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Radio/CD seems to drain the battery
#1
Hi everyone, greetings from a very wet and windy Alderney. Hope the weather is a touch more clement wherever you are.
Been having trouble each winter with my battery [have had to replace it once already] and, on the advice of an old sea-dog [we have a few round here] I've now disconnected the set to see if the drain continues. Got a bit peeved when we discovered that you can't fit a solar trickle charge panel due to Citroen's barmy wiring system, so had to invest in a Walkman instead after doing the deed.
Anyone else had this issue, perhaps?
Very merry Crimble to all
A :eek:
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#2
Hello to you.

Can you not wire the trickle charger direct to the battery?
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#3
(24-12-2011, 05:46 PM)Coco Wrote:  Hello to you.

Can you not wire the trickle charger direct to the battery?

Hi,

We thought about this, but surely it would mean making a hole in the back wall of the engine bay to get the wire through? Unless there already is one?

As we're surrounded by sea [island is 3 x 1.5m], no-one makes bare-metal holes in anything as the rust/corrosion starts off v. fast. My 20-year gtee. front door furniture is shot after 3 years on the door!!

Cheers, A

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#4
There is a hole through to the cabin on the right side of the engine bay bulkhead where existing cables go through. Easiest to remove the plastic covers under the wipers to gain access = the wipers are a very tight fit, I used a small puller to remove them.

I'm told there is also access on the left side of the bulkhead quite low down where a blanking planel has been fitted (possibly in the conversion from left to righthand drive) but I've not investigated it
[-] The following 1 user says Thank You to Coco for this post:
  • Aurigny
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#5
aftermarket headunit? or original citroen unit?

Aftermarket radios can drain the battery as some are "on" all the time... perm live to clock, illumination etc... A wiring harness/adaptor of the correct brand for the head unit would solve all your problems.

There is a plastic blanking panel in the passenger footwell that is suitable for running a trickle charger through. Although is best to sort the cause of battery drain really.......

let us know what the situation is please and if more help is needed...
Adam..2003..1.9D..LX..Silver Crew Cab Van.....
If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.
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#6
(24-12-2011, 10:05 PM)adam3rdcanvey Wrote:  aftermarket headunit? or original citroen unit?

Aftermarket radios can drain the battery as some are "on" all the time... perm live to clock, illumination etc... A wiring harness/adaptor of the correct brand for the head unit would solve all your problems.

There is a plastic blanking panel in the passenger footwell that is suitable for running a trickle charger through. Although is best to sort the cause of battery drain really.......

let us know what the situation is please and if more help is needed...
Hi, by the fascia design, it's a factory-fitted radio/cd [no logo]. It was decided that this was the cause as, when doing a quick investigation, after re-connecting the battery, it came on - twice. My automotive chum, who lives partly in France, so not available right now, helping in this instance, suggested that I disconnect it and see whether there was any improvement on having to recharge the battery every month in the winter . . . . . . No doubt he would understand your reference to a wiring harness and I'll email him in case he can offer me a 'local' solution. In your experience, is there anything else to be looked at as a possible drain?
Thanx very much for your valuable input
Merry Christmas
Cheers, A

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#7
Has the drain stopped now that the stereo has been removed?
If not, we can move onto testing each circuit for faults.

Do you have access to a multimeter?
Adam..2003..1.9D..LX..Silver Crew Cab Van.....
If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.
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#8
(25-12-2011, 01:25 PM)adam3rdcanvey Wrote:  Has the drain stopped now that the stereo has been removed?
If not, we can move onto testing each circuit for faults.

Do you have access to a multimeter?
Oh dear, I had a fear you might ask that! My chum has one - to me it'd be like looking at the inside of a particle generator . . . . Sad and not 'blokish', but true. 'Brigitte' - the Berlingo - is still running, so maybe I should come back when she stops turning over?
Cheers, A

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#9
(25-12-2011, 01:25 PM)adam3rdcanvey Wrote:  Has the drain stopped now that the stereo has been removed?
If not, we can move onto testing each circuit for faults.

Do you have access to a multimeter?
Hi Adam, belated HNY. Drain appears stopped as battery still performing after almost a month. Do you know of any radio/CD issues that might make it drain the battery, perchance?
Cheers'n'beers

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#10
Most modern car radios are 'on' permanently but their current drain is, or at least should be, tiny ( just a few milliamps ).
However, if there is a fault present then perhaps this may be enough to significantly drain the battery over time.
As has been suggested it is important to measure the amount of drain with a meter then you will know for sure what is going on.
I assume, living on Alderney, that you don't have an alarm on the car as these are known to cause flat batteries on occasion.
The Older I get the Better I Was!  Cool
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