New project. Current drain testing

amtcoupe wrote: cjj's house yesterday

Nahh. That's just the reception room.

Well, it plugs into a fuse holder to give series current flow. Presumably the inline fuse on the isolator.

Oy I got the coconut! And when I manage to extract it, I will offer shares.

The problem with measuring the current drain is that you need to run the car, stop it and then measure the current drain over a period of time. As soon as you disconnect the battery terminal to connect the meter inline you reset a lot of circuits so you won't get a reliable reading.

The battery isolator is designed so that with a twist of the connector you disconnect the battery. However, the fused wire maintains a voltage to keep you radio settings etc.

It isn't so much an isolator as an anti theft device. If you try to start the car the 15 Amp fuse will blow, cutting all electrics.

What I plan to do is fit the isolator, remove the fuse and plug the meter in.

Start the engine. Stop it, twist the knob and then video the current drain over a period of time. I will do this for both TFs and compare.

If the results are useable it will be a good test device others can use, but I would like to compare a few vehicles to get some idea of what the base line is and if it is different for different MEMs cars.

If the coconut is where I suspect, I don't want to share thanks......

Advantage over using a Fluke? For current drain I mean, not coconut extraction.....

John and Sue wrote: If the coconut is where I suspect, I don't want to share thanks......

Advantage over using a Fluke? For current drain I mean, not coconut extraction.....

It is specifically designed to fit into the fuse holder so it will be hands free. These testers can measure up to 30Amps, whereas normal multimeters can only handle around 10Amps.

The purpose of the "isolator" is so that you can go from a high drain situation (ignition on) to connecting to the ammeter without breaking the supply.

Gotcha.

Anything to report yet Clive?

Interested to know what you have found as I have the same intention and parts but my (running) car is locked away in a garage away from home so haven't fitted it yet!

I will be doing it this week coming as long as the weather isn't too bad. I did get to fit it all but then got rained off and have been at work for the last 7 days.

Will post up the results.

Added to the title to aid searches.

Still don't know what Clive concluded.

And I never fitted the bits and tested mine! Been too busy renovating our new house and spending far too much money.

I haven't yet.

Will get back on it once the car is back on the road.

If it is any help, the drain current is zero at the minute as it doesn't even have a battery fitted.