Stereo Memory Killing My Battery
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Joined: Apr 2018
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From: WV
Stereo Memory Killing My Battery
Well like the title states, the memory line of my JVC stereo is steadily draining my battery. Like, within 3 days my fully charged battery will require a charge before I can start the bike off it! Anybody else run into this? Maybe not necessarily with a JVC of course, but any stereo upgrade period??? I ended up cutting the the memory line and tapping it into the "switched" on/off power line and the drain stopped. Any stereo options out there where I don't have to worry about this? Thanks!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Lake Orion, MI
OP - curious - how long has this radio been in your bike and/or, how long has this been happening?
I might imagine - if in the bike for year and this just started happening, you may have an internal problem with the radio. If you just installed this, you may have a wiring issue.
I might imagine - if in the bike for year and this just started happening, you may have an internal problem with the radio. If you just installed this, you may have a wiring issue.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 852
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From: Toledo, Ohio
Sounds like a wiring issue. Is it installed with a harness thats plug and play? I have a 800 watt amp in my system and the battery doesnt die. Im guessing you might have something connected wrong. Like commented already I would buy a tenderer. Doesnt have to be battery tender brand. I actually like my noco genius. Also check your charging system.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
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From: South Carolina
You need to do a bit of troubleshooting to see if there is a parasitic draw on the battery.
Your battery may be kaput...
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,847
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From: Southern Virginia
I remember a friend of mine years ago had a similar problem and it was caused by the memory wire of the radio being pinched underneath the seat. What you can do to start the troubleshooting process is to put a meter inline with the memory wire to measure current. Since you say the problem goes away when you disconnect the memory wire I'd imagine you will see a several milliamps of current draw. Make a note of that reading.
The trick in your situation I guess is see if you can follow the path of the memory wire and check to see if it is pinched or cut. If you can't (like if it is in the bike's harness) then maybe disconnect the memory wire right at the radio and run another one to the battery. Now perform the same current draw test. If you don't see much of a reading then you may have fixed the problem. If you see the same reading you got on the first test it would indicate the radio itself is constantly draining current through that wire due to some sort of internal problem.
Good luck.
The trick in your situation I guess is see if you can follow the path of the memory wire and check to see if it is pinched or cut. If you can't (like if it is in the bike's harness) then maybe disconnect the memory wire right at the radio and run another one to the battery. Now perform the same current draw test. If you don't see much of a reading then you may have fixed the problem. If you see the same reading you got on the first test it would indicate the radio itself is constantly draining current through that wire due to some sort of internal problem.
Good luck.
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Joined: Apr 2018
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From: WV
Sorry for the delayed response everyone....work has been nuts!!!
I was doing this, but have nowhere to plug it in when riding it to work where it would sit for extended times while I'm out on the road.
The radio has been in the bike for almost 2 years now. The problem is, up until prior to my original post, it was almost always on a tender and not noticeable. It wasn't until I had it "off tender" for days at a time that it presented itself.
I performed a parasitic draw test which is how I found it was related to the stereo. From there, I removed the fuse from the red "switched" power line where there was no change in the test, followed by the yellow "constant" power line where there was a change.
I actually thought about running a separate memory line to/from the battery but opted against it. I'm thinking maybe i should try it after all!! Thanks.
I was doing this, but have nowhere to plug it in when riding it to work where it would sit for extended times while I'm out on the road.
OP - curious - how long has this radio been in your bike and/or, how long has this been happening?
I might imagine - if in the bike for year and this just started happening, you may have an internal problem with the radio. If you just installed this, you may have a wiring issue.
I might imagine - if in the bike for year and this just started happening, you may have an internal problem with the radio. If you just installed this, you may have a wiring issue.
I remember a friend of mine years ago had a similar problem and it was caused by the memory wire of the radio being pinched underneath the seat. What you can do to start the troubleshooting process is to put a meter inline with the memory wire to measure current. Since you say the problem goes away when you disconnect the memory wire I'd imagine you will see a several milliamps of current draw. Make a note of that reading.
The trick in your situation I guess is see if you can follow the path of the memory wire and check to see if it is pinched or cut. If you can't (like if it is in the bike's harness) then maybe disconnect the memory wire right at the radio and run another one to the battery. Now perform the same current draw test. If you don't see much of a reading then you may have fixed the problem. If you see the same reading you got on the first test it would indicate the radio itself is constantly draining current through that wire due to some sort of internal problem.
Good luck.
The trick in your situation I guess is see if you can follow the path of the memory wire and check to see if it is pinched or cut. If you can't (like if it is in the bike's harness) then maybe disconnect the memory wire right at the radio and run another one to the battery. Now perform the same current draw test. If you don't see much of a reading then you may have fixed the problem. If you see the same reading you got on the first test it would indicate the radio itself is constantly draining current through that wire due to some sort of internal problem.
Good luck.
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Tyler Tx
The current draw of a properly functioning memory wire is so minuscule a AA battery should keep it up for months man. Its seriously just presets, EQ settings, and clock.
There has to be another issue.
Have you put a voltmeter on it memory wire from the plug output to the radio input to see actual current draw?
There has to be another issue.
Have you put a voltmeter on it memory wire from the plug output to the radio input to see actual current draw?