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Battery drain on 850 850 1995

posted by  walrus3 on  Wed Jun 13 21:10 CST 2012
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last visit: Mon Dec 2 14:20 CST 2013
[RELATED]

This is Susan's new old 850. There was a problem with the glove compartment light so the PO
just took out the fuse. Still after 4 days of not driving the battery is down.
Every other day is OK. I went over all the other fuses with my fuse with a small light
bulb across it and ONLY found an apparent leakage in the circuit for the glove box,
and the fuse is out of that circuit so it should not be a problem.
Battery is new. Any unfused circuits on these? Where else should I look?
First chance I get I'll test charging voltage and leakage across the battery cable
but have not had the opportunity yet.
--
George Downs Bartlesville, Oklahoma








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    Battery drain on 850 850 1995

    posted by  KlausC on  Wed Jun 13 22:14 CST 2012
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    last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014
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    No circuits are unfused. Check the alternator output first, it should be around 14-14.5V

    You might also want to check the trunk light, just pull down the center armrest and look through the pass through for a light.

    Use a penny or a felt chair leg sticker to trip the glovebox door light.
    --
    My name is Klaus and I am a V ♂ lv ♂ holic








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      Battery drain on 850 850 1995

      posted by  walrus3 on  Wed Jun 13 22:25 CST 2012
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      last visit: Mon Dec 2 14:20 CST 2013
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      Both the glovebox door light and the fuse that serves its circuit have been removed
      so there should NOT be any leakage from it or other interior lights. Also the door latch.
      I plan to try to fix up some kinda latch for it but probably will not replace the light.
      If the trunk light is on the interior lights circuit, that is the fuse that we have removed.
      But I will check it, also alternator voltage.
      Many thanks.
      Even the headlights are fused on this car? On most cars they are not.
      --
      George Downs Bartlesville, Oklahoma








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        Battery drain on 850 850 1995

        posted by  Chris Mullet on  Thu Jun 14 07:09 CST 2012
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        last visit: Fri Oct 24 09:08 CST 2014
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        I'm close to being an electronic illiterate, but isn't there a way to measure how much amperage is flowing through battery drainage when the car is at rest?








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          Battery drain on 850 850 1995

          posted by  walrus3 on  Thu Jun 14 08:38 CST 2012
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          last visit: Mon Dec 2 14:20 CST 2013
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          There is, but current-measuring meters are easily damaged because the whole current
          flows through them. You can put an ordinary ammeter in series with the battery cable
          but if you hit the starter while it is there you'll burn it up.
          The beauty of the light bulb tester is that it is sensitive to fairly small current levels
          but is not overpowered by the full 12 volts because of its inherent resistance.
          An ammeter has little or no resistance.
          If you can verify (like with the light bulb tester) that the current flow is small,
          you can then more or less safely put an ammeter or multitester set for current in the circuit.
          I have not done this yet, considering the time involved. It was pretty quick to check
          all the fuse sockets with the light bulb tester. More time consuming to actually
          measure small currents (if any).

          Voltmeters are high-resistance devices and do not ever get much current.
          Ammeters are essentially zero-resistance devices because you have to conduct
          all the current to measure it.
          --
          George Downs Bartlesville, Oklahoma








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            Battery drain on 850 850 1995

            posted by  Chris Mullet on  Thu Jun 14 10:30 CST 2012
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            last visit: Fri Oct 24 09:08 CST 2014
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            Thanks. You just doubled my knowledge of testing for amperage.

            "...current-measuring meters are easily damaged because the whole current
            flows through them..."

            OK, so if the only method to measure the (possibly damaging) amperage level is by putting the meter in series with the battery cable, could you then put something like a rheostat in the loop and bring it up slowly, stopping short of the meter's limit?

            Sorry, I know we're getting a bit off subject. I'm just trying to gain some smarts.







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              Battery drain on 850 850 1995

              posted by  walrus3 on  Thu Jun 14 10:45 CST 2012
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              last visit: Mon Dec 2 14:20 CST 2013
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              You probably could. Many meters have multiple ranges that do more or less the same thing.
              You just have to be sure that the FIRST one is big enough to handle the current.
              --
              George Downs Bartlesville, Oklahoma







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