Awkward Aerial

ard126k · Post by **ard126k** » Tue Jun 12, 2018 12:35 pm

My electric aerial is playing up, but not down! My test lamp shows power on the blue/red wire to the aerial whether the radio is on or off, but no power on the blue/white one, on or off. If I run a separate 12v supply to the blue/white cable I can hear a relay clicking inside the aerial housing but still nothing moves. The wiring diagram shows a fuse in one supply but I can't find it.
GTC, if that's relevant.

Alex.

Post by **peter freeman** » Tue Jun 12, 2018 1:48 pm

Do away with it and fit a strip aerial behind the inside lamp above the driver - runs the whole width of the car and works just as well, then you can have the aerial hole filled in which makes the car look better.

Post by **ScimmyMike** » Tue Jun 12, 2018 1:57 pm

I bought one of those small powered aerials from Hlafrauds and hid it above the visor panel on my 6b, worked pretty well tbh. think it was about a tenner, probably cheaper on fleabay of course

Post by **Coupe Racing** » Tue Jun 12, 2018 2:24 pm

If the relay is clicking then it’s getting a switch supply but it’s not outputting a current
Try a replacement or open it up

Post by **AJL Electronics** » Tue Jun 12, 2018 3:30 pm

If the relay is clucking then you have a duck problem! With constant power on the red and power on the blue, it should motor up. Removing the power to the blue will make it motor down. If you lose the power to the red or the earth, then it will stay wherever it was. I would be looking to check the earth line.

Post by **toolmanchris** » Tue Jun 12, 2018 3:33 pm

Surely a clucking is a chicken problem, quacking would be a duck problem........ I'l get me coat

ard126k · Post by **ard126k** » Tue Jun 12, 2018 6:28 pm

Thanks for all the suggestions, including the fowl language!

I want to keep/replace the powered aerial, such things were the height of luxury when I was starting to be interested in cars.

I'll keep on poking around. Any ideas about the elusive fuse? ISTR seeing a fuseholder in the area of the radio but I thought it was for the mirrors...

Post by **scimjim** » Tue Jun 12, 2018 6:52 pm

No relay or fuse on any of my electric aerials and different radios and aerials will have differing colours, so I think you’ll need to follow the wiring to confirm?

ard126k · Post by **ard126k** » Sat Jun 16, 2018 12:38 pm

Think I've found the problem! The smell gave it away -

: IMG_0897.JPG (134.37 KiB) Viewed 1115 times

spegru · Post by **spegru** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 9:34 am

Why did anyone bother with an electric aerial in a fibreglass car. A piece of wire up the windscreen pillar should do it!

Post by **AJL Electronics** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 12:11 pm

spegru wrote: ↑
Tue Jun 19, 2018 9:34 am
Why did anyone bother with an electric aerial in a fibreglass car. A piece of wire up the windscreen pillar should do it!

For the same reason that the wiring wasn't done with Scotchloks. Finesse, quality and function. Also an electric aerial was an "upgrade" to the run of the mill pull up types.

spegru · Post by **spegru** » Wed Jun 20, 2018 8:58 am

I did mean the inside of the pillar btw. Invisible.

Alan SS1 · Post by **Alan SS1** » Thu Jun 21, 2018 12:48 pm

spegru wrote: ↑
Tue Jun 19, 2018 9:34 am
Why did anyone bother with an electric aerial in a fibreglass car. A piece of wire up the windscreen pillar should do it!

yep, works for me, hidden from view, weather & vandals