My MP3 converted delco had a channel go out, so I'm sending it in for repair. I picked up another delco that sounds even better, so I'm debating if I should have the first one fixed, or have this one converted...

one issue with the new one is the clock display stays on all the time, 24/7. I know it's not much light, but can is it something I should be concerned about as far as battery life goes? If I let me car go a few days without starting it, any chance this small drain is going to keep it from starting?

 

Clock LED's would take several week or even months to drain a battery to a point where it wouldn't start.

 

I'd guess that's the case with most modern vehicles. Seems to be a non-issue with frequently driven cars.

JamesC

 

One of the great things about LEDs, besides that they are brighter, is that they have very low power usage. I had a temperature reader that I made using an arduino board one time with an LED a little bigger than your average car clock LEDs. I ran the entire thing on a 9 volt battery for 2 weeks 24 x 7 and the battery was still good. So I think you car battery should hold up better than a 9 volt battery. As long as you drive it once a month or so to recharge the battery, I don't think there would be any issues.

 

Thanks guys!

 

it may be the case that more is on than the clock...if so it may drain the battery.if not it shall be fine...many older gms had an analog clock in them that ticked away...wasnt a concern then even with the lack of technolgy compared to today

 

Yep, i've had a fee of those old cars with block hands and even scrolling wheels for the seconds. I guess if they didn't drain the battery, I should be fine with this one

It is strange that the display stays on....

 

I'd watch the voltage and see what happens after it sits
a day-i have an '84 delco radio in my car(yellow LED)
and i hooked it up to have the display always on;it
would drain the battery enough to cause an iffy start if
car sat unused for 24hr or more-checked the current
draw of the radio with it off but the clock lit and it was
pulling something like 600 Ma.,6/10 of an amp-easily
enough to pull the batt down after a day or so.The LEDs
don't draw much current-about 10 Ma.each segment lit,
but the display drive circutry is active with the clock
lit and that must draw several hundred Ma.I have not
checked how much a delco VFD display (later blue or
green digits) pulls lit up,but it is probably around 1/2
amp.

 

After putting up with this for months I finally took this unit out and replaced it with a 2002 camaro radio.

It got so I would have to put the car on the charger is i was ever going to go more than two days without driving it, or the battery would run down

When I took the unit out of the car today, it was warm to the touch, like it had been on. I guess it was more than just the clock being left on.

So I guess it is possible for a bad radio to drain the battery, and a visual symptom would be a clock display that doesn't go out

never got my original radio back, *84TA stole my radio and my money.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/clas...ware-84ta.html