Date:         Tue, 2 Sep 2008 08:48:42 -0700
Reply-To:     Bill Prats <b.bill.p@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bill Prats <b.bill.p@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Testing for Battery Shorts
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

There are a couple of methods to test for a device that is draining
the battery overnight.  First make sure the batteries will hold a
charge.   Ideas follow.

1. Charge the battery.  Disconnect the battery cable.  Measure the
battery now and return 12 hours later and measure it again.  The
voltage should not go below 12.5 volts. If it is lower, sorry but the
battery has gone soft.

Reconnect the battery.

2. Charge the battery again,  Remove all the fuses in the battery
circuits then each day re-install one of the fuses until the battery
shows a discharge.

3. Do the obvious, disconnect the frige wire and any other new wiring
in the vdub.

4. Now for the more serious, put an amp meter capable of reading 5 or
10 amps in series with the positive battery post.  DO NOT attempt to
start the engine.  Measure the current drain, it should hardly wiggle
the meter.  If the meter show currant flow start removing fuses until
the current flow drops to zero.  That fuse is in the circuit with the
power problem.

5. ONe last thought, maybe someone else can confirm this, could a
shorted alternator diode short the battery to ground?

Remember, the maximum currant on the meter must not be exceeded so
don't crank up the engine, megawatt sound system or any other high
power gear.  Wear safety glasses!!


On 9/1/08, Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@gerry.vanagon.com> wrote:
> There is one message totalling 41 lines in this issue.
>
> Topics of the day:
>
>   1. New battery is dead
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date:    Mon, 1 Sep 2008 23:41:23 -0400
> From:    Cullen Stewart <cullberly@VERMONTEL.NET>
> Subject: Re: New battery is dead
>
> It is a weekender, so no fridge!
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "mdrillock" <mdrillock@cox.net>
> To: "Cullen Stewart" <cullberly@vermontel.net>
> Cc: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, September 01, 2008 5:46 PM
> Subject: Re: New battery is dead
>
>
>> Something else is wrong. The clock can't kill it that fast. If this is a
>> Westy I would suspect that the fridge is running on 12 volts even with the
>> engine off. People can easily mess up the wiring when using the fridge
>> relay for the aux battery relay too. Make sure the fridge is turned to 120
>> volts and see if that helps. If so the fridge relay is wired wrong.
>>
>> Mark
>>
>>
>> Cullen Stewart wrote:
>>> I have a 2 new interstate group 41 batteries and the stereo is hooked up
>>> exclusively to the aux. battery. That battery goes completely dead
>>> overnight without any other usage beyond the clock on the stereo. Do I
>>> have a short? Has anyone encountered this before? The battery is new and
>>> was tested at the Interstate battery dealer when I purchased it. It is
>>> annoying considering I know the battery is going to die from being 100%
>>> discharged too many times.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of vanagon Digest - 1 Sep 2008 (#2008-960)
> **********************************************
>