Date:         Fri, 18 Jan 2013 13:28:17 -0800
Reply-To:     Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Electrical Gremlin
Comments: To: Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <071e01cdf5b1$abdd8390$03988ab0$@net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I would say it's charging if it's putting out that much ..
but not charging like it should ..
If it's not charging at all then the reading at the battery will be the
'resting voltage' usually about 12.6 volts or so.
I regard 13.8 volts as the acceptable minimum ,
and anything in the low 14's as good.

Radio draining things ? I find that often.
On my own personal good van I have a battery power switch ..
it can't sit for 10 days ..the raido ..nothing too fancy, just pulls the
battery down in that time.
  with that switch off ..
it can sit a month., or more.

I would try disconnecting the alarm and see if that helps.
you could/should do the standard key-off/engine off battery drain test ..
undo either battery cable..
put a 12 volt test light in series between post and cable..
and see if the light lights .

you have to make sure no interior lights are on ( as that will make the
test light light )
expect a tiny intial glow from the clock , then fading ..
if the light is on ..
there is a current drain. How bright means how much too.
The light should be fully off.
next logical route to pursue is pull fuses one by one ..if you do finda
current drain.
I'd de-power the alarm and then do the test light test myself.

scott
turbovans
On 1/18/2013 11:26 AM, Tom Hargrave wrote:
> 13.5V running is too low - I believe your alternator is not charging.
>
> Thanks, Tom Hargrave
> www.stir-plate.com
> www.towercooler.com
> www.kegkits.com
> www.grow-sun.com
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of
> Richard Koller
> Sent: Friday, January 18, 2013 12:54 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Electrical Gremlin
>
> Greetings all,
>
>                  My '90 syncro westie has a voltage leak somewhere. Battery
> goes to zero after 2 days of the camper not being driven. Van runs normally,
> shows 13.5 volts while running through my digitool. I recently replaced old
> battery thinking it was the culprit without checking it. It was about 5
> years old so I presumed it was at fault. New battery now gets drained. My
> question for you electrical gurus on the List, where would I start to track
> down this evil gremlin. Everything seems normal but obviously is not. The
> only constant drain is a car alarm LED that has been in the camper for 22
> years.
>
> Thanks for any words of wisdom.
>
> Rick
> -----
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