Loudlink causing battery drain?

[rossyl]

Hi

I bought and installed a bluetooth Loudlink. It randomly stopped working, so I don't know if i's faulty. That aside, I wondered if it was causing battery drain.

With the car switched off, without the key in, and the car locked, the Loudlink will charge something (e.g. a phone) via USB. If you left a phone plugged in, it would continually charge and drain the battery.

Also, something I discovered was that with the car locked you can turn on the NIT.

My issue is does the Loudlink draw on the battery without anything plugged into the USB? Is the draw small enought to not make a large difference?

Anyone got any thoughts on this?

Thanks
R

 

[mjheathcote]

You can certainly turn on the NIT with no key.
Battery drain issue and stopped working aside, how is it? Fancy one myself.

 

[CatmanV2]

Hi

I bought and installed a bluetooth Loudlink. It randomly stopped working, so I don't know if i's faulty. That aside, I wondered if it was causing battery drain.

With the car switched off, without the key in, and the car locked, the Loudlink will charge something (e.g. a phone) via USB. If you left a phone plugged in, it would continually charge and drain the battery.

Also, something I discovered was that with the car locked you can turn on the NIT.

My issue is does the Loudlink draw on the battery without anything plugged into the USB? Is the draw small enought to not make a large difference?

Anyone got any thoughts on this?

Thanks
R

Being able to turn on the stereo is common with most cars It does turn off after a while as well.
I'm sure the Loudlink is draining some current, but I doubt it's much more than milliamps. You can test easy enough with an ammerter in line. I'd really doubt it'll make a difference, though. The Parrot (for example) doesn't.

C

 

[rossyl]

Being able to turn on the stereo is common with most cars It does turn off after a while as well.
I'm sure the Loudlink is draining some current, but I doubt it's much more than milliamps. You can test easy enough with an ammerter in line. I'd really doubt it'll make a difference, though. The Parrot (for example) doesn't.

C

Mike - I'll have to get the Loudlink working again before I judge it entirely. Will have a play tonight. Currently it's not being recognised at a CD changer, which is how it operates. Typically I got it all installed ready for a weekend driving trip and it didn't bloomin work!

Cheers C - Once it is back up and running, i'd appreciate a little guidance with the ammeter

 

[CatmanV2]

Mike - I'll have to get the Loudlink working again before I judge it entirely. Will have a play tonight. Currently it's not being recognised at a CD changer, which is how it operates. Typically I got it all installed ready for a weekend driving trip and it didn't bloomin work!

Cheers C - Once it is back up and running, i'd appreciate a little guidance with the ammeter

Happy to

C

 

[Nando]

Mike - I'll have to get the Loudlink working again before I judge it entirely. Will have a play tonight. Currently it's not being recognised at a CD changer, which is how it operates. Typically I got it all installed ready for a weekend driving trip and it didn't bloomin work!

Cheers C - Once it is back up and running, i'd appreciate a little guidance with the ammeter

What's the issue? Mine works but there is a certain way with it. Has it worked previously?

Also, I alway unplug mine for fear of battery drain. I rarely use the car.


Cheers
Ryan

 

[parky69]

Hi

I bought and installed a bluetooth Loudlink. It randomly stopped working, so I don't know if i's faulty. That aside, I wondered if it was causing battery drain.

With the car switched off, without the key in, and the car locked, the Loudlink will charge something (e.g. a phone) via USB. If you left a phone plugged in, it would continually charge and drain the battery.

Also, something I discovered was that with the car locked you can turn on the NIT.

My issue is does the Loudlink draw on the battery without anything plugged into the USB? Is the draw small enought to not make a large difference?

Anyone got any thoughts on this?

Thanks
R

I have one of these installed, and mine too randomly stops working. I have to go in the boot and unplug and then plug it back in again. It also deletes cd compilations off my sd card. When it's working it's not too bad, but i'm sure there's better stuff out there. This was already installed when I bought the car so cant help on the installation, cheers Dan

 

[2b1ask1]

I don't know if yours is a more up to date version but mine needs an SD card < 2gb formatted to run a flash update after the battery has been off for a while. once flashed it is fine with HDSD of any capacity. Although more recently I tended to stick with the small SD and just use the AUX function through the Iphone playlist.

 

[CatmanV2]

It really does sound like a slightly shonky solution

C

 

[2b1ask1]

They are a pretty crude digital emulator; they simply mimic the 5 CD Changer a Avila le with the NIT unit. I have not taken mine apart but it is going to be little more than a PIC chip and a basic PCB but it works and the sound is acceptable to me, the only alteration I needed to do was drill a small hole in the tray under the flip lid of the middle rest.

When Alex is qualified as an electronic engineer I may ask him to see if he can improve upon it but until that time I'm good. There is always that lovely default V8 sound track anyway!

 

[CatmanV2]

but it works

Apparently, mostly not....

C

 

[Chrisbassett]

I've had an IO Play 2 installed, it does Bluetooth for the phone, dock connector for the iPod and has an aux input. It takes the NIT output as one of it's inputs and has its own amplifier. Hands free is good, and with the roof down I can just about have a conversation below 40mph, but the world can hear the other person! Roof up is fine. One advantage is that it understands playlists, not sure if the loudlink does...

Just an alternative for those looking.

 

[rossyl]

I will be pretty peeved if it requires constant unplugging and re-plugging in as it is installed in the armrest - so will require frequent dismantling. I may have to install it under the passenger seat.

Also, yet to work out how well bluetooth phone will work - as it will need to be on the CD Changer to work properly. I'll need to get it working again before I deceide that.

I won't start the car till Saturday so will be able to tell if it is draining the battery.

 

[parky69]

I will be pretty peeved if it requires constant unplugging and re-plugging in as it is installed in the armrest - so will require frequent dismantling. I may have to install it under the passenger seat.

Also, yet to work out how well bluetooth phone will work - as it will need to be on the CD Changer to work properly. I'll need to get it working again before I deceide that.

I won't start the car till Saturday so will be able to tell if it is draining the battery.

The main issue with mine is when i'm playing off the sd card. Forever locking up, through bluetooth its fine, but you end up fiddling about with the phone or whatever else you have connected. I suppose if you have a playlist confirgured you're not too bad

 

[rossyl]

Just to follow up on this

The Loudlink I do not think is causing any considerable battery drain. I think the battery went flat due to me spending about 6-7 hours with the doors/boot open while fiddling with the NIT.

The Loudlink is pretty good. The biggest annoyance is getting your phone to pair and connect. I find that I need to "Unpair" "re-Pair" and "Connect". Each time. Maybe I am doing something wrong? Maybe it is my phone.

Once connected it works very well.

Yet to receive a call on it though

 

[CatmanV2]

Just to follow up on this

The Loudlink I do not think is causing any considerable battery drain. I think the battery went flat due to me spending about 6-7 hours with the doors/boot open while fiddling with the NIT.

I thought all the lights were on timers. I could be wrong, though.

C

 

[rossyl]

I thought all the lights were on timers. I could be wrong, though.

C

Probably - but open doors, close doors, move seat forward, move seat backwards, open boot, close boot, turn on NIT etc. Also opening and closing the driver door would cause the F1 pump to prime as well.

I reckon all of that over the course of a number of hours could have maybe driven it down a little.

 

[CatmanV2]

Probably - but open doors, close doors, move seat forward, move seat backwards, open boot, close boot, turn on NIT etc. Also opening and closing the driver door would cause the F1 pump to prime as well.

I reckon all of that over the course of a number of hours could have maybe driven it down a little.

In combination you could well be right.


C