Battery Drain?

FROGGY · 9th December 2008, 15:06

Have had a few problems with flat battery recently.
Checking with a multimeter shows a permanent 460mA drain with ignition off, car locked.

Is this normal? Seems very high to me.

Mick

FROGGY · 10th December 2008, 14:03

Don't all rush in at once lads (or BUMP, whichever you prefer).

Mick

amableson · 10th December 2008, 14:10

From most of the measurements that have been done and reported on here a normal standing drain is about 20-25ma.
The weather over here is particularly cold at the moment dropping regularly to -3c so starting any vehicle 1st thing is a good test, without it being a heavy oil burner.

FROGGY · 11th December 2008, 12:10

Did a few more tests this morning:-

Connect meter, lock car - initial high kick from central locking motors, then meter shows 478mA drain, as before.

The mistake I made was not waiting long enough for the K-bus activity to die down. In my case, after 75 seconds the drain current dropped to 18mA. Much better.

As an aside, I tested with a door open (i.e. the interior lights are on). This is how the car is very often when working on something or other. The current drawn in this case was 2.24 Amps, enough to finish off a not fully charged battery after a few hours.

(Note to self, switch them off every time they come on!)

HTH someone

Mick

9th December 2008, 15:06	#1
FROGGY I really should get out more....... MG ZT CDTI Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: 17500 REAUX, CHARENTE-MARITIME Posts: 2,749 Thanks: 2 Thanked 133 Times in 90 Posts	Battery Drain? Have had a few problems with flat battery recently. Checking with a multimeter shows a permanent 460mA drain with ignition off, car locked. Is this normal? Seems very high to me. Mick __________________ http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps628d4119.jpg IN THE BLACK NOW

10th December 2008, 14:03	#2
FROGGY I really should get out more....... MG ZT CDTI Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: 17500 REAUX, CHARENTE-MARITIME Posts: 2,749 Thanks: 2 Thanked 133 Times in 90 Posts	Don't all rush in at once lads (or BUMP, whichever you prefer). Mick __________________ http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps628d4119.jpg IN THE BLACK NOW

10th December 2008, 14:10	#3
amableson Gets stuck in Ex Rover 75 owner Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Boston, Lincolnshire. Posts: 553 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	From most of the measurements that have been done and reported on here a normal standing drain is about 20-25ma. The weather over here is particularly cold at the moment dropping regularly to -3c so starting any vehicle 1st thing is a good test, without it being a heavy oil burner. __________________ Regards Andrew.[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Last edited by amableson; 10th December 2008 at 14:14..

11th December 2008, 12:10	#4
FROGGY I really should get out more....... MG ZT CDTI Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: 17500 REAUX, CHARENTE-MARITIME Posts: 2,749 Thanks: 2 Thanked 133 Times in 90 Posts	Did a few more tests this morning:- Connect meter, lock car - initial high kick from central locking motors, then meter shows 478mA drain, as before. The mistake I made was not waiting long enough for the K-bus activity to die down. In my case, after 75 seconds the drain current dropped to 18mA. Much better. As an aside, I tested with a door open (i.e. the interior lights are on). This is how the car is very often when working on something or other. The current drawn in this case was 2.24 Amps, enough to finish off a not fully charged battery after a few hours. (Note to self, switch them off every time they come on!) HTH someone Mick __________________ http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps628d4119.jpg IN THE BLACK NOW