Date:         Tue, 1 Sep 2015 13:08:44 +0000
Reply-To:     Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Voltage leak found
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

About a month ago I wrote about having installed two pairs of USB ports and
an LED voltage display in my Vanagon. The round double outlet on the dash
took the place of my factory Eberspacher heater knob and the
outlet-and-voltmeter combination set neatly into what was the rear ashtray.

That's when I noticed a drop in voltage that would flatten the battery
after a couple of days of being parked. Long story made very short, I
discovered that it was my radio in standby mode that was draining the
battery. I pulled the fuse to the radio on Saturday and this morning the
voltage is showing 12.9, exactly where it was when I pulled the fuse.

The reason that this was unknown to me all this time is that coincident
with the addition of the USB ports the Vanagon was, except for use of my
wife's Prius, my daily driver had been the Vanagon. When I got a TDI Jetta
the Vanagon started sitting for days or a week at a time, and that's when
the problem showed up.

I could wire the radio to the switched 12v circuit that no doubt came with
it, but then I would have to have the key on to listen to music while
camping. Is anyone using a switch on the circuit, and if so how was it done
and how does it work out for you?

Jim