VintageSlots

I purchased an iPod2Car unit a few weeks ago and connected it via the 12 disk CD changer cable.

The unit works great. However, I went to drive my car a few weeks later (after not being used) and my battery was close to dead. The iPod was not connected to the iPod2Car unit during this time.

My battery is about 5 years old so I am not sure it is the iPod2Car unit that is draining the battery, but I am suspicious.

Does anyone know how much current the iPod2Car unit draws when it is not connected to the iPod? Is there an easy way to connect it so that it gets no power when the key is not on? Ideally, I would hope there are power leads going back to the hole which are only hot when the car is on (or after the 5 minutes (or so) period after the car is shut off).

I did a test and verified that the unit is still getting power after the computer in the car shuts off the power to the mirror lights and stuff like that.

I can always rig up a switch that I can manually turn on to get power to the iPod2Car unit but would rather not do that if I don't have to.

Thanks

Bill Vett

I don't think that there would be any drain if the IPod is disconnected. I think that it might be the age of your battery. I don't keep my IPod plugged in the car when I'm not using it.

red97vette

ive left my ipod plugged in, and im pretty sure it tries to charge it the while time, even with the car off. i wonder if this can lead to problems later (ie overcharging the ipod battery too much).

2003z06vette

Ipod2car does charge your ipod when the car as off, provided it's connected of course. I imagine if you don't drive it for a few weeks it could drain the battery. Easy solution = disconnect the ipod

dndrsn

It drains mine without the iPod attached. Did a Bill Curlee test and the iPod2Car was the culprit. I had to unplug it from the harness.

LarryW

Man great thread

I think my iPod2car adapter drains my battery too and I don't keep my iPod connected all the time either...good thing for my Battery Tender Plus

Larry

blacksedan87

It did in my daughter's Blazer. We went through one battery and a service visit to the dealer to find out. Simple solution - unplug the freakin' thing!

vettelover84

I can charge my cell phone when the car is off so I know if I left my IPOD connected, it would keep trying to charge it... I have never had an issue with my ipod2car setup...

Battery may be junk....

KeithG

I've had mine for about six months and so far no problem. I always unplug the iPod when I park the car.

VintageSlots

Thanks for all the replies.

Regarding disconnecting the unit. Yes, I could do that. However, going into the back hole and unplugging the thing when I park the car would be a real PIA. Especially if I have the back filled with a bunch of junk.

Sooooo, it looks like no one really knows if the iPod2Car draws current if the iPod is not connected.

This weekend I will hook up a meter to it and see how many milliamps it draws (if any).

I will post the results.

Dave

FactoryRaceCar

I always disconnect my IPod when car is not in use. IPod stays on otherwise.

lil vette

I have mine connected to the stereo with all the cables for IPOD.
Mine turns off when car is off & I've never had a problem, yet.
.

dndrsn

I did that.


With the meter the iPod2car was drawing current without the iPod attached. My battery was taking about 2 weeks to get low enough to not start. I normally drive my car every other day so I didn't notice it until I let it set for awhile. If I remember correctly with the iPod2Car attached the current draw was around .06 amps. Disconnected it was .02 amps.

JACKAL0PE

I leave mine in the car all the time, with the ipod attached and never had a problem at all.

I think you've got something wired wrong.

vsocks1

Replace the battery anyway if it is 5 years old. It is going to get you one of these days!

NamVette04

My Ipod connects to my Pioneer head unit; when the Pioneer is off, or the ignition is off, the Ipod draws no power, so no drain on the battery.

Vince

Speed Trap

PostShawn

I've left my Ipod plugged in for 12 hours and no drainage.

Cozmo

VintageSlots

I sent an email to the company who makes the iPod2Car unit.

Here is the response:

When the ipod2car is connected with no ipod hooked up the unit should only draw about .03 amps or 30 milliamps. If it is drawing more than this then you definitely have a defective module.


This pretty much matches what dndrsn found when he put the meter on his unit. He indicated his was drawing 20 milliamps.

Just to clarify, my battery was going dead when the iPod was NOT connected. So the comments to disconnect the iPod are not useful.

So, I guesss my next question is, how long would it take to drain a battery with something that was constantly drawing 20 - 30 milliamps.

I think a typical car battery is rated at 100 amp hours.

If the iPod2Car is always drawing 30 milliamps (.030 amps) then it will completely drain the battery in 3333 hours (138 days). Of course, this assumes nothing else is ever drawing power in the car, which I know is false.