Radio draining battery?

[Jojo21]

We have a 2016 Uttern T51 outboarder. This season the battery was drained after a few weeks of not using. battery was 5 y old, so we put in a new one, everything worked again….but few weeks later, drained

We suspect the radio is sucking energy even when main power switch off, bc we noticed display is on no matter what.

My question is:
How could this parasitic draw problem come out of seemingly nowhere? Never had power issues over all these years and have had boat serviced every winter.

Does this problem indicate that the wiring has been somehow altered?
Any insights much appreciated!

 

[Refueler]

Is this Broadcast Music Radio or VHF Comms radio ?

Broadcast radio - most modern ones require continuous power to maintain the station memory. Otherwise every time you switch on - you would need to retune to station you want to listen to.

VHF radio - most fixed are not in need of continuous power - but one or two may need. It was a matter of disgruntled owners when they found their new Handhelds of brand XXXX drained their batterys fast ..

But the power drain is in mA ... but I note you say display is on all time ... that should not be. Memory retention power does not power display ... therefore I would check carefully if wiring or something has changed.

 

[LadyInBed]

Is this Broadcast Music Radio or VHF Comms radio ?

Good question.
Jojo - No answer as to why, but a good work around and also good practice would be to fit a battery terminal isolation switch.

 

[VicS]

Some diagnostic testing is needed to to confirm that the radio is the source of the trouble

As suggested memory retention in a broadcast receiver should not be that large a current drain.
I not expect the display to be on .

 

[Boater Sam]

Mystery battery drains are often the alternator.

 

[Jojo21]

Thanks for everyone’s helpful replies so far! The radio is a regular music radio (fusion MS-RA205), not VHF.

 

[Aeolus]

If the radio display is on, then the radio is switched on and, if it's like mine, will draw between 0.5 and 1 amp. Which, over time, would certainly drain your battery.

 

[Richard10002]

Broadcast radio - most modern ones require continuous power to maintain the station memory. Otherwise every time you switch on - you would need to retune to station you want to listen to.

It might help some to know that I recently discovered and bought the Sony DSX-M80 which isnt cheap at £250. It retains its memory when turned off, (no power whatsoever), can be controlled from a mobile phone, (Android in my case), and also has a small physical remote control unit.

https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/marine/dsx-m80/specifications

 

[Refueler]

It might help some to know that I recently discovered and bought the Sony DSX-M80 which isnt cheap at £250. It retains its memory when turned off, (no power whatsoever), can be controlled from a mobile phone, (Android in my case), and also has a small physical remote control unit.

https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/marine/dsx-m80/specifications

I have a Chinese radio that has Bluetooth control by Phone / Tablet etc. Cost ? incl shipping about 23 quid ... but it doesn't retain memory with power off - so it needs that 'yellow' wire connected. But it does the rest !

Car Radio Bluetooth Stereo In-dash Head Unit Player MP3 WMA WAV USB SD AUX-IN FM | eBay

 

[ashtead]

I should say you are lucky a fusion like that is still working as they often pack up around 5 or so years and no repairs possible with curse of freezing screen.With some research on google you will find a number of yachts have their radios wired so turning off the service batteries and the radio makes no difference. There are comments on this topic on Hanse by way of example, while leaving the auto bilge pump wired like this is common practice but I don’t know why fusion should be wired like this, we now have an isolation switch for fusion plus a new fushionBTW.

 

[Refueler]

Thanks for everyone’s helpful replies so far! The radio is a regular music radio (fusion MS-RA205), not VHF.

OK ... most regular radios today have TWO power leads to connect ... one is the main power to run the full audio etc. so you can listen to the radio. That is wired to your boats ON / OFF so when main power switched off - that wire then is not powered. usually a RED wire
The second wire - usually YELLOW is the memory retention power lead and is for wiring to the power system bypassing any main power off. It does not provide power for main radio audio .. it is just to retain settings.
(We will ignore the possible third wire that can power electric antenna).

Most radios will still work if you ignore the yellow lead (memory retention) but there are some that insist on that lead being connected as well. If you do not wish to retain settings - then just put the main red and the secondary yellow to the same power and both will be ON OFF as determined by your main power switch for the boat.

What I find a little strange is that your post implies you switch radio off .. but its still ON ?? Somethings not right ...

 

[Slocumotion]

Just in case you haven't solved your problem by now - a suggestion.
I had an intermittent issue with the campervan battery going completely flat. Wife noticed that one press on the Radio on/off button just mutes it. It takes 2 to switch it off. When we got the van and fitted the radio I didn't check that the positive I used was not a permanent live, just used the one the old radio was on.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Broadcast radio - most modern ones require continuous power to maintain the station memory. Otherwise every time you switch on - you would need to retune to station you want to listen to.

That hasn't been the case for some time now, most stations are stored in non-volatile memory.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Thanks for everyone’s helpful replies so far! The radio is a regular music radio (fusion MS-RA205), not VHF.

The Fusion radio does not need power to retain station memory. If you connect the Red and Yellow cables to the same, switched, power supply, the radio will be completely dead when you turn the isolator off.

 

[Refueler]

That hasn't been the case for some time now, most stations are stored in non-volatile memory.

Just bought two new radios .... one for the boat - other to replace in my van ... both new models ... both have the powered memory retention ... so they are still out there ...

Boat radio is unbranded chinese ..... van radio is well known premium brand.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Just bought two new radios .... one for the boat - other to replace in my van ... both new models ... both have the powered memory retention ... so they are still out there ...

Boat radio is unbranded chinese ..... van radio is well known premium brand.

As with anything, there will be exceptions, especially with after market car radios. The ones fitted to many modern cars don't lose the stations if you take the battery off. Fusion radios, which the OP has, also don't need a permanent live to keep station memory.