As was pointed out, most new stereos have two power leads, one for
continuous power for memory settings, and the other for actually running
the amplifier, & controls. It turns out the radio I have does not
require a standby power, so both power leads are connected as described.
If I leave the power off long enough, however, a few weeks, I lose the
stored info.
  It is a CSS-6600i. These are stereos for semi's & commercial trucks.
JOn

On 9/1/2015 8:30 AM, Jim Felder wrote:
> I remember when you went through all that, about the same time I bought my
> radio. So, using the keyed hot wire will draw very little or no current? I
> like the idea from a previous post that I could install a switch to connect
> it to either circuit, aways hot and switched hot.
>
> Jim
>
> On Tue, Sep 1, 2015 at 9:26 AM Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Many car stereos/radios don't really turn off. They mute and the front
>> panel goes dark, the power amp sections shut down, and the controls go
>> to sleep, but they are still partially on and drawing current. I guess
>> the manufacturers assume that you drive your car frequently.
>>
>> The current draw is through the main power wire, the other wire,
>> frequently connected to the ignition switch, doesn't draw much current
>> at all -- it is used to signal the unit to wake up.
>>
>> I had to search high and low to find a unit that actually powers off --
>> not only from the front panel power button, but from the remote, too. So
>> I could turn off the music when I get into bed rather than have to lean
>> up to the dash to shut things down.
>>
>> --
>> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
>> 1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
>> Bend, Ore.
>>
>> On 09/01/2015 06:08 AM, Jim Felder wrote:
>>> About a month ago I wrote about having installed two pairs of USB ports
>> and
>>> an LED voltage display in my Vanagon. The round double outlet on the dash
>>> took the place of my factory Eberspacher heater knob and the
>>> outlet-and-voltmeter combination set neatly into what was the rear
>> ashtray.
>>> That's when I noticed a drop in voltage that would flatten the battery
>>> after a couple of days of being parked. Long story made very short, I
>>> discovered that it was my radio in standby mode that was draining the
>>> battery. I pulled the fuse to the radio on Saturday and this morning the
>>> voltage is showing 12.9, exactly where it was when I pulled the fuse.
>>>
>>> The reason that this was unknown to me all this time is that coincident
>>> with the addition of the USB ports the Vanagon was, except for use of my
>>> wife's Prius, my daily driver had been the Vanagon. When I got a TDI
>> Jetta
>>> the Vanagon started sitting for days or a week at a time, and that's when
>>> the problem showed up.
>>>
>>> I could wire the radio to the switched 12v circuit that no doubt came
>> with
>>> it, but then I would have to have the key on to listen to music while
>>> camping. Is anyone using a switch on the circuit, and if so how was it
>> done
>>> and how does it work out for you?
>>>
>>> Jim
>>>