Saving battery: which combos cost energy – and which save it

Most combos only switch something briefly and don't matter for consumption. Some, however, run for a long time while the car is parked – and you'll notice those on the battery. This guide shows which they are, how to use them selectively and which combos help you save.

Updated: 16 October 2026

The big consumers

Three things noticeably cost energy while parked: Sentry, keeping the 12 V system active, and remote heating or cooling. These combos, for example, belong here:

9046 0001 keeps the 12 V system on for 24 hours after you get out, for example for a dashcam – keep an eye on the 12 V battery. 7533 0005 keeps the network connection alive after you get out; the app shows for how long.

Sentry where it's needed, not all the time

Sentry is useful, but not needed everywhere. Instead of switching it on every time you lock, like 5502 0032, you can exclude places or trigger it deliberately:

9313 0040 switches Sentry on automatically, except at home.
9882 0038 keeps Sentry on except at places you've saved as safe; 1327 0038 switches it on when locking if the car isn't at a saved place.
2843 0037 only activates Sentry if you set the left indicator as you get out; 5622 0009 asks you when you get out.

All of them are in the conflict group “Automatic Sentry”. A combo without a home exception overrides the exception of another one – use only one. Also bear in mind that camera recordings may be legally restricted depending on where you are (EDPB Guidelines 3/2019).

Limit run times

When a combo heats or cools while parked, its run time decides the consumption. Look for combos with clear limits: 5508 0048 cools for 15 minutes at a time when needed, 0002 0013 only heats at the times you set. 5612 0048, on the other hand, can run for up to about 6 hours. Location conditions also help to run a combo only where it's needed – more in the guide “Location conditions: combos for home, garage and on the road”.

Combos that help you save

Some combos make sure nothing keeps running unnecessarily:

6322 0009 switches off the headlights and climate when a door opens and back on when you buckle up; the climate control runs in eco mode. 9015 0005 and 1447 0005 are identical variants, 8223 0006 reacts to the front doors only.
0728 0030 switches off seat heating, ventilation and massage as soon as a seat is vacated.
8022 0023 switches off the headlights and climate when a door opens and the driver isn't buckled up.

Checklist

Which of your combos run while the car is parked? Check those first.
Sentry with an exception for home or safe places instead of every time you lock.
Heating and cooling combos with fixed times or thresholds instead of running all the time.
Only one combo from each conflict group – duplicate combos use double the energy.
With the 12 V system kept on, keep an eye on the 12 V battery.