Ignition pickup

Mine is a 2014 BT50. I found the best way was to install a VSR (isolator) and drive everything bar the UHF off the cold side of that.

I power the UHF off one of the aux power outlets inside. In the 2014 BT the aux outlets are always live, even when the car is locked. Why they did that I will never fathom. My UHF has a sleep mode so if I leave it switched on there is stuff all battery drain after a certain period, but it is still a parasitic load if forgotten long term. Short term (overnight, a couple of days) there is no problem.

Hopefully the 2018 model will have switched aux outlets that are dead when the key is off or the car locked, in which case if you choose that option you will have no problems whatsoever.

Cougar, I can't find any Mazda BT-50 information, but Ford produce a very comprehensive and informative technical bulletin, called the "body equipment manual". Mazda do not appear to produce any similar bulletin.

The information in the Ford bulletin should apply to around 98% of the BT-50, as the vehicles are essentially identical, particularly in their basic electrical and body construction.

Ford advice is to pick up ignition power from the IG+ feed connection at the Body Control Module.
The BCM is positioned on the drivers side of the vehicle underneath the dash panel.

Page 51 of the Body Equipment Manual gives all the details.

Hit "CTRL" and "F" buttons simultaneously on your keyboard to bring up the PDF article search function, type in "Module" and keep clicking on the down arrow adjacent to where you typed in "Module", and you will rapidly come to the ignition feed advice.

Note that there are two levels of vehicles, rated according to their fitout/model. These are called "Low Level" for basic vehicles, and "High Level" for the top of the range models.
There are different BCM's according to whether the vehicle is "Low Level" or "High Level".
I would expect the same "Low Level" and "High Level" body architecture applies to the BT-50.

Ford Ranger BEM

Cheers, Ron.

A very easy way to pickup an ignition battery is to use a piggy back fuse - see below. Not certain about the BT50 as I have a D-Max but you will be able to use the fuse for Radio, ciggy socket etc.

The current BT50 is very similar to the PX Ranger (2011-2104), the new Ranger and BT50 are very different vehicles RE: electrics, control modules etc.

In the Ranger, there are a few places to take a 12V trigger wire from using a piggy back fuse bit they are only ‘live’ when the ignition is in the ON position. There is only one spot recommended by Ford and is described in a post above.

The cigarette sockets stay ‘live’ long after the key is switched off (some models don’t turn off), I ended up triggering a relay from the 12V ACC position behind the key barrel - from memory it was a brown wire with green or yellow stripe. I could not find any other ACC switched 12V in any of the fuse boxes, under the bonnet, behind the stereo etc. The BCM controls everything, as Ivan said be careful where you take your trigger wire from.

Not Mazda related but a great trick.
A great little trick for anyone with a recent Dmax or MUX. Isuzu has always had the heater fan relay triggered by the alternator so the fan doesn't run without the engine running. Great for triggering dual batteries only when the alternator is charging.

Thanks all problem sorted??