stereo wiring

[petescoffee]

I put aftermarket stereo's in both my trucks and have had battery drain problems ever since.
So my problem is in the wiring I did.
I installed Alpine 105 CD Radios in both trucks. I did not want to have to have the key on to play the stereo so I wired both the constant power (for the clock and presets) and the stereo power (normally switched) directly to the battery. I put an inline fuse near to the battery. For the ground I grounded to the body.

I turn the stereo's off and remove the face plates. If I don't start the trucks for 2 weeks the deep cycle optima batteries will not have enough juice to start the trucks.
I did not have the problem before I put the stereo's in.


Thoughts? Better way to wire? If it matters I spliced both the power wires together before connecting to the battery.

Thanks inadvance for the input.

Dave

 

[Combat Chuck]

Hey Dave,
Have you thought about running an in-line switch from battery positive or negative on the radio leg that just "kills" the radio power, yet bypasses the clock power, for long-haul inactivity? That's my own thought for my eventual radio install, but more just because I grew up watching sci-fi, and love a good switch, or three...

Or maybe yank the fuse out when you're not using it?

Otherwise, maybe look into some kind of hibernation setting on the radio, or, if need be, finding one that doesn't drain so badly. I'd like to say the JVC head unit my uncle gave me doesn't drain, but I can't say so objectively, since it was last in the Olds', which found a way of killing itself electrically within a week of inactivity (the car, not the stereo).

 

[dreadlockm3]

Hello I think combat chuck has the right idea put a kill switch in line and turn it off when you don't use it. The stereo has a memory that constantly runs and that is what is draining your battery more than likely.

 

[circlethedragon]

Hey Dave,
Have you thought about running an in-line switch from battery positive or negative on the radio leg that just "kills" the radio power, yet bypasses the clock power, for long-haul inactivity? ).

cosign