OPUS 150w keeps killing my battery. Need help!

**archimense** · 10-16-2004, 01:11 AM

I followed the info in some of the posts Rando made about disabling standby power, and it solved the power drain problems my OPUS 150 was causing in my VW.

**EBJUSTIN** · 10-16-2004, 08:29 PM

I'm considering buying the 150w opus but am concerned about the 5V standby current draw. The opus users manual states that the opus can consume from 1 to 8 watts when the standby jumper is placed....8watts equates to 667mA @ 12V which will drain the battery too quickly. Has anyone measured the the standby current draw from the opus while powering an Epia M10k in standby without USB devices attatched. Currently I have a separate 5VDC regulator powering the +5VSB to the Epia M10K. I measure ~150mA at the battery.

**Avalerion** · 10-16-2004, 09:27 PM

Forget the above answers. They all make no sense. This is what I did, and if you need pictures, let me know.

1. Connect Red Wire +12 to positive battery terminal.
2. Connect Black Wire Gnd to negative battery terminal.
Make sure you have a fuse near the battery on the + line.
Go to radioshack and get a switch (20a-30a) along with some quick disconnects.
Install the switch somewhere in the car, with the red wire connected to it.
When you're not using your car, keep the switch off. It prevents any power from leaving your battery and turns off the Opus. It's the same as if you were removing the black power plug from behind your pc. If it's not plugged in, it's not using power. So after you shut down, just turn off the switch. Takes 5 seconds, and you don't lose your battery nor do you wear it down.

**archimense** · 10-17-2004, 01:45 AM

Originally Posted by Avalerion

Forget the above answers. They all make no sense. This is what I did, and if you need pictures, let me know.

1. Connect Red Wire +12 to positive battery terminal.
2. Connect Black Wire Gnd to negative battery terminal.
Make sure you have a fuse near the battery on the + line.
Go to radioshack and get a switch (20a-30a) along with some quick disconnects.
Install the switch somewhere in the car, with the red wire connected to it.
When you're not using your car, keep the switch off. It prevents any power from leaving your battery and turns off the Opus. It's the same as if you were removing the black power plug from behind your pc. If it's not plugged in, it's not using power. So after you shut down, just turn off the switch. Takes 5 seconds, and you don't lose your battery nor do you wear it down.

If you guys would

you would see there has already been lots of discussion on an automated and reliable way to do this...

**rando** · 10-17-2004, 01:50 AM

Originally Posted by EBJUSTIN

I'm considering buying the 150w opus but am concerned about the 5V standby current draw. The opus users manual states that the opus can consume from 1 to 8 watts when the standby jumper is placed....8watts equates to 667mA @ 12V which will drain the battery too quickly. Has anyone measured the the standby current draw from the opus while powering an Epia M10k in standby without USB devices attatched. Currently I have a separate 5VDC regulator powering the +5VSB to the Epia M10K. I measure ~150mA at the battery.

The 150W Opus does not have a jumper to configure the +5VSB rail. It's ALWAYS ON. Only the 90W Opus has this option.

**EBJUSTIN** · 10-17-2004, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by rando

The 150W Opus does not have a jumper to configure the +5VSB rail. It's ALWAYS ON. Only the 90W Opus has this option.

your right...so has anyone measured the standby current draw on a 90 watt opus?

**rando** · 10-17-2004, 04:46 PM

With the feature disabled, it should be zero or near zero. With it enabled (i.e. ATX compliant) I'd guess it would be very similar to the 150W model. For the most part, the standby power consumption is dominated by what you have hooked up to your 5vsb rail. The Opus itself isn't going to consume enough to be a major concern, probably less than ~5mA measured at the battery lead. The m10k, without peripherals, will bump that up to ~90mA.

**DjBac** · 10-20-2004, 03:55 AM

I installed the first part of my caputer yesterday!!!!

No noise (usb2 Audigy) no flickering-waves on the xenarc (powered from the opus..)..
BUT, when I use the PC with the engine turned off and the volt drops below 11,6v it will hibernate..

I assume this is for battery protection, but shouldn't it be 10,4v??
I've check with a multimeter and voltage is OK!!! Both for +12v and trigger....

NEED HELP!!!

**zijester** · 10-20-2004, 04:12 AM

Ok lets get couple of things straight. Unless your planing to mount your opus in your engine compartment, YOU ARE NOT TO CONNECT THE GROUND WIRE TO THE BATTERY. Ahem, now having said that, use a ground wire thats less than three feet in length and same gauge as your +cable.

**andyhardy** · 10-20-2004, 07:04 AM

Originally Posted by Avalerion

Forget the above answers. They all make no sense. This is what I did, and if you need pictures, let me know.

1. Connect Red Wire +12 to positive battery terminal.
2. Connect Black Wire Gnd to negative battery terminal.
Make sure you have a fuse near the battery on the + line.
Go to radioshack and get a switch (20a-30a) along with some quick disconnects.
Install the switch somewhere in the car, with the red wire connected to it.
When you're not using your car, keep the switch off. It prevents any power from leaving your battery and turns off the Opus. It's the same as if you were removing the black power plug from behind your pc. If it's not plugged in, it's not using power. So after you shut down, just turn off the switch. Takes 5 seconds, and you don't lose your battery nor do you wear it down.

That is definitely the best way of doing it.

According to my Dad it's to do with quiescent current draw or something similar. In my case I use an inline fuse to the PSU on the main power lead so merely take this out when not using the car for any period of time.

Cheers,

Andy