Morris Minor Owners Club

I've had a brainwave which means there will be something wrong with it BUT we are going down to Paignton in april and I would like to put a radio in the car . I donnt want to fit it permenently as when we go to shows we would like to take it out. Now I was thinking of putting a cigarette lighter in and just wiring it to the battery and then use my inverter in that and then use my dab portable radio. How does this sound , is it feasable and, will it flatten the battery if I just kept it wired up but without the inverter and radio plugged in .
Hope you can help
Steve

Hey Steve

Sounds like an ok idea as long as the DAB Radio will go loud enough. I used to just use a 'boombox'. It was a very big loud Sony with Radio, Tape, CD and even that was hard to hear!

As long as the inverter is unplugged then it wont flatten the battery. I have a few of the inverters aswell and they are increadibly badly made. A few lecturers at my uni said they are supprised they even work!!

They do the job, just, but they are very inefficient and use allot of electricity compared to what they produce.

A better idea may be to use a car stereo placed on the parcel shelf and then use bookshelf speakers under the front two seats. The sound quality is supprisingly good and then with bigger speakers and a better amp in the car stereo you should get a good sound.

I woud only be using it as we go along the motorway so it should be ok. I would never use it with the engine off. It seems to have a good volume on it I will have to test it before we go

Just use earphones and a simple battery powered portable radio!

bmcecosse wrote:Just use earphones and a simple battery powered portable radio!

I had a similar idea for my Land Lover and was going to install a socket so I could plug in headphones to a fixed stereo.
I cann't remember the exact legal aspect but headphones, and I assume therefore probably earphones, are deninatley not legal in UK for use in motor vehicles.
Several other countries have the same law.
Obviously a portable stereo is different matter but might still get a "pull" by a Police Officer if you are seen using them.
I'm now going for small speakers either side of headrest like the Jap market MX5 models

Paul Humphries


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Head rest? Now THERE"S posh...
a

Where does it say headphones not allowed ? Effectively that's what 'handsfree' phones use - and they are actively encouraged! I don't even think you have to declare if completely deaf for driving licence ?

bmcecosse wrote:Where does it say headphones not allowed ? Effectively that's what 'handsfree' phones use - and they are actively encouraged! I don't even think you have to declare if completely deaf for driving licence ?

Like I said I cann't remember the exact legal aspect that says headphone aren't legal but it was discussed on another forum (uk-lro so maybe Spag can remember) and I was sent links to confirmation that it's not allowed.


Paul Humphries

paulhumphries wrote:I had a similar idea for my Land Lover and was going to install a socket so I could plug in headphones to a fixed stereo.
I cann't remember the exact legal aspect but headphones, and I assume therefore probably earphones, are deninatley not legal in UK for use in motor vehicles .

Yeah that was what I was thinking! My dad is a Police officer and has to wear headphones while driving to do his job!!!

I used to do the headphone idea but did find it harder to drive. Its suprising how much you listen to the engine.

The inverter wont flatten your battery very quickly (as long as your battery is ok) I have run a portable tv and dvd player off a small car battery for at least an hour and the battery has still been usable.

I think you will be suprised at how hard it is to listen to at cruising speed.

Good luck

Well - if Police wear headphones - it must be ok for the rest of us! But do ask Dad please Andrew and let us know!

I know there is provision for regulations to be made for headphones worn by motorcyclists (see s.18 Road Traffic Act 1988) - but I'm not aware of anything specific for cars.

OK just gave my dad a call and he says that there are no Laws at all that specify you cannot wear headphones in a car while driving.

Obviously bikers use it for radio links etc but it is frowned upon in the biking world to use it for music because you can never really be in full control. On a bike you rely on your hearing allot to analyse your surroundings.

In a car however it is a bit different. At the end of the day it is no different from having your stereo loud.

The only thing he said to watch out for was if there was an accident. If for example you were unfortunate to have a bump it could be seen as you not being in control of the vehicle. Although you are not likely to be arrested for this, it could be a big factor when it comes to insurance.

Hope this clears a few things up.

Thats really intersting cheers for finding out.

I'd personally not reccomend headphones, its really quite different from having a normal stero loud. Its more a kind of sensory deprevation - ive got a radio walkman i sometimes use around here including in the strangerover and you cant hear a thing with that on. Certainly wouldnt drive on the road using it.

Thanks for finding out.

I'm going back with having headphone sockets in my Land Rover then

I seem to think the reason I was given they aren't legal to do with the change in the law when the new Highway Code was introduced last year.
It has an aspect that says you should be able to hear other road users and there have already been procecutions of "boy racer" types for excessive noise.

Paul Humphries

Thanks to all, Its worked a treat. The only problem I has was that Blew a fuse and had to replace it. I've also managed to get it wired up so that the powr goes off and on with the ignition .
I tried it up and down a dual carrigway near me at 60mph and the sound was great.
Steve

Do you have an ammeter? I'd be worried about flattening the battery even if you only use it with the engine running.

Dont forget there is always the good old starting handle! I have started a morris with a battery that was as flat as a pancake. As long as you don't intend to use lights, heaters etc straight away