Stealth hardwire of Rewire Security TK102 in Golf mk7

[markyb_lcy]

So, I've got myself a tk102 tracker, which I am very pleased with. I wasted about £10 of phone credit setting it up and failing and fixing and getting to know it etc. Hey ho, now I know how it works.

I would like to hardwire this unit to a permanent power feed in my Golf mk7. I have the correct hardwire cable and having already hardwired front+back Garmin 55 dashcams (using official garmin cables and add-a-fuse taps with unused fuse slots), I know what's involved on a basic level.

In this case though, I would like to do a stealth install. By this, I mean .... when the potential thief looks at the fuse box and rips out the fuse taps, they'll only be removing the dashcam cables. So ideally I want to piggyback this hardwire cable off an existing perm power feed. I've found a nice place to "stash" the unit itself, in the boot lib trim, that is easily accessible on the Golf mk7, but still might provide enough stealth. If you look at the following pic...

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/56cNFyOh_Kc/maxresdefault.j...

You can see two small tabs on either side of the boot lid plastic trim. These clip off and I stuff the tracker inside the plastic trim (wrapped in something to keep it from rattling/moving about). There does appear to be some power sources and other wires here and even some plugs inside these small removable panels. I guess these are for trailer electrics or something?

So where do I start here to identify a good source of 12v for my hardwire that I can tap using a scotchlock or similar connector? I'm concious of things like CANbus and resistances. Wouldn't want to create any warning lights or mess up any "smart" trailer features the car may or may not have etc.

Anyone done this stealth-style install before? I can't find much guidance on the internet other than to plug directly to fusebox, which is like zero stealth. Any ideas?

[Dave.]

Is there a lighter socket in the boot?

Anything that has a switched live would work, I used the lighter socket in the boot of my Mini.

[markyb_lcy]

Dave. said:

Is there a lighter socket in the boot?

Anything that has a switched live would work, I used the lighter socket in the boot of my Mini.

There is, and I have considered this, but I would prefer to use a permanent live rather than a switched live. The hardwire cable has voltage-based protection, so it should never fully drain the car battery, but it would potentially extend the lifecycle of the tracker power (which gives you a bigger window for finding the car).

There is, according to the golf manual, a way to make the cig lighters perm live, by adding a fuse to an unused location. I have two issues with this ... a) I'm worried about leaving a USB charger or something in and draining the battery when it's left for a week without driving and b) My fuse box apparently is nothing like the one documented in the manual, or indeed the 8 or so revisions available on VW's Erwin system, so I am totally unsure which is the right fuse to accomplish this (and I don't wanna play around with that too much).

Your suggestion might be the one I settle on though, as it does seem the easiest while still allowing some stealth. And if I crack the switched->perm 12v socket conversion and get over my fear, it does indeed meet all the requirements! Thx

Edited by markyb_lcy on Tuesday 16th April 12:56

[Dave.]

I use the same tracker, with the battery in. (It's just a Nokia phone battery.)

I only use the car once or twice a week, and the battery lasts between uses. I get a warning if I don't use the car for a couple of weeks, but a couple of hours driving is enough to fully charge it.

[gmaz]

If you can get to the back of your OBDII socket, pin 16 should be a permanent live. (its a bit far away from your boot though)

[markyb_lcy]

gmaz said:

If you can get to the back of your OBDII socket, pin 16 should be a permanent live. (its a bit far away from your boot though)

Interesting, thank you for that! Actually running the cable from OBD port to the back should not be that difficult ... kind of similar to the way I installed my dashcam albeit on the other side. Possibly I would route it inside the door sills rather than up the a pillar and along the top, as I did with the dashcam.

[Outoffocus]

Proper stealth install, I would drop the glove box, mount the tracker on top of it, pick up your permanent power supply from the back of the radio. Use an in line fuse holder with a 3 amp fuse.