CB radio current draw

[BILLUA]

Hello,



I have had a long term battery draw on my truck for a few months. I finally got around to figuring it out today after my new Optimas were almost dead.



I did the obvious troubleshooting and found that my CB radio, less than 2 years old, was drawing current while turned off. I heard the speaker sqwak when I rubbed the power wire across the positive post of the battery.



The question is, can this radio be repaired by a CB shop?



It is an excellent radio, having been peaked and tuned when I bought it.



Thanks,



Bill

 

[wcjp]

Is the radio a Cobra with weather? My Cobra 29 w/weather is designed to stay on. It monitors the station for extreme weather alert. The alert would beep and flash the lights. This is to grab your attention and turn the radio on for further information.



I think turning the radio to channel zero disables this function. What's the amperage draw of the radio?

 

[BILLUA]

Is the radio a Cobra with weather? My Cobra 29 w/weather is designed to stay on. It monitors the station for extreme weather alert. The alert would beep and flash the lights. This is to grab your attention and turn the radio on for further information.



I think turning the radio to channel zero disables this function. What's the amperage draw of the radio?

You nailed it! It is a Cobra with wx. The amperage draw was 3. 7mA



Cheers,



Bill

 

[GOlsen]

I don't think 3. 7mA is enough to drain your batteries unless you're not running your truck for weeks at a time. That seems pretty low. I also have a Cobra with weather, and you have 2 power wires that go to it. One is a switched power source, and one is more of like a memory power source. Remembers what channel you were on last, stuff like that. The memory wire should be getting power all the time (a small amount). I believe mine has a small 1A fuse inline.

 

[BILLUA]

I don't think 3. 7mA is enough to drain your batteries unless you're not running your truck for weeks at a time. That seems pretty low. I also have a Cobra with weather, and you have 2 power wires that go to it. One is a switched power source, and one is more of like a memory power source. Remembers what channel you were on last, stuff like that. The memory wire should be getting power all the time (a small amount). I believe mine has a small 1A fuse inline.

You are correct. 2 power wires, The one I took off of the battery has a 2. 5 amp inline fuse on it.



I also did not think 3. 7 mA was enough current draw to drain 2 new batteries in 2 weeks.



The only thing I am sure of is that the CB was the draw of the power. I confirmed it with a meter and also now if I reconnect a ground cable to one of my batteries, there is no longer a spark...



I have e-mailed the shop where I bought the CB, Clays radio shop in TX.



I will post what he has to say.



Cheers!

 

[Hammer]

Clays CB shop... .

The BEST "Little Ol CB Radio Shop" In Texas. His work is well known among the professional truckers and well liked... ... . Andy