constant draw test?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,335
Likes: 6
From: Midwest
constant draw test?
I need a refresher on how to do a constant draw test. The battery keeps dying in my 95 f150 after it sits for a couple days,and before I buy a new one,I want to make sure it is actually the battery and not something else causing the battery to die. I just unhook the negative battery cable and hook up a volt meter or test light,then see if the light comes on or see what the volt meter reads,correct? thanks for the help!!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 23,667
Likes: 301
From: Easton,Ks
The test light or meter goes between the negative post and the negative battery cable on the above test.
But you will have to disconnect the radio and the computer and make sure the hood light is not on for this test.
You may want to do a load test on the battery to find out if it is good or not.
With the battery fully charged put a about 500 amp (or what it is rated at) load on it for 15 seconds with a carbon pile and if does not drop below about 8.5 volts it is a good battery.
But you will have to disconnect the radio and the computer and make sure the hood light is not on for this test.
You may want to do a load test on the battery to find out if it is good or not.
With the battery fully charged put a about 500 amp (or what it is rated at) load on it for 15 seconds with a carbon pile and if does not drop below about 8.5 volts it is a good battery.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,335
Likes: 6
From: Midwest
well, It passed the draw test, i guess my ten year old Optima finally bit the dust after 10 years and being put in several different vehicles,some of them not being started all winter. I would say i got my money's worth.
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: Summersville, WV
Subford - I've got a question for you. What is a "carbon pile"?
Sorry to sound stupid. I am no mechanic, but I can follow most conversations on this site without a problem. I have never heard of a carbon pile or this test.
Sorry to sound stupid. I am no mechanic, but I can follow most conversations on this site without a problem. I have never heard of a carbon pile or this test.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,541
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From: Des Moines
You got 10 years out of a battery? Wow... yeah, I'd say you got your money's worth out of it alright.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 23,667
Likes: 301
From: Easton,Ks
I think most places that sell batteries still have them around.
A carbon pile is a stack of carbon wafers and the more pressure you put on them the more they conduct.
It looks like this:
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