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How to tell what is draining the battery?

 
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Old Dec 26, 2002
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How to tell what is draining the battery?

I think it is a bad alarm ground but I was told a bad alarm ground will not cause a fast drain on my battery. Something is though. is there an easy way to find out? Thanks!
Old Dec 26, 2002
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your page on member's rides shows neons and subs. i had a problem with a badly grounded amp befor. get a voltage meter from a parts store and connect the electrodes to the positive and negative connections to any electic add-ons you have. anything reading over 14 volts should be the culpret. If you do find the problem a better fuse would probably fix your power problmes. long turm fixes are a power capacitor for your system or a higher powered alternator.
Old Dec 27, 2002
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Quote
[hr]Originally posted by: djlunatic
your page on member's rides shows neons and subs. i had a problem with a badly grounded amp befor. get a voltage meter from a parts store and connect the electrodes to the positive and negative connections to any electic add-ons you have. anything reading over 14 volts should be the culpret. If you do find the problem a better fuse would probably fix your power problmes. long turm fixes are a power capacitor for your system or a higher powered alternator.[hr]
correction: capacitors are only quick fix band-aids for power problems
Old Dec 27, 2002
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cap dont help your battery from your draining, it just put more load on your alternator
Old Dec 27, 2002
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"get a voltage meter from a parts store and connect the electrodes to the positive and negative connections to any electic add-ons you have"

That would not work. When your car is parked, engine off, you will read around 12V on EVERY SINGLE accessory you have. What you need to measure is CURRENT - that is what is draining your battery. If your car's electric system is stock, then take it to the dealer. Otherwise, alarms and car audio are usually to blame. You need to measure current draw with an amp meter (multi-meters can measure current). Disconnect your amp and put the meter in series - look for ANY current. Ideally, your add-ons should draw zero amps when the car is off...

Old Dec 27, 2002
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turn on your head lights, then turn on all your accessories... whatever one makes your lights dim, that's the colporate.
 
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