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#1
Posted to alt.electronics
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DC current
I want to check the current that my car is using whilst at rest (brand new
battery goes flat over two days). Will a multimeter be of use and if so what range would I need to use? Battery is 55ah Regards Tony |
#2
Posted to alt.electronics
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DC current
On Sun, 01 Jul 2007 18:03:38 GMT, "Tony P"
wrote: I want to check the current that my car is using whilst at rest (brand new battery goes flat over two days). Will a multimeter be of use and if so what range would I need to use? Battery is 55ah --- Two days is 48 hours, so if your battery's rated for 55AH and it goes flat over that time, it's probably delivering an amp or so to the load. You could use a multimeter to make the measurement, but use the highest range you have available. For cheap multimeters that's usually 10 or 20 amps, DC. What you'll need to do is make sure the ignition and accessories are all off, (including the interior lights, and also unplug anything you may have plugged into the cigarette lighter socket) then disconnect one of the battery terminals from the battery and connect the ammeter between the battery and the disconnected terminal. The meter will then display whatever current the battery is delivering. -- JF |
#3
Posted to alt.electronics
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DC current
Thank you John I will try this.
"John Fields" wrote in message ... On Sun, 01 Jul 2007 18:03:38 GMT, "Tony P" wrote: I want to check the current that my car is using whilst at rest (brand new battery goes flat over two days). Will a multimeter be of use and if so what range would I need to use? Battery is 55ah --- Two days is 48 hours, so if your battery's rated for 55AH and it goes flat over that time, it's probably delivering an amp or so to the load. You could use a multimeter to make the measurement, but use the highest range you have available. For cheap multimeters that's usually 10 or 20 amps, DC. What you'll need to do is make sure the ignition and accessories are all off, (including the interior lights, and also unplug anything you may have plugged into the cigarette lighter socket) then disconnect one of the battery terminals from the battery and connect the ammeter between the battery and the disconnected terminal. The meter will then display whatever current the battery is delivering. -- JF |
#4
Posted to alt.electronics
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DC current
On 2007-07-01, Tony P wrote:
I want to check the current that my car is using whilst at rest (brand new battery goes flat over two days). Will a multimeter be of use and if so what range would I need to use? Start on 10A and work down if it reads 0, Battery is 55ah 2 days would imply approx 1A drain, you could try placing pulling fuses and putting the meter across the terminals, that'll tell you which circuit is the thirsty one. Bye. Jasen |
#5
Posted to alt.electronics
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DC current
I have done what you suggested and I have a reading of 0.39A
I do not know if this is excessive for a car. The problem is intermittent and at the moment there does not seem to be anything wrong (touch wood). I will wait for the problem to return and try again. "Jasen Betts" wrote in message ... On 2007-07-01, Tony P wrote: I want to check the current that my car is using whilst at rest (brand new battery goes flat over two days). Will a multimeter be of use and if so what range would I need to use? Start on 10A and work down if it reads 0, Battery is 55ah 2 days would imply approx 1A drain, you could try placing pulling fuses and putting the meter across the terminals, that'll tell you which circuit is the thirsty one. Bye. Jasen |
#6
Posted to alt.electronics
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DC current
"Tony P" wrote in message o.uk... I have done what you suggested and I have a reading of 0.39A I do not know if this is excessive for a car. The problem is intermittent and at the moment there does not seem to be anything wrong (touch wood). I will wait for the problem to return and try again. "Jasen Betts" wrote in message ... On 2007-07-01, Tony P wrote: I want to check the current that my car is using whilst at rest (brand new battery goes flat over two days). Will a multimeter be of use and if so what range would I need to use? Start on 10A and work down if it reads 0, Battery is 55ah 0.39A x 48 h = 18.7 Ah That's too much standby drain. If you go on a week-long trip, your battery is going to be very dead. |
#7
Posted to alt.electronics
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DC current
Charles wrote:
"Tony P" wrote in message o.uk... I have done what you suggested and I have a reading of 0.39A I do not know if this is excessive for a car. The problem is intermittent and at the moment there does not seem to be anything wrong (touch wood). I will wait for the problem to return and try again. "Jasen Betts" wrote in message ... On 2007-07-01, Tony P wrote: I want to check the current that my car is using whilst at rest (brand new battery goes flat over two days). Will a multimeter be of use and if so what range would I need to use? Start on 10A and work down if it reads 0, Battery is 55ah 0.39A x 48 h = 18.7 Ah That's too much standby drain. If you go on a week-long trip, your battery is going to be very dead. Make sure you dont have a under-the-hood light that is on when you take the measurement. 390 ma is just about what that lamp would draw. I think the lamp works with a level switch, hood up, light on, hood down, light off-- I would start there, make sure the light is not staying on when the hood is shut. (If you have one of those lights, not all cars do.) |
#8
Posted to alt.electronics
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DC current
On Tue, 03 Jul 2007 14:15:48 -0500, Skenny
wrote: Charles wrote: "Tony P" wrote in message o.uk... I have done what you suggested and I have a reading of 0.39A I do not know if this is excessive for a car. The problem is intermittent and at the moment there does not seem to be anything wrong (touch wood). I will wait for the problem to return and try again. "Jasen Betts" wrote in message ... On 2007-07-01, Tony P wrote: I want to check the current that my car is using whilst at rest (brand new battery goes flat over two days). Will a multimeter be of use and if so what range would I need to use? Start on 10A and work down if it reads 0, Battery is 55ah 0.39A x 48 h = 18.7 Ah That's too much standby drain. If you go on a week-long trip, your battery is going to be very dead. Make sure you dont have a under-the-hood light that is on when you take the measurement. 390 ma is just about what that lamp would draw. I think the lamp works with a level switch, hood up, light on, hood down, light off-- I would start there, make sure the light is not staying on when the hood is shut. (If you have one of those lights, not all cars do.) --- Also, an in-trunk lamp with a broken switch. -- JF |
#9
Posted to alt.electronics
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DC current
On Tue, 03 Jul 2007 17:53:01 GMT, "Tony P"
wrote: I have done what you suggested and I have a reading of 0.39A I do not know if this is excessive for a car. Generally, over a longer term, it is excessive. Ideal parasitic draw should be about 50 MA (0.050 A), so you are *well* above ideal values. However, monitoring requirements do both vary from vehicle to vehicle, and over time as computers go to sleep and wake up. Best to check draw about 30 to 60 minutes after stopping and closing the car. Do not open doors, or otherwise let the car know you are there (like doing the power remote locks, etc.) |
#10
Posted to alt.electronics
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DC current
"Tony P" wrote in message o.uk... Thank you John I will try this. "John Fields" wrote in message ... On Sun, 01 Jul 2007 18:03:38 GMT, "Tony P" wrote: I want to check the current that my car is using whilst at rest (brand new battery goes flat over two days). Will a multimeter be of use and if so what range would I need to use? Battery is 55ah --- Two days is 48 hours, so if your battery's rated for 55AH and it goes flat over that time, it's probably delivering an amp or so to the load. You could use a multimeter to make the measurement, but use the highest range you have available. For cheap multimeters that's usually 10 or 20 amps, DC. What you'll need to do is make sure the ignition and accessories are all off, (including the interior lights, and also unplug anything you may have plugged into the cigarette lighter socket) then disconnect one of the battery terminals from the battery and connect the ammeter between the battery and the disconnected terminal. The meter will then display whatever current the battery is delivering. -- JF And after this, you may have to reprogram the radio (as many are designed to lock out if power is removed so that they are of no use to thieves. Be sure you have the code to reset it. -- Don Kelly remove the X to answer ---------------------------- |
#11
Posted to alt.electronics
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DC current
PeterD wrote:
On Tue, 03 Jul 2007 17:53:01 GMT, "Tony P" wrote: I have done what you suggested and I have a reading of 0.39A I do not know if this is excessive for a car. Generally, over a longer term, it is excessive. Ideal parasitic draw should be about 50 MA (0.050 A) 50 MegaAmps - crikey lol , so you are *well* above ideal values. However, monitoring requirements do both vary from vehicle to vehicle, and over time as computers go to sleep and wake up. Best to check draw about 30 to 60 minutes after stopping and closing the car. Do not open doors, or otherwise let the car know you are there (like doing the power remote locks, etc.) My car (older toyota) with immobiliser, alarm, stereo, clock and no other draw sits at around 200ma and I thought that was fairly excessive, so i'd be inclined to agree. |
#12
Posted to alt.electronics
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DC current
On Fri, 27 Jul 2007 17:37:54 +0100, coyoteboy
wrote: PeterD wrote: On Tue, 03 Jul 2007 17:53:01 GMT, "Tony P" wrote: I have done what you suggested and I have a reading of 0.39A I do not know if this is excessive for a car. Generally, over a longer term, it is excessive. Ideal parasitic draw should be about 50 MA (0.050 A) 50 MegaAmps - crikey lol But at only 1 mV... g , so you are *well* above ideal values. However, monitoring requirements do both vary from vehicle to vehicle, and over time as computers go to sleep and wake up. Best to check draw about 30 to 60 minutes after stopping and closing the car. Do not open doors, or otherwise let the car know you are there (like doing the power remote locks, etc.) My car (older toyota) with immobiliser, alarm, stereo, clock and no other draw sits at around 200ma and I thought that was fairly excessive, so i'd be inclined to agree. I'd call 200 mA (better?) too much too. I suppose if you drive every day, that's OK, but skip a few days and that battery will be flat. |
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