RE: [DML] tracking down a power drain

["John Hervey" <john@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Andy, 
Have you replaced the starter? It's almost 30 years old and the older it
gets the more current it pulls trying to start. 
Work shop manual, M:02:04,,540 amps locked up pulls volts down to 7 volts,
260 amps pulls down to 9.4 volts. So if your battery is rather new and fully
charged you could tell the current drain of the starter by how low the
battery volts drops. The older the starter get the more current it takes to
start. 
It may be the starter.
 John Hervey
www.specialtauto.com


-----Original Message-----
From: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Soma576@xxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, May 25, 2009 4:29 PM
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [DML] tracking down a power drain

Hi Group,
 
I'm trying to determine why my battery is too drained to start the car  
after 5 to 6 days of sitting.  By inserting a digital multimeter in-line
with 
my battery, I determined that my Lockzilla draws about .01 A while sitting  
(drops to zero when Lockzilla is disconnected).  In addition, I have a  
stereo system with an amplifier.  The amplifier, when isolated, seems to be

drawing about .03 - .04 A with the key out of the ignition.  The draw is  
constant even when I remove the remote and speaker leads from it.  The amp
is 
not on as per the LED's on it, but it is definitely pulling some power.
When 
I disconnect this amp and the Lockzilla, my DMM fluctuates between 0.00 and 
 0.01A (I can't find that last half-amp by pulling fuses, maybe the meter 
is a  little off) and when both are plugged back in it reads about 0.05 A.

Is this enough juice to drain a battery in less than a week?  I have not  
put a meter on the battery to read the voltage after it sits for a week so I

don't know how low it's getting, but certainly low enough to not turn  over.
 
I know it's not exactly DeLorean related, but the amp is a JL Audio 250/1  
monoblock amp for a subwoofer.  The instructions don't give a resting draw,

so I'm wondering if that is typical?  Seems a little high, so aside from an 
 internal problem with the amp, what else could go wrong with it?
 
Andy



------------------------------------

To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address:
moderators@xxxxxxxxxxx

For more info on the list, tech articles, cars for sale see www.dmcnews.com

To search the archives or view files, log in at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnewsYahoo! Groups Links





------------------------------------

To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address:
moderators@xxxxxxxxxxx

For more info on the list, tech articles, cars for sale see www.dmcnews.com

To search the archives or view files, log in at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnewsYahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    mailto:dmcnews-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
    mailto:dmcnews-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    dmcnews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/