Date:         Wed, 28 Feb 2007 12:18:05 -0500
Reply-To:     Bob Donalds <donalds1@VERIZON.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bob Donalds <donalds1@VERIZON.NET>
Subject:      Re: Battery Drain
Comments: To: Dave Vickery <davevickery@HOTMAIL.COM>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

The simple test is to disconect the negitive teminal on the battery and use
a test light or volt meter and to see if there is flow as the van sits with
all systems shut down including the interior light
and work from there

Bob


----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Vickery" <davevickery@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 11:52 AM
Subject: Re: Battery Drain


> I was hoping I could just turn the voltmeter (or maybe it is a multimeter
or
> ammeter--it has a lot of settings on it) to the proper setting and touch
one
> side each of the fuses until I get a reading that means something.
>
> Like I said, electrical stuff is a weakness for me.
>
> Thanks,
> Dave
>
>
> >From: Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@HOTMAIL.COM>
> >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >
> >" and now my batteries drain down in a couple weeks time."
> >
> >Dave,
> >this may or may not be germain to your situation. I added gauges to my
dash
> >top and used a + spade on the back of the main fuse panel. Little did I
> >know
> >that these gauges constantly draw on an open electrical circuit and my
> >battery would run down in about 7 days. I fixed this by taking the
steering
> >column shroud off and literally poking around near the ignition switch
> >until
> >I found one that came on when the key is not, off when the key is off and
> >my
> >problem disappeared.
> >
> >your mention of "a good quality digital voltmeter" makes me wonder if
this
> >is a hand-held instrument you use to check elec. circuits on your van, or
> >if
> >it's a gauge you've wired into the "new" system and sits on your dash? If
> >so, this just might be your culprit .... I don't know?
> >Makes me wonder also what "accessories" you've wired into this battery.
If
> >one of them has the tendency to draw current if it's available, like my
> >dash
> >gauges, and may need to be "switched"?
> >
> >
> >
> >Bob Stevens
> >'87 Westy Syncro
> >"Passion Fruit"
>
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