Illumination feed to headunit in '03 Boxster S

[EddyH]

I have an '03 Boxster S with a MOST CDR23 and M490 sound package. I'm intending to replace the current setup with a Becker Cascade and new speakers. I've done a quite a bit of searching and reading on here and I think I need to add a switched live feed and illumination feed to the connector block. I've read that I can get the switched live from the blue/black wire on the large connector to the climate unit. However I'm unsure where to get the illumination feed from, can I just take it from one of the switches and find the correct wire by using a multi-meter?

[theitalianflip]

I have an '03 Boxster S with a MOST CDR23 and M490 sound package. I'm intending to replace the current setup with a Becker Cascade and new speakers. I've done a quite a bit of searching and reading on here and I think I need to add a switched live feed and illumination feed to the connector block. I've read that I can get the switched live from the blue/black wire on the large connector to the climate unit. However I'm unsure where to get the illumination feed from, can I just take it from one of the switches and find the correct wire by using a multi-meter?

The illumination should be on the harness going into the deck.

You can use a multi-meter. The illumination wire should test ground when the light switch is off, and 11.8-13V when the light switch is on. Now, this is also true with the dimmer, but the difference is, the dimmer will change voltage if you brighten or darken your interior lights (when switched on), it will range from about 4V-12.8V.

Hope this helps.

FYI. Dont connect the illumination from the deck to the dimmer, this can damage "some" Decks.

[artster]

I have an '03 Boxster S with a MOST CDR23 and M490 sound package. I'm intending to replace the current setup with a Becker Cascade and new speakers. I've done a quite a bit of searching and reading on here and I think I need to add a switched live feed and illumination feed to the connector block. I've read that I can get the switched live from the blue/black wire on the large connector to the climate unit. However I'm unsure where to get the illumination feed from, can I just take it from one of the switches and find the correct wire by using a multi-meter?

The illumination should be on the harness going into the deck.

You can use a multi-meter. The illumination wire should test ground when the light switch is off, and 11.8-13V when the light switch is on. Now, this is also true with the dimmer, but the difference is, the dimmer will change voltage if you brighten or darken your interior lights (when switched on), it will range from about 4V-12.8V.

Hope this helps.

FYI. Dont connect the illumination from the deck to the dimmer, this can damage "some" Decks.

According to the pinout diagram (see this post), there is an "illumination input" at terminal A6, but my recollection is that there was no wire connected there. The CDR-23 does vary illumination level with the dash adjustment - but I don't know how it does it... Perhaps the CAN bus?

That doesn't really answer your question - but perhaps you can just tap into a dash light line to get the illumination input you need for your Becker unit. The easiest place to tap into that, in my opinion, is the ash tray illumination in the center console.

Also, best access to switched 12V is the phone interface connector behind the dash.

Good luck - and please post your solution should you find it.

- Art

[EddyH]

I have an '03 Boxster S with a MOST CDR23 and M490 sound package. I'm intending to replace the current setup with a Becker Cascade and new speakers. I've done a quite a bit of searching and reading on here and I think I need to add a switched live feed and illumination feed to the connector block. I've read that I can get the switched live from the blue/black wire on the large connector to the climate unit. However I'm unsure where to get the illumination feed from, can I just take it from one of the switches and find the correct wire by using a multi-meter?

The illumination should be on the harness going into the deck.

You can use a multi-meter. The illumination wire should test ground when the light switch is off, and 11.8-13V when the light switch is on. Now, this is also true with the dimmer, but the difference is, the dimmer will change voltage if you brighten or darken your interior lights (when switched on), it will range from about 4V-12.8V.

Hope this helps.

FYI. Dont connect the illumination from the deck to the dimmer, this can damage "some" Decks.

According to the pinout diagram (see this post), there is an "illumination input" at terminal A6, but my recollection is that there was no wire connected there. The CDR-23 does vary illumination level with the dash adjustment - but I don't know how it does it... Perhaps the CAN bus?

That doesn't really answer your question - but perhaps you can just tap into a dash light line to get the illumination input you need for your Becker unit. The easiest place to tap into that, in my opinion, is the ash tray illumination in the center console.

Also, best access to switched 12V is the phone interface connector behind the dash.

Good luck - and please post your solution should you find it.

- Art

I'll have a look at this tomorrow if I get chance and see what's there> I'll post here with what I find.

Sorry I should have said I'm in the UK which means I won't have the telephone connector in my car.

[EddyH]

I finally got to have a look at this and there was no switched live or illumination connection in the stock connector.

I added the switched live from the climate control panel and it does look like the ashtray will be the best option for illumination feed. I didn't get chance to add the illumination feed though as it started raining and my garage isn't big enough to work in. Hopefully I can spend some more time on this at the weekend. I also found that the antenna connection is Fakra on the CDR23 so I have had to order an adaptor to convert to ISO for the Becker Cascade.