ok, car audio question....

[vash]

does a stereo amplifier draw any current when the ignition is off? basically, like most properly installed stereos; my head unit "tells" the amps when to turn on. i recently had a draining battery, and i pulled out the inline fuses to my amps and tested the current across the circuit with my anmeter, with the ignition off. i had roughly 19 mA at one amp and 10 at another. i noticed the installer spliced the constant 12V on (yellow) wire to one of the big amp power supply wires too. so i have two variables at the wire moving 19 mA. so far my new optima battery is doing fine but the leaking current may be a problem if i go on vacation and do not drive my truck for awhile. keep in mind, this is for a chevy truck so it doesnt have the sweet melody of a flat six, therefore i need the tunes!

thanks guys.

[CamB]

does a stereo amplifier draw any current when the ignition is off?

I don't think they are supposed too! Having said that, my old car (with three amps) would flatten its battery when not used for an extended period. It only happened after the stereo was installed.

i noticed the installer spliced the constant 12V on (yellow) wire to one of the big amp power supply wires too.

The constant 12v on is usually on the head unit and is to allow it to retain its memory. If this is the wire you mean, it should be ok for it to be spliced onto the amp's main feed. If this feed is downstream of the fuse, I would expect a minor current draw (for the head unit's memory).

Are you certain the head unit's accessory wire is being used to turn the amps on (ie, that they are not on all the time?).

If you want a quick fix while you are away, you could just pull those fuses and leave them out.