Stereo is a Power Hog!

Status
Not open for further replies.
P

Peter

I recently installed a Link battery monitor. I'ed been been having problems with low batteries, and I have only a limited ability to re-charge except via shorepower. (I've a Cat27, outboard powered, which has a 6-amp alternator, plus I have a Unisolar panel that puts out about 1.8 amps/hour on a good day if it's hooked up.) The Link was telling me I had a consistent .1-.2 amp drain when all electrics were off. .2 amps is about 34 amps a week, enough to drain a deep cycle group 24 (I have two) to about 50% of its 75AH capacity after a week without shorepower. After tracing wiring, and reading manuals I discovered the Link uses about .075 amp on its own. But the big hog was my stereo (installed to bypass the on/both/off switch so that it won't forget its presets). My digital multimeter said it was drawing .15 amps when turned off! Just to keep the preset radio stations and maintain its clock! Anybody have any suggestions on a stereo that isn't so thirsty electrically? Any other ideas?
 
S

Steve

Stereo Hogging Power

Peter, I don't know how your stereo is wired, but it sounds like it has a direct link to the battery and somehow by-passes your battery switch. Do you normally switch your battery swiych to OFF? If not, that may fix it. Also, sometimes stereos are hooked up so that the main power source goes through the battery switch but, as in a car, has a secondary power line that is always on in order to save the clock and pre-sets. Check the wiring and you may be able to simply disconnect that wire.
 
P

Peter

It forgets the presets if I don't direct wire!

It is direct-wired to the battery. If its not, the stereo forgets the 15-odd pre-set stations, and also the time. Since my post, I've rewired it to got thru the battery switch, but I'm not happy due to having to reprogram the stupid thing every time I get aboard. I can't beleive that a stereo, supposedly designed for marine use (where power is at a premium) uses 25-30 amps/week just remembering these things!
 
M

Mike G

Sounds Fishy

Sound like there might be something else running like maybe a preamp. If it was in a car it would kill the battery in 5 days. Usally they only draw .01 if that. Is there a light that stays on? Does the clock display stay on?
 
P

Peter

Yes and yes

The clock stays on, although at a diminished level when the stereo's off. I hard wired it direct to the battery, connected thru an ammeter In my multimeter last weekend, and it was drawing about .15 amps. I've been looking at other stereos in WM, Boater's World, Defender etc. catalogs, and on manufacturers' website, and nobody lists amperage draw for stereos, only the audio output watts.
 
J

jamie snodgrass

3 wires

Most sterios have 3 wires that need power. One is the main power which is usally red. One is for the presets which usally orange One is for the lights which is usally yellow. With all my boats i have simply hooked the yellow and red together which would go to the main power . I would then run the orange wire to the battery to keep my presets. There is no way the sterio should draw as much as you are saying, just to keep the presets. I believe the clock and the lights should go out when the power is shut off, the same as it would in your car. Hope this helps jamie www.onlineebooks.net www.ps2parts.net
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top Bottom