Something drawing power from my battery???

**Ribfeast** · 22-08-2007, 11:31 AM

How did you go? All fixed?
I'd recommend getting/borrowing a "Clamp" ammeter, you just loop it around your big positive battery lead, don't have to disconnect anything. Check and see how much current draw you have with the car switched off.

I'd suspect one of your batteries is sulfated, which means it has an internal short circuit and reduced capacity. The bad battery is then leeching current off the good battery, trying to charge itself (unless you have it isolated).

Or it could be the alternator/regulator. Maybe even buy a 6A battery charger and charge the batteries overnight each night. I do it once every week or so, as my alternator can't keep up with the thermo fans 35A draw.

**blacktop** · 22-08-2007, 07:42 PM

It seems to be ok now, but it is still drawing a little to much.
I turn my car off at night with a reading of 12.3 Volts and in the morning it is reading about 10.5 to 11 Volts so there is still something drawing power, but its not enough to not start my car in the morning.

I will eventually get the multimeter out and go through everything on the car but only when i can be assed, i have spent to much time on this car already! neglecting my Rolla.

**Esteban** · 23-08-2007, 07:58 AM

Start pulling fuses to check which circuit is drawing that ignition-accessory-off power. If it doesn't drop to zero then, I'd suspect the twin battery setup's solinoid.

Also disconnect the alternator overnight. We had a problem with a conversion where the stock wiring loom needed a diode to stop the alternator sinking current to ground when the vehicle was off ... altough for a stock setup this would suggest your mechanic stuffed something up when he replaced the alternator ...