[Pancho]

Does a phone charger deplete car battery, still, when phone not connected ?

More precisely, if wired to a constant hot lead, does a phone charger deplete the car battery still, when the phone is not connected ?

I intend to wire in a dedicated phone charger with a USB interface, so that I can keep the ash tray hatch closed.

I can wire it to a switched hot lead by connecting it to the cigarette lighter leads,
or
I can wire it into a non-switched hot lead, so that, after I shut off the ignition, I can leave the phone or other device in the car to charge while I am away.

I would like to wire it into a non-switched hot lead.

I know that all phone chargers have a component that steps down the voltage from 12V to 5V. I am thinking that this means that the device is constantly burning off current, even if a phone is not connected to the charger.

So, if wired to a constant hot lead, does a phone charger deplete the car battery still, when the phone is not connected?

Device:
DC 12V to 5V 3A 15W Step Down Converter Regulator Female Panel Mount USB for Car | eBay

 

[magna steyr 210.282]

Cheap ones will drain your car battery. Look for ones that are energy star certified and they will pull such a small amount that your factory security and telecom would deplete the charge before the converter. About a month standing still.

 

[Pancho]

Cheap ones will drain your car battery. Look for ones that are energy star certified and they will pull such a small amount that your factory security and telecom would deplete the charge before the converter. About a month standing still.

Very good info, and I hope I am correct when I surmise the answer to the central question is:

Yes, a car charger will draw on the car battery even if the charger is not connected to a phone.

Thanks for your help.

 

[scottys209]

Very good info, and I hope I am correct when I surmise the answer to the central question is:

Yes, a car charger will draw on the car battery even if the charger is not connected to a phone.

Thanks for your help.

Given a long enough time line, yes... But the "Always On" portions of your car will do the same (keyless entry receiver, memory for all things that are preset, ecu...etc etc etc) They do not however place a significant drain on the battery, under normal conditions it should not affect your usability of the vehicle ... If you are leaving the vehicle unused for long enough periods of time for a vehicle car charger to drain the batter, you should consider a trickle charger, or unplugging the charger and placing it in the center console until you drive the vehicle again.

 

[magna steyr 210.282]

Very good info, and I hope I am correct when I surmise the answer to the central question is:

Yes, a car charger will draw on the car battery even if the charger is not connected to a phone.

Thanks for your help.

No problem! I call them energy vampires. Every vampire I have in my home that does not have an energy star rating gets put on a power strip. I turn them off when I leave the house or when that area is not in use.

The energy star chargers draw such a small amount of energy that it's not a big deal to hard wire it into your DC system. It will draw less than a small led light when in standby. The cheap ones will draw about half it's capacity when in standby and will kill your battery in a day or so. The energy star one would kill it in a month.

Get some photos of it when you are done! Did you decide where to mount it?