Great Handle!  dieseldoofus!

TANSTAAFL of couse.   That wireless remote has to talk to something.  The
something is either an infrared receiver or a radio frequency receiver in
the head unit.  Takes power to do that but half an amp is a bit much
methinks.

The Blaupunkt system originally in your Vanagon may have had a remote but it
would not function unless the head unit was 'on'.

Using other systems should not have too much of a draw but yours has a
measured 680ma.  If you check the specifications on the unit, likely there
will be an entry that references the quiescent current draw.  If the
measured value is out of specification then something is wired in error.  If
the measured value is close to the spec, the head unit is performing as it
should.  In your case if the spec is >500ma there is no free lunch and you
should seek another method for controlling the on-off feature.  Perhaps a
remote switch you can reach from the comfort of your duvet.

Pensionerd.   (Blaup Los Angeles mit Thummer remote)

On Sun, Dec 12, 2010 at 7:56 AM, Alan Felder <dieseldoofus@gmail.com> wrote:

> last weekend, before having some bodywork done, I decided to replace the
> in-dash stereo in my 82 Diesel Westy.  I had already wired part of the...