I got tired of looking for my keys under all my junk when camping plus
I always wanted to do the "key in the ignition radio on" mod so I
killed two birds with one stone and wired the stereo to come on when
the key goes in the ignition. Now I always know where my keys are plus
the stereo is always ready for using the remote. I guess there's no
way around some battery draw since you need a constant 12V to keep all
your settings but removing the faceplate definitely helps keeps the
aux battery happy.

Jeff in Marin
On Dec 13, 2010, at 8:49 PM, Automatic digest processor wrote:

> Date:    Mon, 13 Dec 2010 20:49:41 -0800
> From:    Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Re: Wiring in a new Stereo Unit
>
> RE: Battery Draw w/Remote
> John, you may have hit the nail on the head with that question,  And
> answered a very minor mystery for me.  About four years ago I put in a
> Pioneer head unit w/remote.  I've always just left the face plate on
> until
> recently.  But my aux battery (almost four years old and badly
> abused) had
> always run down some when standing for a couple of weeks (aux powers
> everything including the radio) but recently more than usual.  Just
> for
> kicks I started removing the faceplate and have found the aux battery
> staying up where I'd expect.  And yes, I have a remote and had never
> thought
> about the fact that there had to be a small draw from the radio for
> that
> remote to work.  BTW, I'm wired so that the radio works with the
> ignition
> off and key out.  And two power wires to the radio, one always hot
> the other
> switched, and wired according to original instructions.