Parasitic Draw on the Zumo

[twowheelstom]

I installed the Zumo 396 cradle mount to my Kawasaki 800 handlebars and ran the power cable to an always ON Accessory lead in the headlight bucket, that ACC lead is on a 10A fuse in the fuse box under the seat.
But I have a high parasitic draw on that ACC 10 fuse, so when I removed that ACC 10 amp fuse there's no draw on current. Even with the Zumo on OFF there's a high parasite draw. So I need to change my Zumo power cable system to a switched ON/OFF setup, either off the ignition key or else install a 12v handlebar switch between the ACC lead and Zumo power cable.

[twowheelstom]

I found a switched blue wire in the headlight bucket, its part of the front running light/tail light circuit, plan to use posi-tap on it, I'll leave the zumo (-) ground cable wire in the ACC ground lead, then cut the zumo (+) positive red cable wire and posi-tap it to that blue wire, hope it works ok

[MSTOCK27370]

I have a 396 mounted on my Airhead BMW. It is permanently wired direct to the battery. I haven't measured the draw of the GPS. I do turn it off by giving it a quick press of the power button, knowing that it is going into sleep mode and not a full shutdown. Still, never had any issue with battery draw down. It sounds like you may have some other device on that circuit with the large parasitic draw.

[Peobody]

I'm wondering if the mounted 396 was not fully charged when it was mounted. If not, it would be drawing power because it is charging. After that, it is logical that a mounted satnav would continue to draw enough power to keep itself charged.

[jfheath]

on Peobody's comment. Zumos rarely charge well on anything less than 2A. That amount of current will flatten a motorcycle battery in a few hours. Its about the same as a brake light.

Until you get it sorted, just remove the Zumo from the cradle.

Be aware that an extra 2A on a headlight circuit might be enough to overload the fuse or cable capacity. Especially if someone else has done the same trick before you !

[rbentnail]

I used the Kawasaki headllight bucket wires before, you'll be fine. I had an '03 1500 Classic.

[twowheelstom]

Until you get it sorted, just remove the Zumo from the cradle.
Be aware that an extra 2A on a headlight circuit might be enough to overload the fuse or cable capacity.

you guys are helpful, thanks, so here is the latest news on my setup.
I removed the motorcycle battery and did some google searching and also what you guys say.
here is my (dummies version) of motorcycle wiring so far. lol
the Zumo 396 draw about 0.39 amps, probably flat out on, (saw that on some guys Youtube) lol
the total current draw of the power cable when 396 charging is 1.5 amps (from garmin site)
so I'll round off to say my 396 circuit will use 1.5 amps complete (all things going)
my Motorcycle running/tail light/speedo light circuit from the fuse box is on a 10 amp fuse
I pulled that fuse out and the parasite draw went to zero,
maybe the parasite draw on the amp meter was when I had 396 in the cradle running and it may have been charging up
(the amp meter went up to 0.44 amps then, so this is when i panicked and pulled out the fuse and battery)

that running light/tail light circuit is where I want to tap into for the 396 power cable.
(it's a blue wire I found in the headlight bucket powering the left side running/turn signal bulb)
Google says a typical running/tail light circuit draws less than 2 amps
so 2 amps + my Zumo 1.5 amps = 3.5 amps
that blue wire circuit is on a 10 amp fuse
so I should be ok tapping into that blue wire?
sorry, I failed math all thru school
actually I failed everything lol no kidding

[twowheelstom]

SUCCESS, the Zumo 396 is now on a switched circuit and no parasite draw anymore,
(like when I had 396 connected to battery Accessory leads the last time).
All is working great.
I posi-tap connected the 396 (+) power cable wire with that switched blue running light circuit wire in the headlight bucket and it works great. The Zumo 396 now powers on with the ignition key on, powers off with key off, also that parasite draw I had earlier is gone, with ignition key off there's no amps draw on whole bike at (-) battery post and with the bike ignition key on and w/396 in the cradle powered on, there's a 3.1 amps draw total at (-) post battery and engine not running.