Ampdraw by stereo memory?

Posted By: Peter
Date: 9/29/09 10:53a.m.

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Hi, all I was away from my boat for about 2 weeks, and when I got back I found one of the two batteries was dead. When I last left the boat, I had apparently stepped on the shorepower cord near its socket on the boat, and the power cord had become disconnected, so my 110v battery charger hadn't been working for 2 weeks. The battery switch was set to "one", which was the battery that was shot. Battery 2 was fine. I traced the voltage drain with my Link battery monitor, and found that, even when off the stereo was draining .3 amps - I guess just to maintain the clock and station memories. That would account for 7 amps a day or 100 amps over two weeks! The stereo is just a cheapie $50 car stereo from Wal-Mart, but I find it hard to believe it would be designed to draw that much when off. If it was in your car, and you left the car at the airport, it'd be dead when you got home from that charter in the BVIs! Of course, the owner's manual specs had info on the maximum amps drawn when the stereo was running, but nothing about when it was off. What is a reasonable amp draw to serve a stereo's memories, and how do I check that before I buy the next one? Thanks, Peter