How much parasitic drain is acceptable?
A normal amount of parasitic draw for newer cars is between 50-milliamp to 85-milliamp current draw. A normal amount of parasitic draw for older cars is a reading less than 50-milliamp. Anything past these amounts indicates an electrical issue and should be addressed by a mechanic.
How much current draw is acceptable?
In fact, we suggest a 25-milliamp draw is acceptable and anything that exceeds 100-milliamps indicates an electrical issue that needs to be addressed.
How do I test my alternator for parasitic drain?
To do a quick alternator drain power check using your digital multimeter, go to the section Bad Alternator Diode Test below. Then, if your alternator passes the test, do a battery check using a hydrometer tool as described in the Car Battery Hydrometer Test section.
How big should my parasitic current drain be?
Just opening the door can wake up some microprocessors in some vehicles. That puts you in the awkward position of having to crawl in the window to pull fuses after you wait for everything to go asleep. 90-100 mA seems a bit high, but look at it this way. I presume that your TB has a pretty big battery.
How to find and fix a parasitic battery drain?
You should see the multimeter display the number of Amps that are actively causing your battery drain. Use zip ties or small clamps to keep the multimeter leads connected to the battery terminal and battery wire. Tip: A normal operating vehicle will have about 50 milliamps of Amp draw on the battery.
How to test electrical drain and parasitic load?
ELECTRICAL DRAIN/PARASITIC LOAD TEST Be sure to rule out any possible obvious influences, such as customer error or aftermarket equipment. Customer driving habits, such as regular short trips. This does not allow enough time to properly charge the battery. Refer to Battery Description and Operation.
What should the reading be on a parasitic draw test?
Place the leads in series between the negative cable and the negative battery post and take your measurement. If you see a negative number, switch the leads. To be honest, it doesn’t matter, because the readings will be the same. You don’t want to see a reading above 50 milliamps.