Drive In Movie - How to Keep Radio On?

[Steven 6095]

Hi! We have a nice drive in movie theater and I'm trying to figure out how to keep the radio on for the length of the movie without having to run the engine or having to press the start button every 15 minutes or so.

Any thoughts? Thank you.

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[Bucko]

A portable radio? I use a Dewalt radio for the beach, pool side, or something like what your asking for, but any battery operated radio would work.

 

[Steven 6095]

I was thinking that as well. I can't find a way to make a bronco sport compatible with 1950s technology.

 

[DWG]

When you turn the car off the radio will stay on for about 10 minutes. or until you open the driver door which shuts everything off. I was sitting in my Edge one day without turning on the car and I was surprised to find out that with the power off I was able to turn on the radio on by using the radio button and did not need to put the car in auxiliary power by hitting the start button without my foot on the brake. I also noticed in this case that opening the driver door did not shut off the radio. I originally posted this on another thread and Mark S noted that you could switch the system on for up to an hour without turning on the car. With the BS charging system recall not sure what using the radio in auxiliary does to the battery.

 

[Arcee]

Couldn't you just put the car in accessory mode (press the start button once without putting your foot on the brake)? That should turn on just the electronics. I would imagine you should be able to listen to a 2hr movie without worrying about the battery, especially with an AGM battery...

 

[Deleted member 6350]

Couldn't you just put the car in accessory mode (press the start button once without putting your foot on the brake)? That should turn on just the electronics. I would imagine you should be able to listen to a 2hr movie without worrying about the battery, especially with an AGM battery...

The radio only stays on for 10 minutes when you do that. As far as I know there is no accessory on the Sport

 

[Dude]

The Motorcraft BHEF-48H6 lead-acid EFB battery per its specs has a 70Ah rating (need to confirm that!) when new and fully charged and probably is rated at a certain temperature maybe 80°F IDK.

Rule of thumb says not to discharge below 50% of the rated capacity so in theory 35Amps per hour could be consumed.

How many Amps per hour does the “radio” (APIM, 8” display screen and other associated equipment) draw? If it was 1 Amp, could run for 35 hours. A 2hr movie should still leave plenty to start the vehicle.

I have no idea how much the radio equipment actual draw in Amp hours is. Nor do I know what the battery voltage would be at the end of the movie assuming the battery was fully charged (and was a battery in good condition) at the beginning of the movie.

 

[Glamdring70]

Reactivating the ACC mode or opening doors also makes the @$(*$& lights come on again. The best option is to use a portable radio.

 

[CoastieN70]

Radio will operate for an hour without having to use Acc mode, in other words with the car turned off, by simply pressing the radio power knob. If the movie is longer than an hour, press the radio power knob again as necessary. I seriously doubt that the radio only will kill the battery in two hours. But using the Acc mode will because it powers a whole lot more than the radio.
That being said, I use a portable Dewalt radio at the drive-in...

 

[Cursed Bronco]

I know it's not the best option, but aside from using a portable radio, you can also download a tuner app and play the sound through your phone.

 

[Mark S.]

Shut the car down, then open the door. That will shut off all the electronics. Then close the door and push the radio power button. That will power on just the infotainment system. It should stay on for at least 1/2 hour. If it shuts down simply push the radio power button again. I would not run the system in ACC mode--too much of a power draw.

 

[Robins21]

Why do you want the radio on when trying to watch a drive-in-movie?

 

[Glamdring70]

Why do you want the radio on when trying to watch a drive-in-movie?

You don't need it for old silent films, but most movies these days are Talkies.

 

[Mark S.]

Why do you want the radio on when trying to watch a drive-in-movie?

Newer drive-in theaters broadcast the sound for the movie over a low-power AM or FM transmitter. You tune the radio in your car to the right frequency to hear it.

 

[Bill G]

Ah, another “loss” to progress — I’d miss the old speaker hung on the window . . . assuming I could find an operating drive-in theater; there hasn’t been one in driving distance for me in the last 30-40 years

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