electrical drain?

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   Over the winter the battery in the boat went very flat.  (down to 6 volts on a multi meter)  I did not have any such problems last season although the longest the boat sat was about a month and it sat for about 4 1/2 months this winter (in a heated warehouse).  I don't know if I had a faulty battery or a small drain on the system.  The guys at west coast odyssey battery are very helpful, after properly charging the battery, it self discharged from 12.9 volts to 12.2 volts in 6 days, unable to hold a charge, they are sending a free replacement.  

The question I have is: If I am armed with an inexpensive multi meter, How can I determine if I have a small currect draw somewhere?

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65 'cuda Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Platinum Member Joined: July-12-2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Status: Offline Points: 1091	Post Options Post Reply Quote 65 'cuda Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: electrical drain? Posted: April-08-2007 at 7:06pm
	Over the winter the battery in the boat went very flat. (down to 6 volts on a multi meter) I did not have any such problems last season although the longest the boat sat was about a month and it sat for about 4 1/2 months this winter (in a heated warehouse). I don't know if I had a faulty battery or a small drain on the system. The guys at west coast odyssey battery are very helpful, after properly charging the battery, it self discharged from 12.9 volts to 12.2 volts in 6 days, unable to hold a charge, they are sending a free replacement. The question I have is: If I am armed with an inexpensive multi meter, How can I determine if I have a small currect draw somewhere?
	Gary 1965 Barracuda SS

emccallum Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Platinum Member Joined: August-08-2006 Location: Clarks Hill SC Status: Offline Points: 1084	Post Options Post Reply Quote emccallum Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April-08-2007 at 8:50pm
	A simple method to check battery drain is to disconnect the negative battery cable, and place a test light between the the cable and the battery post...if the light glows at all then there is a drain. I would guess you could do the same with a voltmeter,flipping things on/off to to check for draw. I always remove my battery from the boat during layup...and put it on a battery tender every so often to keep it up. If a battery sits for a while it will go dead every time...no matter how new it is. Check out battery tender on a google search, I have several of them and have all my stuff wired so I just plug them up when not in use. ernest

duffnit Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: October-12-2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 235	Post Options Post Reply Quote duffnit Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April-08-2007 at 10:41pm
	Gary, nice looking Cuda. I'd suggest since you have a meter to put the battery back in the boat and prior to hooking it up check your voltage and take note of it. Once you've hooked it back up, check the voltage again and see if it's changed and or continues to drop. Once you determined voltage unconnected and connected you will at least know. It seems I read something that stated a battery will loose 5% of it's charge a week, if left alone. If you left your battery unattended for over 4 months you may have answered your own question. Others may have better suggestions, but that's where I'd start. Good luck. d
	Danny "no offense- but the rate at which you spread bad information is very impressive"

8122pbrainard Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040	Post Options Post Reply Quote 8122pbrainard Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April-09-2007 at 5:48am
	65, How old was the battery? Even the best ones don't hold up a long time in a marine application. Next time look at a Optima. They are built with a construction that can withstand the pounding a battery sees in a boat. Does you multi meter have a 20 amp range on it?
	54 Atom 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete <

65 'cuda Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Platinum Member Joined: July-12-2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Status: Offline Points: 1091	Post Options Post Reply Quote 65 'cuda Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April-09-2007 at 7:30am
	The battery was new last fall. It is an odyssey. Similar idea to an optima, unspillable, shock and vibration resistant, mil-spec. It should not have self discharged as it did. http://www.odysseybatteries.com/ The meter I have does not have a 20 amp range, up to 500 mA.
	Gary 1965 Barracuda SS

8122pbrainard Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040	Post Options Post Reply Quote 8122pbrainard Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April-09-2007 at 7:53am
	65, You can use the meter to check for a small drain on the battery as long as you don't turn on any loads. Put the meter is series with one of the battery cable clamps and the battery. It does sound like a bad battery though.
	54 Atom 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete <

electrical drain?

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