Will A Bluetooth OBDII Sensor Drain Battery?

[jangoforhire]

I recently just got a cheap bluetooth OBDII adapter for my 4runner. It has no batteries and no external power connection, so I know it is drawing power directly from the OBDII port on my truck. There are some lights on the front of the adapter that stay illuminated even when the car is off.

I would like to leave the adapter plugged in 24/7 and just connect to it when I get in my car, but if this is staying lit up even when the car is off, it is obviously still drawing power...will this be enough to kill my battery in a short amount of time? If so I am going to have to look for one with an external power supply that I can regulate.

 

[nashman69g]

I think you will be just fine unless it stays park for a long period of time.

 

[bimrunner]

I think i would modify it slightly. I would use a relay instead of a switch to make it automatically turn on once the car is turned on.

Get an OBDII extension cable and hook up the power wire to the N/O (Normaly open) relay contact.

Take a switched 12v acc power and an earth/ground wire to the coil of the relay.

Not to bust your balls but the thread is 2 years old... Interesing idea though. I simply plug in when I need it, otherwise it's in the center consol.