Battery Drain
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 322
Likes: 0
From: Mt. Pleasant TX
Battery Drain
Any input on tracing out a battery drain?? My battery has started draining in the last week . I've been doing some work on it in the garage. And was blaming it on having the hood up too much, and not unplugging the underhood lights. However since I've finished up. It's still draining down.. I took it and had the battery tested and even though it turned out to be only 500cca. It tested okay. I had the alternator changed 2 mo. ago and will start w/ that.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
The way to isolate a drain problem like this is to hook a DVM in series between the battery POS lead and the cable. Start with the DMM on the max. current setting.
Note the drain and pull each fuse in turn untill the drain suddenly drops.
Once you have isolated the circuit, the rest is just tedious checking of each element in that circuit.
Note the drain and pull each fuse in turn untill the drain suddenly drops.
Once you have isolated the circuit, the rest is just tedious checking of each element in that circuit.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Well Digital Volt Meter (DMM) or Digital Multi Meter (DMM) are the instruments I had in mind.
Actually the latter is more useful and is available at Radio Shack for a reasonable price. Pick up that and an assortment of jumper wires with aligator (i.e. roach) clips on the ends and you are good to go.
Actually the latter is more useful and is available at Radio Shack for a reasonable price. Pick up that and an assortment of jumper wires with aligator (i.e. roach) clips on the ends and you are good to go.
