Standard Horizon Matrix w/command mic vhf

Now, the trick is to remember to turn the main battery switch off!
I'm good at turning everything on my boat off, but often forget the main
battery switch because I don't see it. I mounted it on the side of the
engine box, under the rear, lift off seat, to keep it close to the batteries
and to protect it from damage and water. (I've got a bowrider and one use is
for water sports.)
I hard wired a cable to the mount for my hand held GPS, to avoid using the
cigarette lighter plug. The cable has a monitor light to indicate when power
is applied but since it's under the instrument panel and out of site I don't
see it, and it continues to draw power unless the main battery switch is
off. So, I guess I should add a switch to the GPS circuit. It's powered all
the time so that it will operate regardless of ignition key position while
fishing and as an anchor watch.

"Jack Erbes" <jackerbes.DeleteThis@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:7p-dneO_Y5Ee0lPeRVn-jw@adelphia.com...
> Gordon wrote:
>
>> Why does the above draw 5 ma when turned off? Had this sucker hooked up
>> direct to the batt and over several months, it drained the it.
>
> Is it a DSC radio? Maybe it draws something to save the position data?
>
> If nothing else you've learned that hooking anything direct to a battery
> is not a good idea. For me, everything on a boat needs to be on a breaker
> (with the possible exception of a bilge pump with a foolproof, zero draw,
> switch).
>
> If you're short on breakers you can usually isolate a group of low draw
> accessories like the radio on one breaker that is large enough to handle
> them all (each device with individual an in line fuse on it power lead of
> course).
>
> Do you have an mains switch on the battery? That should turn off
> everything in the boat.
>
> Jack
>
> --
> Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
> (also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)
 >> Stay informed about: Standard Horizon Matrix w/command mic vhf 

Do the math.

5 mA.= 1/200 of an amp. Typical battery is 60 amp hours.

60 / 1/200 = 12000 hours = 500 days for the radio to flatten the battery.

Look elsewhere, like self discharge in the battery. A battery left
for more than a couple of weeks should be on a smart trickle charger.
500 days is a heluva lot more than a couple of weeks.


"Gordon" <gazuum DeleteThis @localnet.com> wrote in message news:11srl5kllv56b14@corp.supernews.com...
> Why does the above draw 5 ma when turned off? Had this sucker hooked up
> direct to the batt and over several months, it drained the it.
> Gordon
>
> --
>
> Ask not for whom the terrorist bell tolls; it tolls for thee, and thee, and
> thee--for decent, innocent people everywhere.
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Standard Horizon Matrix w/command mic vhf 

Gordon wrote:
> Why does the above draw 5 ma when turned off? Had this sucker hooked up
> direct to the batt and over several months, it drained the it.
> Gordon
>
5ma (.005) x 24 is .12 amp/hours per day
..12 x 30 is 3.6 amp/hours per month
3.6 x 3 is 10.8 amp/hours in 3 months

How small a battery is this?
 >> Stay informed about: Standard Horizon Matrix w/command mic vhf 

On Wed, 18 Jan 2006 15:39:56 -0800, "Chuck Tribolet"
<triblet.RemoveThis@garlic.com> wrote:

>Do the math.
>
>5 mA.= 1/200 of an amp. Typical battery is 60 amp hours.
>
>60 / 1/200 = 12000 hours = 500 days for the radio to flatten the battery.
>
>Look elsewhere, like self discharge in the battery. A battery left
>for more than a couple of weeks should be on a smart trickle charger.
>500 days is a heluva lot more than a couple of weeks.
>
>
>"Gordon" <gazuum.RemoveThis@localnet.com> wrote in message news:11srl5kllv56b14@corp.supernews.com...
>> Why does the above draw 5 ma when turned off? Had this sucker hooked up
>> direct to the batt and over several months, it drained the it.
>> Gordon
Do the math's properly!
5ma is 59390hrs from a 60Ah battery with Peukert exponent applied,
2474 days, 6.77 years.
However obviously internal losses will flatten the battery much
earlier!

Richard

Nb "Pound Eater" Parkend G+S
Please remove your hat when replying
 >> Stay informed about: Standard Horizon Matrix w/command mic vhf