 15k service soon so I may see what the dealership would charge to change the rear...

There is +12v in a wisp under a glove box that are switching on together a ignition.

Click image to enlarge

Well the gateway turned up today and I tested it out indoors - this thing is freakin' awesome!! I've never played with A2DP stuff before but will certainly spend more time on it now.

Both my BB 9700 and my wife's iPhone 3G paired up and played music with no problems; the only pain with the iPhone is that you can't change the volume directly, it has to be done on the speakers/HU, whereas the BB allows you to change it via the handset.

I may do a little write-up after I get it installed and working if people are interested

nautilus wrote:

Well the gateway turned up today and I tested it out indoors - this thing is freakin' awesome!! I've never played with A2DP stuff before but will certainly spend more time on it now.

Both my BB 9700 and my wife's iPhone 3G paired up and played music with no problems; the only pain with the iPhone is that you can't change the volume directly, it has to be done on the speakers/HU, whereas the BB allows you to change it via the handset.

I may do a little write-up after I get it installed and working if people are interested

Sounds, good please do the write up, I for one would definately be interested.

Watch you don't invalidate the warranty. I got stung with a wired in satnav. The dealers said faulty starting was down to that, battery discharge, and then stung me 250 squid bill. I managed to circumvent the satnav wiring so it complied with LR standard without removing it and did get the money back when the fault was traced to a faulty starter button, but I was lucky.

Carnoch wrote:

Watch you don't invalidate the warranty. I got stung with a wired in satnav. The dealers said faulty starting was down to that, battery discharge, and then stung me 250 squid bill. I managed to circumvent the satnav wiring so it complied with LR standard without removing it and did get the money back when the fault was traced to a faulty starter button, but I was lucky.

pick up a switched supply from the fuse box by the spare wheel, use a male 1/4" spade connector to plug into an unused fuse connector, there's plenty of switched & unswitched power supplies available in there...