current draw...short v-10 basic questions
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 9,303
Likes: 48
From: Lyndonville, Vermont
This comes up about once every two weeks...We should have a sticky...
newer trucks charge kinda high around 14.5 to almost 15 with a fully charged battery. battery drain is ok if its 20 - 50 milli amps or so. Much easier to get a clamp on dc amp meter. i finally found one and its what I use so no disconnecting and reconnecting then having to wait for the different circuts to time out. FYI a 1000 milliamps is 1 amp. A park light bulb might draw 1 amp...100 milliamps is 1/10 of an amp enough to run down the battery over a week or so. 500 ma overnight batt drain.
I have seen a battery have an internal problem over the years. Out of 20 mechanics one will be able to track down a drain problem easily. Just the way it is. Its hard to get your head around electrical stuff unless you have had electronics training.
Dick
newer trucks charge kinda high around 14.5 to almost 15 with a fully charged battery. battery drain is ok if its 20 - 50 milli amps or so. Much easier to get a clamp on dc amp meter. i finally found one and its what I use so no disconnecting and reconnecting then having to wait for the different circuts to time out. FYI a 1000 milliamps is 1 amp. A park light bulb might draw 1 amp...100 milliamps is 1/10 of an amp enough to run down the battery over a week or so. 500 ma overnight batt drain.
I have seen a battery have an internal problem over the years. Out of 20 mechanics one will be able to track down a drain problem easily. Just the way it is. Its hard to get your head around electrical stuff unless you have had electronics training.
Dick
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
This comes up about once every two weeks...We should have a sticky...
newer trucks charge kinda high around 14.5 to almost 15 with a fully charged battery. battery drain is ok if its 20 - 50 milli amps or so. Much easier to get a clamp on dc amp meter. i finally found one and its what I use so no disconnecting and reconnecting then having to wait for the different circuts to time out. FYI a 1000 milliamps is 1 amp. A park light bulb might draw 1 amp...100 milliamps is 1/10 of an amp enough to run down the battery over a week or so. 500 ma overnight batt drain.
I have seen a battery have an internal problem over the years. Out of 20 mechanics one will be able to track down a drain problem easily. Just the way it is. Its hard to get your head around electrical stuff unless you have had electronics training.
Dick
newer trucks charge kinda high around 14.5 to almost 15 with a fully charged battery. battery drain is ok if its 20 - 50 milli amps or so. Much easier to get a clamp on dc amp meter. i finally found one and its what I use so no disconnecting and reconnecting then having to wait for the different circuts to time out. FYI a 1000 milliamps is 1 amp. A park light bulb might draw 1 amp...100 milliamps is 1/10 of an amp enough to run down the battery over a week or so. 500 ma overnight batt drain.
I have seen a battery have an internal problem over the years. Out of 20 mechanics one will be able to track down a drain problem easily. Just the way it is. Its hard to get your head around electrical stuff unless you have had electronics training.
Dick
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 150
Likes: 2
you are all very helpful....this is the first I have heard of any of this....OLD SHADE-TREE ME first thing I did was put atest light between circut and I was like YUP FOUND THE PROBLEM !! heading out into the freezer to check the sleep-mode reading Mike in Omaha
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
This comes up about once every two weeks...We should have a sticky...
newer trucks charge kinda high around 14.5 to almost 15 with a fully charged battery. battery drain is ok if its 20 - 50 milli amps or so. Much easier to get a clamp on dc amp meter. i finally found one and its what I use so no disconnecting and reconnecting then having to wait for the different circuts to time out. FYI a 1000 milliamps is 1 amp. A park light bulb might draw 1 amp...100 milliamps is 1/10 of an amp enough to run down the battery over a week or so. 500 ma overnight batt drain.
I have seen a battery have an internal problem over the years. Out of 20 mechanics one will be able to track down a drain problem easily. Just the way it is. Its hard to get your head around electrical stuff unless you have had electronics training.
Dick
newer trucks charge kinda high around 14.5 to almost 15 with a fully charged battery. battery drain is ok if its 20 - 50 milli amps or so. Much easier to get a clamp on dc amp meter. i finally found one and its what I use so no disconnecting and reconnecting then having to wait for the different circuts to time out. FYI a 1000 milliamps is 1 amp. A park light bulb might draw 1 amp...100 milliamps is 1/10 of an amp enough to run down the battery over a week or so. 500 ma overnight batt drain.
I have seen a battery have an internal problem over the years. Out of 20 mechanics one will be able to track down a drain problem easily. Just the way it is. Its hard to get your head around electrical stuff unless you have had electronics training.
Dick
I see you have a 200 amp alternator on your 99. Did it bolt right on? Where can I find one for mine?
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 150
Likes: 2
power seats stuck ??
My son says this is a common culprit ( 3 times he has seen..) I am drawn 11 amps or milli amps in sleep mode sooooo it supposed to snow more tomorrow....I am going to try and unplug the power seat and see if that changes the draw mike in the ICEBOX !!
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
Why not unplug fuses and see which one reduces the draw to a normal level? When I was having a power draw I did this and found when I unplugged fuse #26 (power locks) the draw stopped. It turned out to be a short in the passenger side door switch. Just a thought.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
When you are checking the amp draw remember to not have any loads on accessories i.e. cab light on, under hood light on etc. I suggest hooking up with someone that has some experience using multimeters - it might help you resolve the problem quicker. Also, sometimes taking an electrical problem to a pro is a good way to go. Good luck
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