You don't measure amps across the battery you measure it in line,take off either positive or negative terminal,put one lead of the meter on the battery terminal and the other on the lead,if you get a reading pull out one fuse at a time till you get a 0 reading,then find out what that fuse supplies and take out the feed to each bit till you find the item that is causing the battery drain(in the old days) usually a clock Brian
________________________________ From: Jim Hearne <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Mon, 24 May, 2010 22:37:01 Subject: Re: [Quantum Owners] Re: Battery drain 1. I think you mean a meter on amps across the battery. Any digital meter will certainly handle 12 volts input on the ohms range. An analogue one might bend the needle round the end stop !! Jim On 24/05/2010 22:30, Jamest142 wrote: > Hiya > > Just a few thoughts... > > 1/ Don't put an Ohm meter (or Multimeter on Ohm setting) directly > across the battery - if the battery has any power left at all, the > meter will short, and the meter will let the magic smoke out. A good > battery will melt a spanner across the terminals, and the Ohm meter > will pretend to be an spanner for a very short period of time... > > 2/ The measure if you have any current drain, then the need to connect > the meter - in the highest Amp range - in series with the battery +ve, > and the rest of the car. ie - diagram below:- > > Metalwork -> Battery -ve -> [Battery] -> Battery +ve -> Amp > Meter -ve(Black) -> [Meter] -> Amp Meter +ve (Red) -> Car +ve > Wire (Red) > > As the previous post - don't try to start the car - this will blow the > meter as well. This will show any significant drain on the battery > whilst standing though. > > 3/ The Voltage measurements are correct for a battery at rest, and > being charged by the alternator though. Put the headlights on main > beam, and measure when the engine is running - this will highlight any > bad earths (and if the lights are dim it will show if the alternator > is giving Volts, but no Amps) > > I suggest you charge the battery, remove the +ve terminal, and measure > from the engine block to the +ve on the Voltage setting, this should > give the same reading as direct voltage across the +ve and -ve on the > battery. If this is ok (12.6V ish) then the earth connection is ok. > > Although you have got a new battery - have you cleaned the inside of > the battery clamps themselves - they can get gummed up, and this would > also cause the funny readings. I would also clean the earth straps > (and where they bolt onto). > > When measuring - ensure the connection points at each end of the meter > are clean. > > Just a few thoughts. > > Best regards > > James T > (Q2-002) > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Quantum Owners Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/quantumowners?hl=en IMPORTANT NOTE: All information presented herewith is provided on an "As Is" basis, without warranty or the implication thereof. Neither the Quantum Owners Club nor the individuals associated with the Quantum Owners Club or in the preparation of the above information shall have any liability to any person or entity with respect to liability, loss, or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the instructions contained within this or related message(s). -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Quantum Owners Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/quantumowners?hl=en IMPORTANT NOTE: All information presented herewith is provided on an "As Is" basis, without warranty or the implication thereof. Neither the Quantum Owners Club nor the individuals associated with the Quantum Owners Club or in the preparation of the above information shall have any liability to any person or entity with respect to liability, loss, or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the instructions contained within this or related message(s).
