Battery Drain Test - Suspect

[Umai Naa!!]

With the vehicle locked, and left to sit for over 20mins?

[XTiguanX]

With the vehicle locked, and left to sit for over 20mins?

Hi Umai,

We tested about 10min, car locked with alarm on. It hovers between 0.85A and 0.86A.

Cheers,
XTX

[Umai Naa!!]

You really need to do it over a longer period.

As I alluded to earlier, it takes around 20mins for all the control modules to go into their 'sleep mode'. You'll see this almost immediately on whatever device you're using, to measure the current draw. It should drop down to around 0.2A.

[XTiguanX]

You really need to do it over a longer period.

As I alluded to earlier, it takes around 20mins for all the control modules to go into their 'sleep mode'. You'll see this almost immediately on whatever device you're using, to measure the current draw. It should drop down to around 0.2A.

Hi Umai,

I see. Could you please advise what kind of devise I need to do the test? Will a simple multimeter do the trick? Thanks.

Cheers,
XTX

[Umai Naa!!]

Yeah, a multimeter would work. Even better if it had on inductive pick-up, or current clamp.

[XTiguanX]

Yeah, a multimeter would work. Even better if it had on inductive pick-up, or current clamp.

Thanks Umai, I think the RACV guy used current clamp. Will try to get one over the weekend.

[Transporter]

I did have one come to me around 2009, that was virtually brand new. Had a faulty Convenience module in it, that kept 'waking up' once the CAN network went to sleep.

If you watched the current draw, it'd gradually drop down to 0.2A after 20mins, once the CAN network went to sleep. Then BAM, the CCM would wake up, and start drawing huge current.

Don't you mean 0.02A or better still 20mA? Anything over 0.1A (100mA) will flatten the battery especially the aged ones.
The 0.2A will flatten your battery over the weekend if you don't use your car.

[Umai Naa!!]

Yes, correct.

Small error on my part.