Battery Drain

[Chadgervais]

Greetings

I have a new 800cca Autocraft battery in my car purchased in November. How long can I run the radio with the engine off? Also, would it cause a serious drain to keep my GPS plugged in full time? Of course it would be off, but still drawing current to keep the GPS unit's battery topped off.

I see on the battery label "Reserve Capacity 120 minutes". I assume that means the battery could keep the engine running for 120 minutes should the alternator fail completely?

Thanks.

 

[dsmuts]

Your gps is draining your battery. Unplug it when you're not using it.

 

[02NavyBlue]

"[FONT=Arial, Helvetica][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Reserve capacity is the number of minutes a battery can maintain a useful voltage under a 25 ampere discharge." I would also suggest removing the charger cord for the GPS when you don't need it. Or plug it into an outlet that turns off when the key is removed[/FONT][/FONT]. My friend has a GPS wired in permanently, and his battery goes dead after a week.

 

[Scottydoggs]

its best to always unplug stuff. a left on light can kill a battery over night most of the time as well.

oh, and even if you turn it off, but leave it plugged in, if the light is still on on the charger part, its using power still.

 

[Chadgervais]

Or plug it into an outlet that turns off when the key is removed. My friend has a GPS wired in permanently, and his battery goes dead after a week.

Is there such an outlet on the '04? The times I have left a phone charger plugged in, I come back next morning and its green indicator light is still on. Also, I NEVER go a week without using my car. Since I have owned it, I have driven it every single day, no exceptions.

 

[Scottydoggs]

you can re wire the outlet to power off when the car is turned off, you just need a new power wire to the socket. its already got a ground wire there.

 

[02NavyBlue]

Yeah I just found out both of my outlets stay on with the key off. I must be used to how dodge does it.