OBD-II reader that doesn't drain battery if permanently connected?
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rightyouareken
New member
ScangaugeII turns off with the truck. I leave my connected all the time.
octanejunkie
Elite Member
The "power pin" in the OBD port is full time hot, battery hot. If you plug a BT reader directly in it will be powered full time. I plugged my BAFX in and forgot about it. Not significant enough battery drain to be concerned with.
SaulG
Member
CK with manufacturer of your scanner..the draw should be quite low ..but...that depends on the chip in the dongle. The cheap ones will not feature a "sleep" mode.
Some will register as high as 32mA but taper off after 20 min to 2mA. The cheap e bay stuff can run high teens constantly.
Some will register as high as 32mA but taper off after 20 min to 2mA. The cheap e bay stuff can run high teens constantly.
mtbtim
Elite Member
This is what I use in both my 3rd Gens. It works well as long as you remember to turn it off. No more battery drain.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UR5XBMW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
When people say it's not a big deal because it draws very little power, i guess it depends how long your vehicle sits between starts. If you use your rig everyday, probably not a big deal. If you let your rig sometimes sit for a week or two, maybe it is a big deal. The other thing I like about the on/off switch is it gets the ODB II reader to a different more secure location. I have mine velcroed in the cubby under the ashtray. The OBD II port points downward so gravity is working against you. On a bumpy fire road, my reader fell out before I had the switch installed. Also, with it dangling there in the reader port, I accidentally bumped it with my foot a few times making me think one day I'm going to end up braking my OBD II and/or the reader. So, the switch does more for you than just preventing you draining your battery.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UR5XBMW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
When people say it's not a big deal because it draws very little power, i guess it depends how long your vehicle sits between starts. If you use your rig everyday, probably not a big deal. If you let your rig sometimes sit for a week or two, maybe it is a big deal. The other thing I like about the on/off switch is it gets the ODB II reader to a different more secure location. I have mine velcroed in the cubby under the ashtray. The OBD II port points downward so gravity is working against you. On a bumpy fire road, my reader fell out before I had the switch installed. Also, with it dangling there in the reader port, I accidentally bumped it with my foot a few times making me think one day I'm going to end up braking my OBD II and/or the reader. So, the switch does more for you than just preventing you draining your battery.
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19963.4lsr5
New member
My scangauge stays plugged into my Saturn SL all the time. No issues with battery drain. When I find a 99+ wreck to cut the overhead console cable from I’m putting a scangauge in my 97 4Runner also.
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