dojj

iTrader: (3)

further to lots of other threads, i need to know some specifics for you audio type peeps

i need to check that my amp, wired directly to the battery, isn't draining the battery

how do i do this?

it's obviously got a direct feed so when i put my meter to the power side it lights up, but after that, i don't want to blow anything up so i've sort of stopped

and the kids are doing my nut so i can't concentrate either

so, probe to the earth side should show it's live right or not?

or what settings do i turn it to on the tester meter thing?

still waiting for the battery to fully charge so no particular rush, but surely someone's had this happen before?

Doug

disconnect your positive lead from the battery and connect an ampmeter between the positive lead and the positive terminal of the battery make sure everything is switched off ! including interior lights as they will show a drain if the door is open .


Regards Doug.

foci

I thought theres two live feeds to an amp. your main live then your remote (normally a blue wire)that goes from head unit to amp to switch the amp on/off when the head unit is turned on/off. I have had this before where the remote has been wired to a permanant live. That willl drain your battery

dojj

iTrader: (3)

positive? i was lead to believe it was the negative, perhaps thats where i'm going wrong

the stereo is all wired up properly mate, i'm just trying to work out if it will drain even if it's off, just don't know how to check if it's draining or not, other than the meter thing suggested by doug

dojj

iTrader: (3)

done and done, no drain

but the battery shows 9.6V with the amp connected and 11.4 with it disconnected

but no drain either way

?

martysmartie

iTrader: (1)

But did you put the meter in series with the positive lead, or the amp's own power connection?

It should have been the latter, if the former this won't tell you.

Tbh 11.4V is not very good, a good reading will be 12V plus.

You can't use a test light as this simply will light if there is power, which is obviously true of the battery.

You need a meter set to DCA to measure the draw.

Martin

dojj

iTrader: (3)

removed + lead
left - lead connected
put + probe on + battery
put - probe on + lead
turned meter to dc/a
no drain

martysmartie

iTrader: (1)

Remove the amps power connection, no need to remove battery connection. Connect live to battery and ground to the amps power cable...? (If this isn't what you already done )

Martin

ajamesc

put an amp clamp around the negative terminal cable on the battery then see how many amps are drawing you can even work out how long it will take for that amp drain to drain your battery i.e amp hour rating / amp drain = hours it will take to drain / 24 = days it will take! ( 520 amp hour battery with a 2.4 amp drain will take 217 hours to drain so 9 days! )

dojj

iTrader: (3)

will do that in a bit then, as not tried it that way

as for an amp clamp, was going to buy one but there are so many out there to chose from, and i don't want to get one for a tenner thats shite if i need to spend Ł60 on one that's going to do the job

plenty of sites have said the cheap ones are not worth having, so if someone has a recommendation?

ajamesc

no not really are workshop one is fluke and my one is mac so both not cheap!

dojj

iTrader: (3)

tested the way martie said and no drain

so fuck knows whats going on

RS500/364

yawn
put a switch between it so just off untill u want

ajamesc

did you check for a drain at the battery? you really need an amp clamp there could be something else drawing currant all the time draining it which is why you should test at the battery that way if there is you can un plug things or pull fuses till the drain gos so you know whats doing it! have you tested the battery maybe its fucked just because it has a charge in it dose not mean its good! it may have a dead cell in it causing it to lose its charge!

dojj

iTrader: (3)

it's a new battery, only got it on saturday and on sunday the cars flat again

kill switch was my other option but it's going to be an arse to open the bonnet every time to turn it on and off again

unless someone does a remote kill switch i can fit under the dash somewhere?

scoooby slayer

iTrader: (4)

remove earth cable and put mm on 10a and put cable in 10a, connect between ground and battery and check drain. make sure everything is off though, car doors, bonnet etc shut, alarm on etc and check drain once its fully asleep.


just read this if ur unsure

http://wzeu.search-results.com/r?t=p...battery-drains

dojj

iTrader: (3)

followed that advise before, no drain so no pulling of the fuses required

but the battery just changes if the amp is plugged in or not

don't really want to risk going out in the car and then the battery being dead

might just invest in a jump pack and leave it on charge in the fag lighter every time i go out

scoooby slayer

iTrader: (4)

if theres no drain mate then the battery is just knackered and not holding charge.

BigErn

How quickly is your battery going flat?? Seeing as you're not finding a drain but obviously suspec the amp, why not just disconnect the amp and see if it goes flat in its usual time??

dojj

iTrader: (3)

it's a new battery
it goes flat overnight
i shall disconnect the amp and try again

martysmartie

iTrader: (1)

Disconnecting it is a good idea, if not and nothing else is suspect, then it's a duff battery, which isn't uncommon despite it being new, shelf life etc are all part of the factor.

Martin

ajamesc

if you have done the amp drain test right and there is no drain then all that is left is the battery really to test the battery you need a drop tester on it then see how many volts it has after donig a drop test as just testing it with a multi meter dosent really tell you fuck all other than it has a charge at that point in time

dojj

iTrader: (3)

will look again tomorrow, thanks for the extra info

just need a g clamp thingy recommendation

DS81

As all ready mentioned the best way to get a correct reading is with an amp clamp round the negative lead, I personally wouldn't do it any other way... ajamesc this man speaks sense

Madgit

Take it to where you got the battery from Dojj and ask them to test it, alternatively motor world etc do free battery tests.

dojj

iTrader: (3)

will head back this weekend folks and report back

dojj

iTrader: (3)

http://www.digital-meters.com/epages...g/Clamp_Meters

are these the sorts of things i should be looking at then?

ajamesc

yes one of them will do the job did it still go flat with the amp unpluged then

RS500/364

just make sure its a DC model

saying that i got a couple not sure if ac dc or bonjovi

dojj

iTrader: (3)

i've left it on charge overnight so i'm going to bugger about with it today

dojj

iTrader: (3)

Finally started to get to the bottom of this and even with the battery disconnected the clamp meter is showing a reading of 1.98a

So I spent a long time last night trying to figure out what was wrong and it seems that the culprit is the alarm as the stereo amp doesn't do anything (put the clamp meter on that and no losses there) so what else could it be?

I've already discovered that the c/locking was rung from the power folding mirror relay so I've Fu kerf at out of the equation

ajamesc

how can it draw 1.9 amps with the battery disconected? there would be no power for it to draw from? you will just have to disconect things or pull fuses till the amp drain gos so you have an idea whats doing it! my alarm drains my battery if i dont use the car say after a week it wont start so i have to leave it on a trickle charger

Gazzonator

iTrader: (9)

Did you zero the amp clamp before you fitted round the cables? They need to be reset to zero.

If you look at it, there should be a reset button. Hold the clamp part against the cable/s you wish to test (not around just against), press reset and then put the clamp round the cable. This should give you the correct reading.

I may be going to the middlesex meet tonight mate so if you are going, I can show you how to check it if you want?

dojj

iTrader: (3)

I'll be bringing it to the meet tonight so if you could have a look for me please

And I'll bring the car as well

dojj

iTrader: (3)

Does that look right to you ?

ajamesc

is that 1.9 amps with the clamp round the battery negative with every thing switched off i.e doors shut aswell so no interior lights are on? also it dosent have an under bonnet light dose it also what amp hour rating is your battery?

dojj

iTrader: (3)

thats with the battery disconnected mate, so i'm sure i'm failing at something

well, i say "disconnected", what i really mean to say is "the battery cut off in the off position with the key removed so there shouldn't be any drain"

ajamesc

right lol then your cut off isent working or isent wired in right lol theres no way you can have a drain with the battery disconected as there is no power circuit to drain from!

Gazzonator

iTrader: (9)

Sorry mate, I had all the intentions of coming tonight but something came up so I couldn't make it!

Where abouts do you live? I could come and have a look for you or could come to me if you like?

scoooby slayer

iTrader: (4)

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