Date:         Sun, 12 Dec 2010 16:39:28 -0700
Reply-To:     Richard A Jones <Jones@COLORADO.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Richard A Jones <Jones@COLORADO.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Wiring in a new Stereo Unit
In-Reply-To:  <201012122124.AEV91195@Colorado.EDU>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

> Sounds like you have it wired wrong. No car stereo should draw that
> much with power off. It should have a "Batt" or "+12 V" connection,
> which goes to the always on source. It should also have an "Ignition"
> lead, which goes to a source which is switched (usually the key, but
> maybe a separate switch). As long as the  "Ignition" connection is off,
> it should draw no more than about 10-20 mA.

I want my stereo wired so that I can play it without the key--it's
a Westy.  I put in a new Panasonic a few years ago and found that
it draws almost its maximum rated if it is OFF and the face plate
in left on.  It is running who know what in the display.  Pull
off the faceplate and consumption drops to almost nothing.

Sort of screwed my idea of using the remote from bed to turn it off.
Overnight it will draw something like 12-15 amps, so I crawl out
of bed to remove the faceplate.

It was clearly designed to NOT be wired the way I did.

Richard