Date:         Sun, 9 May 2021 17:50:32 +0000
Reply-To:     Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Bad battery?
Comments: To: Dan N <dn92610@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <CAFdLW6khswmbbgSmHsxnC-jiC9+V_yJ0xL3X8+fueo3zVJ1nug@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

 +2Digital clock current draw is extremely low, almost like your digital wristwatch; so is yellow wire on modern radios that maintain station presets.  A possible culprit might be if you have an 12VDC to 120VAC inverter in system.  I went to the trouble of adding a switch on my inverter to make absolutely sure it was disconnected from system when not in use.  If parasitic current draw happens, my first inclination would be to look at accessories attached and understand what is going on.

    On Sunday, May 9, 2021, 10:35:02 AM PDT, Dan N <dn92610@gmail.com> wrote:  
 
 +1
I agree with Karl. The digital clock won't kill the battery. All my vans
have digital clock and some of them were for about 6 months or more and had
no problem with the battery.

So if there's a problem with a weak/bad battery when parked then there's
something else to look at.

On Sun, May 9, 2021 at 10:26 AM Karl Mullendore <tdiguru@westyventures.com>
wrote:

> The digital clock in the '86-on won't kill a battery quickly. Never had an
> issue
> in the past.
> I do have the issue with my Ducati (analog clock) if I forget to
> disconnect the
> battery after a ride and not ride again for a month or so, the battery is
> dead.
>
>
> On Sun, 9 May 2021 08:16:26 -0400, Geoffrey Toye <geoffreytoye@GMAIL.COM>
> wrote:
>
> >Karl,
> >
> >The first winter after I bought my '81 westy I was having trouble keeping
> >the main battery charged when the van was not being used.  I disconnected
> >the battery and found that the parasitic draw was from the clock. The draw
> >was enough to completely drain the battery in four weeks.  So now I keep a
> >battery maintainer on it in the winter.
> >
>