Stereo that doesn't require constant power?

[arf145]

Does anyone know of any models of car stereos that don't lose their station presets when you cut the battery connection? I was looking at one of the Kenwoods, but it seems it requires the constant juice (KDC-X493). Or failing finding one with the stations stored in non-volatile memory, can anyone give me the actual power draw while "off" for some specific models?

Thanks.

[hellosailor]

Arf, I'm pretty sure that ALL electronic stereos use a separate "keep alive" wire for the memory functions, since 1980-ish.

The good news is that they use about 5mA for this function, that's 0.005 amps per hour, which is not a whole lot.

If that's still too much for you...I do have a mid-70's vintage radio salted away, AM/ FM stereo/ cassette with five pushbuttons, that you set the five stations with the old fashioned mechanical way. When it turns off--it really is OFF. No, I have no further specs on it, don't even remember the brand offhand, it is in a box on a shelf, got sidelined by a ghettoblaster a long time ago.

[artbyjody]

Always the yellow wire...

You won't have much luck there actually.. unless you rig a battery between yellow wire is usually synonymous with memory .. can be done Radio shack sells the stuff to make it happen..

[Maine Sail]

Memory draw..

[sailingdog]

The memory draw on most new radios is really minimal. If you're really worried about the draw from it, you could always add a small maintenance type solar panel to compensate for it. Even a tiny 5 Watt panel would do the trick. Battery self-discharge, at least in warmer weather is probably higher than the draw for the memory on most stereos.

[patrickrea]

I've always wondered why they just don't put a small Li battery inside them. It would then charge when the vehicle is running and maintain the memory when off.

[hellosailor]

LiOn batteries are expensive and they don't just "charge". They explode rather violently unless you have a fairly sophisticated charge control computer attached to them, and a temperature sensor.

Car stereos are cut-throat price competitors, so why bump your selling price up by $25 or more, when there's already a whopping huge storage battery in the car? And the memory drain is negligible, it is normal and expected for the intended use. Cars.

(The ansewr to so many things is "money".)

[WouldaShoulda]

We have this old car stereo in ours with the old push button pre-sets!!

Not that I use it...

I usually just listen to ball games on the ol' portable transistor!!

[Valiente]

I only listen to three radio stations, max, and therefore I just use the dial.

[merc2dogs]

Find one of the pull-out type radios, they have an internal battery that charges when the radio has power from the boat.

Ken.