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Disconnect battery terminals for DICE installation?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by Priscilla, Jul 19, 2006.

  1. Priscilla

    Priscilla Junior Member

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    First of all, thank you thank you thank you Danny for organizing the group buy and shipping all those units. Hope you had help. I apologize for my emails regarding where is it and when. I ordered from the accessory shop and missed the forum threads with details and other info. Sorry sorry sorry. Now, for the question. I am set to try this installation myself. The DICE instructions start off with "disconnect both battery terminals for proper initialization". Is everyone doing that? And does it mean the hybrid battery or the 12 volt? Forgive me if that's a stupid question. My history with car stuff is putting gas in and checking the air in the tires. :rolleyes:
     
    #1 Priscilla, Jul 19, 2006
  2. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    it's always a safe bet to disconnect the negative terminal of the 12v battery when playing with wiring.
     
    #2 galaxee, Jul 19, 2006
  3. yunlin12

    yunlin12 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Priscilla @ Jul 19 2006, 08:51 PM) [snapback]289108[/snapback]</div>
    I didn't disconnect any batteries, just shut down the car and it was fine. You are bascially just plugging a plug into the back of the car radio. When the car is off, the radio is off, I can't imagine it doing any harm.
     
    #3 yunlin12, Jul 28, 2006
  4. eagle33199

    eagle33199 Platinum Member

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    While it should be fine, in general, to do a mod like this (ie pluging and unplugging one connector) without disconnecting the battery, you always run the risk, no matter how small, of creating some small power surge through the system (in this case the MFD/radio) or of getting shocked yourself. The electronics are all provided power continuously, regardless if the car is on or off, and there is simply a control wire that signals the electronics to turn on or off. Thus, you are dealing with a live wire, while the entire body of the car acts as the negative terminal. Thus Galaxee's recomendation to disconnect one terminal of the battery (you only need to do one, not both). Generally the negative terminal is the one people will disconnect.
     
    #4 eagle33199, Jul 31, 2006
  5. Priscilla

    Priscilla Junior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Jul 31 2006, 08:53 AM) [snapback]295012[/snapback]</div>
    Thank you eagle33199 and everyone else who replyed to my question. I have successfully completed the installation and did not disconnect the battery. Everything works beautifully. I did the installation myself using those detailed VAIS directions and photographs. Thank you hybrideyes for those. ....And I am a "Priusess" (female Prius owner) with no previous auto mechanical experience. My husband removed the bolt for me - that's all.

    I have a 2005 with nav and 6 CD player. My ipod is a 60g video with 1:1:1 firmware. So far (one week) it works perfectly. With D1 selected I can get album and song title on the MFD whether I am shuffling through all songs, playlists or albums. In D2 I can move from playlist to playlist whether it's by genre or my own. In D3 I can move from album to album. In D2 and D3 I get playlist and album headings respectively, rather than album name. In D5 if you use the previous/next on the steering wheel it toggles you between SEL:IPOD and AUX1. You must have SEL:IPOD selected or you won't get sound and the car controls won't function. At least that was my experience once when I was exploring.

    I am leaving the DICE unit in my glove box to keep everything out of sight. I don't like pinching the cord by closing the glove box on it either. My husband made a thermal pouch for my ipod to keep it from getting too hot when I leave it in the car.

    I am thrilled!!! Thanks to everyone for their helpful posts and especially to Danny.
     
    #5 Priscilla, Jul 31, 2006
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