Drained Battery?

[g_1203]

Does leaving then radio or cd player on when you turn the car off drain your battery?

[danielekfuj]

YES.

[jltibbs]

that's why you need an optima red top

[Beancooker]

Do you mean leave it on, as in playing music, or do you mean leave it on, as in leaving it in the on position and not switching it off, however not playing music?

If you hear music, it will be draining the battery.

If all is quiet and dark, you're good to go.

**EDIT**BTW, a Red Top is a great battery, but if you're listening to a lot of music, while the car is off, you need a Yellow Top. Yellow Tops are a deep cycle battery, and can be discharged very low and recharged over and over again, without harm. A Red Top, is a great battery, but is not a deep cycle, and will wear out much sooner if you're continually discharging it.

[g_1203]

I am talking about off and not listening to it. No sound at all. I had left it on and shut the car off and thought I noticed a little bit of struggle to start. Maybe it was just in my head.

[dudealex1]

Yeah, as soon as you turn that key to the off position (not acc.) the radio will turn off regardless of its previous state, and won't use any more power than if you had turned the radio off before you shut off the car.

[Beancooker]

Dudealex is correct. Once the key is off, (if it's the factory installed stereo) it will not drain ANY power.

[maxhopper]

If the radio will not come on when the ignition is in the off position, then it is on a switched circuit (and should not drain the battery). If the radio can be played when the ignition is in the off position; it is wired hot to the battery, and should be rewired (could possibly be the cause of the battery drain).

[jltibbs]

you should have your battery and alternator checked, just in case.