Does a motorcycle alarm consume a lot of power?
2 Answers
Motorcycle alarms generally consume very little current, typically around 20mA, which usually has no significant impact on the battery. However, if it is a low-quality alarm, the current consumption will be higher. Low power consumption scenario: When selecting an alarm, check the manual for the static current value, which indicates the power consumption when the alarm is not activated. If you want to turn it on only when in use and off otherwise, you can cut the positive power wire of the alarm (the one connected to the battery's positive terminal) and connect it in series with a switch for control. High power consumption scenario: If the alarm consumes 200mA and the motorcycle is not ridden for three days, the power consumption would be 24x3x0.2=14.4A.h. For a 7A.h battery, this would definitely lead to battery drain.
Motorcycle alarms generally consume very little power, as they spend most of their time in standby mode, drawing only a minimal current of around 0.1 to 0.5 milliamps. As a motorcycle enthusiast, I often discuss this topic with friends. If you ride your bike regularly and keep the battery charged, the alarm's power consumption isn't an issue at all. However, if the bike sits unused for extended periods and the alarm is triggered frequently, power consumption can increase—especially with older batteries, which are more prone to draining completely. I learned this the hard way: during a two-week trip, my alarm went off several times due to false alarms, and when I returned, the battery was too drained to start the bike. My advice is to choose a low-power alarm, adjust its sensitivity settings to avoid unnecessary triggers, and prevent it from reacting to minor disturbances like wind. Additionally, alarms consume more power in cold winter temperatures, so it's best to maintain the battery with a charger. While it's common knowledge that alarms use little power, don’t let it delay your ride.
