# "Always on" power outlets

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/always-on-power-outlets/63536>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** aura, saturn\
**Created:** [April 9, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/always-on-power-outlets/63536 "2011-04-09T21:21:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dwinston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dwinston](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dwinston)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/always-on-power-outlets/63536/1 "2011-04-09T21:21:52Z")

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My 2008 Saturn Aura has 2 power outlets, both of which are always hot. I have my portable gps conneted to one, so it’s always on. Even if I turn the unit off, it’s still receiving signals if it’s getting power. At work, I park in a garage where the unit can’t receive a signal, so it’s constantly searching for one. I’m concerned this will be a drain on the battery. Will it? What would it take to re-wire one of the outlets so it’s only hot when the ignition is on?

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**Author:** ![Joe-Guy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joe-guy/32/124_2.png) [@Joe-Guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joe-Guy)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/always-on-power-outlets/63536/2 "2011-04-09T22:04:39Z")

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It would be much simpler to unplug it when you’re not using it.

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**Author:** ![SteveF](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevef/32/2_2.png) [@SteveF](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveF)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2011, 2:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/always-on-power-outlets/63536/3 "2011-04-10T02:13:14Z")

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The power drain from your gps is too small to affect the car battery. But if you are concerned, why not just unplug it?

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**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2011, 4:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/always-on-power-outlets/63536/4 "2011-04-10T04:46:54Z")

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Do you need a GPS to find your workplace?

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**Author:** ![oblivion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3ab097/32.png) [@oblivion](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oblivion)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2011, 12:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/always-on-power-outlets/63536/5 "2011-04-10T12:09:15Z")

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…or even just switch it off?

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**Author:** ![EllyEllis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f14d63/32.png) [@EllyEllis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/EllyEllis)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2011, 8:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/always-on-power-outlets/63536/6 "2011-04-10T20:57:19Z")

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If you turn the GPS off then surely all that would happen is it would charge the GPS battery???