What businesses should know before installing a tracker
Vehicle tracking power guide by Sam Butler, Business Development Manager at Fleetloc8, the Fleetmaxx Tracking Solution.
One of the questions I’m regularly asked about vehicle tracking is whether the tracker will affect the car’s battery.
It’s a reasonable concern. Most trackers remain connected when the engine is switched off, so businesses want to know whether their vehicles will still start after being parked overnight or left unused for longer periods.
A modern, correctly installed vehicle tracker should have very little effect on a healthy battery during normal use. However, every connected device uses some electricity, and problems can arise when a battery is already weak, the vehicle is used infrequently or the tracker hasn’t been installed correctly.
Key takeaways
- Vehicle trackers use a small amount of electricity.
- A modern tracker shouldn’t drain a healthy battery during normal use.
- The tracker can normally continue working when the engine is switched off.
- Older or weakened batteries are more susceptible to losing charge.
- Vehicles left unused for long periods carry a greater risk of battery problems.
- A car tracker can work without the vehicle battery if it has its own internal power source.
- Installation and other connected equipment should be checked if battery problems develop.
How much power does a vehicle tracker use?
A tracker must receive enough power to establish its location and send information to the tracking platform.
The amount of power used will vary between devices, but modern vehicle trackers are designed to keep consumption low. When a vehicle is parked, the tracker can operate in a lower-power state until the engine starts or movement is detected.
For a car or van used regularly, the small amount of power used while parked is normally replaced when the vehicle is driven and its battery recharges.
This means a tracker can remain connected overnight without usually having a noticeable effect on the battery.
Can a vehicle tracker drain a car battery?
A vehicle tracker can contribute to battery drain, but it shouldn’t normally be enough to flatten a healthy battery by itself.
When a customer raises a battery concern, I would look at the complete situation rather than assuming the tracker must be responsible. The condition of the battery, how often the vehicle moves and what other equipment is connected can all make a difference.
There are several circumstances in which a tracker could make an existing battery problem more noticeable.
The vehicle battery is old or weakened
A battery may still be capable of starting the engine while having very little capacity left in reserve.
In that situation, the small amount of power used by a tracker can contribute to the battery losing charge. The tracker hasn’t necessarily caused the underlying problem, but its power use may expose a battery that is already deteriorating.
Cold weather can make this more noticeable because weakened batteries are more likely to struggle when temperatures fall.
The vehicle is left unused
A van driven every working day presents a different situation from a car that remains parked for several weeks.
Even a low electrical draw becomes more significant when it continues over a long period without the battery being recharged. Trackers, alarms and manufacturer-installed electronics may all remain active while the vehicle is parked.
Businesses with seasonal vehicles, spare vans or vehicles awaiting sale should consider how long they are likely to remain unused.
The vehicle only makes short journeys
Starting an engine takes power from the battery. The alternator then replaces that power while the vehicle is being driven.
Repeated short journeys may not give the battery enough time to recharge fully. If this happens regularly, the vehicle’s battery level may gradually fall even though it is being used most days.
The tracker will be one of several electrical systems drawing power, but the journey pattern may be the more important factor.
Other equipment is also connected
Vehicle trackers are rarely the only electrical devices fitted to a business vehicle.
Dashcams, mobile phone chargers, lighting, refrigeration equipment and other accessories may also draw power. Battery drain can be caused by the combined load rather than one individual device.
This is why it is important to check everything connected to the vehicle before blaming the tracker.
The tracker has been installed incorrectly
An installation problem can affect how a device behaves when the engine is switched off.
Fleetloc8 offers self-install trackers, an OBD option and a professionally fitted hardwired vehicle tracker. Whichever option is chosen, the installation instructions and vehicle compatibility should be checked carefully.
If battery problems begin immediately after installation, the connection should be inspected alongside the condition of the battery.
Will a tracker drain the battery overnight?
A correctly installed modern tracker shouldn’t drain a healthy car battery overnight.
The tracker remains powered while the engine is off, but its electrical demand should be low. A vehicle failing to start after one night is more likely to indicate a weak battery, an electrical fault, an installation problem or another device drawing power.
The situation changes when a vehicle remains parked for several weeks. Even small electrical loads can become more important over a longer period, particularly if the battery wasn’t fully charged beforehand.
Does a vehicle tracker work when the engine is off?
Yes. Most connected vehicle trackers continue working when the engine is switched off.
This allows the tracking system to show where the vehicle is parked and detect unexpected activity. If trackers stopped whenever the engine was turned off, businesses would lose visibility at the time a parked vehicle may be most vulnerable.
Switching off the engine doesn’t disconnect the battery. The vehicle still provides power to the tracker and other systems.
Does a car tracker work without a battery?
A car tracker cannot work without any power, but it may work without using the vehicle’s battery.
Hardwired, self-install and OBD trackers generally receive power from the vehicle. If its battery is completely disconnected, a tracker without an internal backup power source will stop operating.
Other trackers contain their own battery and can work independently from the vehicle. These can be useful for trailers, plant and equipment without a convenient permanent power supply.
An internal battery will eventually need to be charged or replaced. How long it lasts depends on the device, how frequently it reports and how often the asset moves.
Some vehicle trackers may also contain backup power that allows them to continue working temporarily after the main supply is interrupted. This varies between models and should be confirmed before installation.
How I would investigate a suspected tracker battery drain
Disconnecting the tracker may seem like the fastest way to test the problem, but it can leave the business without tracking and may not reveal the real cause.
I would check:
- The age and tested condition of the vehicle battery.
- How long the vehicle had been parked.
- Whether it usually makes long journeys or repeated short trips.
- What other equipment remains connected.
- Whether the tracker has been installed correctly.
- Whether the vehicle has another electrical fault.
It is also useful to compare affected vehicles. If several identical trackers are fitted but only one vehicle develops battery problems, that may point towards the individual battery, vehicle or installation rather than the tracking system itself.
That kind of comparison is often more useful than looking at the tracker in isolation.
Choosing a tracker that suits the vehicle
Battery use should be considered before a tracking device is selected.
For cars, vans and HGVs used regularly, a self-install, OBD or hardwired tracker can provide continuous monitoring without needing to be manually charged.
A battery-powered device may be more appropriate for an unpowered trailer or piece of equipment. In that situation, the expected battery life and frequency of location updates become more important.
This is why I start by asking how the vehicle or asset is used. The right tracker for a van driven every day may not be suitable for equipment left unattended for several months.
You can compare the different Fleetloc8 vehicle tracking options or learn more about how GPS vehicle tracking works.
Will a vehicle tracker affect your battery?
A vehicle tracker uses some power, but a modern device shouldn’t noticeably affect a healthy battery when it has been installed correctly and the vehicle is used regularly.
Battery drain becomes more likely when the battery is already weak, the vehicle remains unused, journeys are very short or several electrical devices are connected.
If problems appear, checking the complete vehicle and its usage will provide a more reliable answer than automatically removing the tracker.
To discuss which tracker would suit your vehicles or equipment, contact the Fleetloc8 team.
