hi, 0.07 amps is actually a minute drain from a car battery. Assuming that your battery is a 70 amp hour battery ( a reasonable average for a small to medium petrol engined car ) and is in good condition it would in theory take 1000 hours to drain the battery. Even assuming that the discharge curve on the battery renders it unusable for starting after just 50% of this time (really unlikely) that is still 500 hours or almost 21 days before you would be unable to start the car. Is there a separate control unit for the door solenoids or do you have the alarm connected directly to the solenoids? How many wires go to the door solenoids?
The lack of current when both solenoids are disconnected is not a surprise as both connections are open circuit (very high resistance ). It may be that your alarm or solenoid design is such that a maintenance current is supplied to the solenoid so that it holds in the locked position. This current would probably show a significant increase in the event you applied a manual unlocking force to the solenoid arm whilst the alarm was armed as the solenoid would draw more current as it tried to remain in the locked position. If you try this use extreme caution as you may be able to apply enough force to damage the solenoid mechanism. If there are more than two wires (usually 4 or 5) then the solenoid probably contains position sensors or switches to indicate either a locked or open condition. The circuitry for this would show a current flow although 70 mA seems a little high for this. How and where are you taking the current reading from? I had a problem with the battery in my taxi recently, it turned out that one of the diode pairs had failed in the (3 week old) alternator allowing the alternator to discharge the battery when the engine wasn't running. All the usual tests showed the alternator to be working correctly, it was only when I took the alternator to a specialist with an oscilliscope that the fault was discovered. The easy way to test for this fault is to disconnect the positive lead from the alternator, then connect the negative wire from your multimeter to the connection on the alternator and the positive multimeter wire to the cable you took off the alternator. With the battery reconnected there should be no current flow. If there is a current flow then your battery is discharging through the alternator. Be aware if you try this you MUST ensure the wire you disconnect from the alternator must NOT under any circumstances be allowed to short to any metal part with the battery connected. If it does there is a very real risk of fire. Mark On 15 June, 23:34, "Susan and Martin Scott" <[email protected]> wrote: > Thanks for the advice...... The latest instalment. > Current flow of 0.07A with alarm armed (door solenoids lock) > If wiring for door locks is removed from alarm, and then alarm is armed there > is no current flow. > If wiring for LH door is unplugged, RH door is locked (as expected) when > alarm is armed, and current flow is 0.07A. > From this I thought the RH door solenoid was suspect...... However if I > reconnect the LH solenoid, and disconnect the RH door solenoid, > similarly there is 0.07A flow when the alarm is armed. > Mystery to me???? Ideas anyone. > Martin -- 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).
