battery looses charge if car not used

[television]

However you can buy a 0.1A resolution clamp meter for £55, which would be fine for this job since we're looking for a drain of around 1.5A.

A drain of 1.5 amps is not very usual and fairly easy to find without a meter.

When the fault is in Can Bus 4 (Command) the drain is around 150m/a in the wake up/shut down mode, a resolution of 100m/a is of no use, the same goes for alarm systems.

A multimeter costing £5 is of much more use than a Clamp meter, and you can go down to a couple of m/a.

malcolm

 

[BTB 500]

The symptom described here is the battery going from fully charged to flat in 2 days. I think 100 mA resolution would be fine for tracing that

As already pointed out, the problem with any other kind of meter is that to use it you have to first break the circuit ... which may cause equipment to reset etc. so the drain isn't there any more. Hence my suggestion to borrow a clamp meter if possible. Of course a multimeter is cheaper to buy, and generally more useful (e.g. for voltage / polarity / continuity).

 

[glojo]

if i do not use my C270 (2001) for 2 days the battery goes flat, how can i check out what is draining the power?

thanks for any suggestions

I note you are a new member, but we tend to ask a question and then when the fault is rectified we either poke our tongue's out and tell everyone they are wrong, or......... we thank them for all the constructive advice.

Could you please let us know how you have got on?

Regards,
John

 

[television]

The symptom described here is the battery going from fully charged to flat in 2 days. I think 100 mA resolution would be fine for tracing that

As already pointed out, the problem with any other kind of meter is that to use it you have to first break the circuit ... which may cause equipment to reset etc. so the drain isn't there any more. Hence my suggestion to borrow a clamp meter if possible. Of course a multimeter is cheaper to buy, and generally more useful (e.g. for voltage / polarity / continuity).

You do not have to break the connection to go in serries, you have one lead on the meter with a double lead, a prob and a clamp, simply lossen the clamp, hold the probe onto the post,lift the clamp and put the clamp lead on, all done
I still say a multi meter costing £5 has far more uses than a clamp meter (if you can find one.You cant use a clamp meter where the cables are in a loom.
I am talking in a genral sense here, rather than just this fault, the fault here should be easy to find without a meter.
I am new here and have no wish to argue the point.

Malcolm

 

[Ian B Walker]

I am new here and have no wish to argue the point.

Malcolm

Your views are valued on the other side of the hill, so why not here. Oh before I forget, welcome

 

[television]

Your views are valued on the other side of the hill, so why not here. Oh before I forget, welcome

Thanks Ian

malcolm

 

[BTB 500]

You do not have to break the connection to go in serries, you have one lead on the meter with a double lead, a prob and a clamp, simply lossen the clamp, hold the probe onto the post,lift the clamp and put the clamp lead on, all done

Yes, good point.

I still say a multi meter costing £5 has far more uses than a clamp meter

Sure. And for a little more you can get one with a decent DC current range (mine is 10A continuous / 20A short term, was about £20 IIRC). I use a clamp meter more in my hobby (electric-powered r/c planes), but that's quite specialised.

I am new here and have no wish to argue the point.

Me neither - and welcome!

 

[television]

Yes, good point.



Sure. And for a little more you can get one with a decent DC current range (mine is 10A continuous / 20A short term, was about £20 IIRC). I use a clamp meter more in my hobby (electric-powered r/c planes), but that's quite specialised.



Me neither - and welcome!

Thank you Bill. Electronics have earnt me a very good living for the past 66 years, I am always willing and wanting to learn something new. radio control is something that I have never ventured into, if I do I will know who to ask.I sometimes get brain waves on projects.

Thanks again. Malcolm