Can I reduce battery drain from the radio?

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BMSTANG

New Member

Mar 31, 2005

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Sep 18, 2007

#1

• Sep 18, 2007

• #1

Sometimes while the engine is off and I'm listening to a hockey game on the radio (stock Shaker) I will lower the volume/bass and adjust the speaker balance so only one front speaker can be heard. I'm trying to reduce battery drain. Is this working, or will the radio consume the same amount of energy as it does at full volume?

 

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FFR snakeman

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Jul 1, 2002

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virginia

Sep 18, 2007

#2

• Sep 18, 2007

• #2

you are wasting you time

 

glewis29

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May 4, 2006

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Sep 18, 2007

#3

• Sep 18, 2007

• #3

How exactly is BMSTANG wasting his time? It sounds like a pretty interesting question to me. I have some friends who are electrical engineers, I'll see what they say.

Update: I just talked to my buddy and he said the amp either could, or could not adjust the gain depending how how the amp is designed. He said it's more likely that the type of amp they'd use in a car stereo would not be able to adjust the amount of gain through the amp and thus it would draw the same regardless of how loud it is turned on, whether the base is turned down, etc.

If you measure with an amp meter off the battery to see how the current changes that would give you a good read on what the answer really is.

We might even check it out ourselves this weekend if we have time.

Hope this helps.

 

TPony

Member

Aug 3, 2006

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Aldie, VA

Sep 19, 2007

#4

• Sep 19, 2007

• #4

The dead battery is an interesting issue I have addressed in other forums. I have found out, for me, that I am need to leave my stang unattended for a couple of days to turn off the radio at least 30 min prior shutting off the vehicle. So if I am driving around I make sure its off at least 30 min prior parking it. I have left my stang unattended three time for periods of 14-21 days and when I return, it starts right up. And yes, I did have a dead battery before I started with this routine.

 

sohcman

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Aug 4, 2006

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Green Mountain State

Sep 21, 2007

#5

• Sep 21, 2007

• #5

That's odd.

If you turn your key to OFF, or take your key out completely, your accessories will continue to run for about 10 minutes, then shut off.

Kinda neat when you are doing work on your car, or need a 10 minute timer...

Roll your window down, crank up the radio, pull your key out and put it in your pocket.

When the radio shuts off, thats your que.

Works at the gas station too, when your favorite song is on, but you don't trust leaving your keys in the car...

SOHC

 

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FFR snakeman

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Jul 1, 2002

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virginia

Sep 21, 2007

#6

• Sep 21, 2007

• #6

my point was the minute amount you MAY BE SAVING will be replenished the instant you start the car back up.

 

martimus

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Jan 2, 2005

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'neath a cactus

Sep 22, 2007

#7

• Sep 22, 2007

• #7

sohcman said:

Works at the gas station too, when your favorite song is on, but you don't trust leaving your keys in the car...

SOHC

Click to expand...

Help me understand this would you please? It seems to me that the only way for this to work would be if you rolled down the drivers window, exited the car, closed the door, and then reached in and grabbed the key. Is this what you're saying?

With my 05 the moment I open the drivers door after removing the key the radio turns off.

 

sohcman

Member

Aug 4, 2006

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Green Mountain State

Sep 23, 2007

#8

• Sep 23, 2007

• #8

martimus said:

Help me understand this would you please? It seems to me that the only way for this to work would be if you rolled down the drivers window, exited the car, closed the door, and then reached in and grabbed the key. Is this what you're saying?

With my 05 the moment I open the drivers door after removing the key the radio turns off.

Click to expand...

Correct.

Close door with radio on.

Pull out key through open window.

Works for 10 minutes at car shows too when you are bored.

SOHC

 

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BMSTANG

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Mar 31, 2005

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Sep 24, 2007

#9

• Sep 24, 2007

• #9

FFR snakeman said:

my point was the minute amount you MAY BE SAVING will be replenished the instant you start the car back up.

Click to expand...

I've had to replace my battery once already. It was my fault, I admit. But now I try to limit all engine-off battery use. The radio is my only remaining weakness.

 

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Redsojo

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Jul 8, 2007

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Oct 9, 2007

#10

• Oct 9, 2007

• #10

i notice sometimes in my friends car that if he blasts the radio while driving during the day, at night his headlights are really dim for a while but after 15-20 minutes of driving they're back to normal. Is it a dying battery or what?