Thread: Running the car stereo with engine off? MY15 TDV6

Originally Posted by manic

What is huge, how many amps does the stereo actually draw at a modest listening volume. Has any one put the multimeter on it?

on my silvia, 3/4 volume draws about 50 amps

Originally Posted by manic

Good job drive in movies are no longer popular.

If you have a dual battery system it might be all right to run the stereo for more than 10 minutes? Shame they didn't opt for a low voltage cut out instead of a 10 min timer.

What is huge, how many amps does the stereo actually draw at a modest listening volume. Has any one put the multimeter on it?

You could roughly work it out.... Just dont forget its...

Amplifier + Screen + bluetooth + Antenna Amplifier + Head Unit (receiver) consumption...

Also, keep in mind vehicles are designed within the parameters of the laws/ADRs..

Its an offence under the RTA to have a vehicle unlocked and unmanned.
Windows down and unmanned is also an offence.

So really, if you are with the vehicle, you can quickly press the power button.

Originally Posted by Eevo

on my silvia, 3/4 volume draws about 50 amps

50 AMPS <- surprised. I hope your multimeter was faulty or your amplifiers are beast.

I have a homemade boombox that runs off a car battery via Anderson or crocodile clips. 350W two chan amp driving two 6x9s and a 750W 15" active subwoofer. At a good outdoor listening volume and amongst all the musical peaks and troughs it averages around 5 amps.

I have a 4 channel sound system, 400w amp, bluetooth headunit and can run that for hours with the engine off. At my last camp site (no neighbours around ), I had it running loud enough to reach the camp fire from 5pm to 11pm and the fridge was on all night and still running cold in the morning. I'm interested to get the multimeter on it now.

If you have a D4 with 11 speakers driven by a 340watt amplifier, how much does it actually draw when parked up listening to talk radio. I'm betting no where near 50 amps! Unless the onboard computer gets up to all sorts and the screen is backlit by a halogen bulb.

There must be a hack to get rid of or extend that timeout... who's the D4 tech genius?

Originally Posted by manic

There must be a hack to get rid of or extend that timeout... who's the D4 tech genius?

Unfortunately, not a good idea because your entertainment system will flatten your battery in a very short time.

Originally Posted by drivesafe

Unfortunately, not a good idea because your entertainment system will flatten your battery in a very short time.

Even with a dual battery set up? Must be sucking huge amps

Originally Posted by manic

50 AMPS <- surprised. I hope your multimeter was faulty or your amplifiers are beast.

cant listen to 3/4 while in the car. need to be about 10m back.

The entertainment system runs the vehicles secondary can bus system,perhaps thats why there is a cut-off.If the battery is low,it wont let you use the entertainment system or interior lighting without the engine running.
Andrew