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You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > iPhone, iPad & iPod > FM transmitter and vehicle battery life

FM transmitter and vehicle battery life
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iKevin
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Jul 14, 2005, 02:19 PM
 
I recently (yesterday) purchased a DLO TransPod for my iPod shuffle. Does anyone with an FM transmitter leave theirs plugged in all the time (to the cigarette lighter)? I'd like to just leave it in there all the time but don't want to run down my car battery down from the FM transmitter.

Any help/experience from FM transmitter owners use of their transmitters would be appreciated . . . Thanks!
     
ghporter
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Jul 14, 2005, 05:09 PM
 
Most cars turn off the lighter/power socket when the ignition is off. And since most power adapters have some sort of light that comes on when they're getting power, you can verify this by seeing that the light goes off when you turn off the key.

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
iKevin  (op)
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Jul 14, 2005, 05:37 PM
 
I guess that would be a luxury that Ford isn't willing to give it's customers. I've got a Ford Ranger and they stay on no matter what . . . I found it odd that the cigarette lighter would have constant power when there's also a 12v socket next to it that keeps constant power as well.
     
ghporter
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Jul 14, 2005, 06:20 PM
 
That IS bizarre. I do not think an iPod (especially a Shuffle) could drain a Ranger's battery overnight, particularly if you turn off the iPod when you're not using it. And for security purposes, I'd remove the iPod when I wasn't in the vehicle anyway. Chargers generally don't use a detectable amount of current when they don't have anything plugged into them to charge.

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
KidRed
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Jul 15, 2005, 11:25 AM
 
My Jetta powers the cigarette lighter with the car off. However, I doubt the assumed low wattage of the iPod would drain a 12V battery over night unless it was blasting full volume and using the car's speakers and head unit. But then i don't think you'd get much sleep
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