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Parasitic Drain - Bulb Trick
Just wanted to ask:
Is the "light bulb" test (putting a 12v bulb in series with the battery circuit) an accurate test for a parasitic drain? My ammeter only goes up to 0.25A, and I don't want to risk overloading the meter. How bright should the bulb light up, if it should at all, for a "normal" drain? (clock, ECU, radio memory) Thanks! |
Re: Parasitic Drain - Bulb Trick
"sharx333" <emil.santos@gmail.com> wrote in news:1163212200.212648.320350
@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com: > Just wanted to ask: > > Is the "light bulb" test (putting a 12v bulb in series with the battery > circuit) an accurate test for a parasitic drain? My ammeter only goes > up to 0.25A, and I don't want to risk overloading the meter. > > How bright should the bulb light up, if it should at all, for a > "normal" drain? (clock, ECU, radio memory) > See the relevant page at Bill Darden's excellent Battery FAQ: http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/carfaq10.htm -- TeGGeR® The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ www.tegger.com/hondafaq/ |
Re: Parasitic Drain - Bulb Trick
"sharx333" <emil.santos@gmail.com> wrote in news:1163212200.212648.320350
@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com: > Just wanted to ask: > > Is the "light bulb" test (putting a 12v bulb in series with the battery > circuit) an accurate test for a parasitic drain? My ammeter only goes > up to 0.25A, and I don't want to risk overloading the meter. > > How bright should the bulb light up, if it should at all, for a > "normal" drain? (clock, ECU, radio memory) > See the relevant page at Bill Darden's excellent Battery FAQ: http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/carfaq10.htm -- TeGGeR® The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ www.tegger.com/hondafaq/ |
Re: Parasitic Drain - Bulb Trick
"sharx333" <emil.santos@gmail.com> wrote in news:1163212200.212648.320350
@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com: > Just wanted to ask: > > Is the "light bulb" test (putting a 12v bulb in series with the battery > circuit) an accurate test for a parasitic drain? My ammeter only goes > up to 0.25A, and I don't want to risk overloading the meter. > > How bright should the bulb light up, if it should at all, for a > "normal" drain? (clock, ECU, radio memory) > See the relevant page at Bill Darden's excellent Battery FAQ: http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/carfaq10.htm -- TeGGeR® The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ www.tegger.com/hondafaq/ |
Re: Parasitic Drain - Bulb Trick
"sharx333" <emil.santos@gmail.com> wrote in news:1163212200.212648.320350
@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com: > Just wanted to ask: > > Is the "light bulb" test (putting a 12v bulb in series with the battery > circuit) an accurate test for a parasitic drain? My ammeter only goes > up to 0.25A, and I don't want to risk overloading the meter. > > How bright should the bulb light up, if it should at all, for a > "normal" drain? (clock, ECU, radio memory) > See the relevant page at Bill Darden's excellent Battery FAQ: http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/carfaq10.htm -- TeGGeR® The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ www.tegger.com/hondafaq/ |
Re: Parasitic Drain - Bulb Trick
sharx333 wrote:
> Just wanted to ask: > > Is the "light bulb" test (putting a 12v bulb in series with the battery > circuit) an accurate test for a parasitic drain? My ammeter only goes > up to 0.25A, and I don't want to risk overloading the meter. > > How bright should the bulb light up, if it should at all, for a > "normal" drain? (clock, ECU, radio memory) > > Thanks! > sure, but it depends on the bulb and the drain!!! if you describe your problem, maybe we can address that question better? |
Re: Parasitic Drain - Bulb Trick
sharx333 wrote:
> Just wanted to ask: > > Is the "light bulb" test (putting a 12v bulb in series with the battery > circuit) an accurate test for a parasitic drain? My ammeter only goes > up to 0.25A, and I don't want to risk overloading the meter. > > How bright should the bulb light up, if it should at all, for a > "normal" drain? (clock, ECU, radio memory) > > Thanks! > sure, but it depends on the bulb and the drain!!! if you describe your problem, maybe we can address that question better? |
Re: Parasitic Drain - Bulb Trick
sharx333 wrote:
> Just wanted to ask: > > Is the "light bulb" test (putting a 12v bulb in series with the battery > circuit) an accurate test for a parasitic drain? My ammeter only goes > up to 0.25A, and I don't want to risk overloading the meter. > > How bright should the bulb light up, if it should at all, for a > "normal" drain? (clock, ECU, radio memory) > > Thanks! > sure, but it depends on the bulb and the drain!!! if you describe your problem, maybe we can address that question better? |
Re: Parasitic Drain - Bulb Trick
sharx333 wrote:
> Just wanted to ask: > > Is the "light bulb" test (putting a 12v bulb in series with the battery > circuit) an accurate test for a parasitic drain? My ammeter only goes > up to 0.25A, and I don't want to risk overloading the meter. > > How bright should the bulb light up, if it should at all, for a > "normal" drain? (clock, ECU, radio memory) > > Thanks! > sure, but it depends on the bulb and the drain!!! if you describe your problem, maybe we can address that question better? |
Re: Parasitic Drain - Bulb Trick
In rec.autos.makers.honda sharx333 <emil.santos@gmail.com> wrote:
> Is the "light bulb" test (putting a 12v bulb in series with the battery > circuit) an accurate test for a parasitic drain? My ammeter only goes > up to 0.25A, and I don't want to risk overloading the meter. I had a light bulb that was a parasitic drain, once. I thought I just had a dying battery. It was a little sluggish starting sometimes, and dead if I didn't drive it every day. I bought a new battery, and that made things much better, and then it was dead again after it sat for a few days. I charged it up, got in, and noticed a strange glow on the floor. At first I thought it was a street light, then I realized that the glove box light was on. The switch had gotten knocked out of it's mounting. I didn't see the dim light under daytime conditions, and only happened to notice it at night. > How bright should the bulb light up, if it should at all, for a > "normal" drain? (clock, ECU, radio memory) I would say that a dual filament 1157 bulb should glow dimly. If it is at all bright, that is a pretty good load. At full brightness: bright filament: 12.8V, 26.9W, 2.10A (R=V/I=12.8/2.1=6.1 ohms) dim filament: 14.0V, 8.3W, 0.59A (R=24 ohms) -- --- Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5 |
Re: Parasitic Drain - Bulb Trick
In rec.autos.makers.honda sharx333 <emil.santos@gmail.com> wrote:
> Is the "light bulb" test (putting a 12v bulb in series with the battery > circuit) an accurate test for a parasitic drain? My ammeter only goes > up to 0.25A, and I don't want to risk overloading the meter. I had a light bulb that was a parasitic drain, once. I thought I just had a dying battery. It was a little sluggish starting sometimes, and dead if I didn't drive it every day. I bought a new battery, and that made things much better, and then it was dead again after it sat for a few days. I charged it up, got in, and noticed a strange glow on the floor. At first I thought it was a street light, then I realized that the glove box light was on. The switch had gotten knocked out of it's mounting. I didn't see the dim light under daytime conditions, and only happened to notice it at night. > How bright should the bulb light up, if it should at all, for a > "normal" drain? (clock, ECU, radio memory) I would say that a dual filament 1157 bulb should glow dimly. If it is at all bright, that is a pretty good load. At full brightness: bright filament: 12.8V, 26.9W, 2.10A (R=V/I=12.8/2.1=6.1 ohms) dim filament: 14.0V, 8.3W, 0.59A (R=24 ohms) -- --- Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5 |
Re: Parasitic Drain - Bulb Trick
In rec.autos.makers.honda sharx333 <emil.santos@gmail.com> wrote:
> Is the "light bulb" test (putting a 12v bulb in series with the battery > circuit) an accurate test for a parasitic drain? My ammeter only goes > up to 0.25A, and I don't want to risk overloading the meter. I had a light bulb that was a parasitic drain, once. I thought I just had a dying battery. It was a little sluggish starting sometimes, and dead if I didn't drive it every day. I bought a new battery, and that made things much better, and then it was dead again after it sat for a few days. I charged it up, got in, and noticed a strange glow on the floor. At first I thought it was a street light, then I realized that the glove box light was on. The switch had gotten knocked out of it's mounting. I didn't see the dim light under daytime conditions, and only happened to notice it at night. > How bright should the bulb light up, if it should at all, for a > "normal" drain? (clock, ECU, radio memory) I would say that a dual filament 1157 bulb should glow dimly. If it is at all bright, that is a pretty good load. At full brightness: bright filament: 12.8V, 26.9W, 2.10A (R=V/I=12.8/2.1=6.1 ohms) dim filament: 14.0V, 8.3W, 0.59A (R=24 ohms) -- --- Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5 |
Re: Parasitic Drain - Bulb Trick
In rec.autos.makers.honda sharx333 <emil.santos@gmail.com> wrote:
> Is the "light bulb" test (putting a 12v bulb in series with the battery > circuit) an accurate test for a parasitic drain? My ammeter only goes > up to 0.25A, and I don't want to risk overloading the meter. I had a light bulb that was a parasitic drain, once. I thought I just had a dying battery. It was a little sluggish starting sometimes, and dead if I didn't drive it every day. I bought a new battery, and that made things much better, and then it was dead again after it sat for a few days. I charged it up, got in, and noticed a strange glow on the floor. At first I thought it was a street light, then I realized that the glove box light was on. The switch had gotten knocked out of it's mounting. I didn't see the dim light under daytime conditions, and only happened to notice it at night. > How bright should the bulb light up, if it should at all, for a > "normal" drain? (clock, ECU, radio memory) I would say that a dual filament 1157 bulb should glow dimly. If it is at all bright, that is a pretty good load. At full brightness: bright filament: 12.8V, 26.9W, 2.10A (R=V/I=12.8/2.1=6.1 ohms) dim filament: 14.0V, 8.3W, 0.59A (R=24 ohms) -- --- Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5 |
Re: Parasitic Drain - Bulb Trick
Sure, jim. And thanks.
Last week, the battery drained overnight on my '95 Civic 1.6L. I took the battery to be recharged at a shop, and we found that the water level was low. But I suspected a "ground" somewhere, because I had just sprayed the engine with a degreaser and rinsed it (low pressure garden hose). Since my ammeter only goes up to 0.25A (250 mA), and I read on some posts that the current could go over 1A, I tried the bulb trick first. I don't know the exact rating of the bulb (aftermarket dome/trunk light), but it glowed brightly. (All doors/trunk was closed, key off) I tried pulling underhood fuses and even disconnecting the alternator, with no result. Then I tried pulling the cabin fuses, and I found that it was the Pioneer head unit that was pulling most of the power (for the preset memory, I guess). When I disconnected the radio, the bulb was finally very dim. I tried the ammeter and expected less than 80 mA (from the battery FAQ link, thanks to TeGGer). But I still got 170 mA or so. I've checked all the possible bulbs, and I think a bulb would pull more than that. I finally concluded that there was no parasitic drain at all, but I'm puzzled as to what could be making that extra load. |
Re: Parasitic Drain - Bulb Trick
Sure, jim. And thanks.
Last week, the battery drained overnight on my '95 Civic 1.6L. I took the battery to be recharged at a shop, and we found that the water level was low. But I suspected a "ground" somewhere, because I had just sprayed the engine with a degreaser and rinsed it (low pressure garden hose). Since my ammeter only goes up to 0.25A (250 mA), and I read on some posts that the current could go over 1A, I tried the bulb trick first. I don't know the exact rating of the bulb (aftermarket dome/trunk light), but it glowed brightly. (All doors/trunk was closed, key off) I tried pulling underhood fuses and even disconnecting the alternator, with no result. Then I tried pulling the cabin fuses, and I found that it was the Pioneer head unit that was pulling most of the power (for the preset memory, I guess). When I disconnected the radio, the bulb was finally very dim. I tried the ammeter and expected less than 80 mA (from the battery FAQ link, thanks to TeGGer). But I still got 170 mA or so. I've checked all the possible bulbs, and I think a bulb would pull more than that. I finally concluded that there was no parasitic drain at all, but I'm puzzled as to what could be making that extra load. |
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