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        General >> Give/Need advice to/from others >> Power drain
        
(Message started by: Kjetil S on May 2^nd, 2006, 9:25pm)

Title: Power drain
Post by Kjetil S on May 2^nd, 2006, 9:25pm

Was just outside now, attacking my battery with my multimeter. Connected it in series with the battery, and did some readings.

With everything turned off, except the boot light, the power drain is 0,8-0,95A. When I close the boot, the drain falls to about 0,6A. Disconnecting the battery for a sec and reconnecting it makes it drop to below 0,2A. Opening and closing the boot again makes it rise to 0,6A. Re-disconnecting and connecting the battery makes it drop to less than 0,2A again.

Anyone have an idea what the 0,4A current draw can be?

Title: Re: Power drain
Post by david_molloy on May 2^nd, 2006, 11:46pm

Stuck switch so glove box light on all time.
Just a guess - as no idea really - but easy one to eliminate
david

Title: Re: Power drain
Post by Kjetil S on May 3^rd, 2006, 12:18pm

The glove box switch works. I tested.

What I forgot to test was if the outcome was the same when opening and closing a door instead of the boot.

Title: Re: Power drain
Post by Mummra on May 3^rd, 2006, 1:08pm

You may want to check the glove box light actually goes out when the glove box is closed, even though the switch works it doesn't always get pushed closed enough to turn the light out. It is best to check it at night.

I had to stick a rubber pad to my glove box door where it hits the switch, as mine was not turning off.

Title: Re: Power drain
Post by Kjetil S on May 3^rd, 2006, 3:30pm

Yes, I will, but my current problem is to find out why the current draw increases by 400mA whenever I open and close the boot. There is something turning on whenever it's opened and won't turn off until i disconnect the battery.

Title: Re: Power drain
Post by Octavian_P on May 3^rd, 2006, 4:34pm

That's strange 0.2 A is about ok (mine draws 180mA). Could the boot light have a kind of time off like the inerior lights ? Maybe the power saver relay. Reading further your msg gives me some ideeas. You say that everything is disconnected does this include the lighs from the footwels. If yes than remember that opening the boot and closing it starts a 20 second relay that should keep the lights on. Eaven though the bulbs are out the relay consumes. See if after aprox 20 seconds the current goes down.

Title: Re: Power drain
Post by Kjetil S on May 3^rd, 2006, 4:56pm

Thanks, I will (although the current draw did fall from ~0,9A to ~0,6A when I close the boot, so I would guess the 0,3A drop is the boot light turning off)

Don't know if I have lights in my foot wells, atleast the foot wells are unlighted at the moment. Either blown bulbs or no lights fitted at all, I guess. Checking this is on my to-do list.

"Everything" in my original post refers to the roof lights and dashboard lights.

As a note, I don't know if the draw is 150mA or 249mA, since I use the 10A input on the meter (don't wan't to accidentally destroy it). That input has 0,1A as the smallest reading.

Title: Re: Power drain
Post by sector-9 on May 3^rd, 2006, 5:46pm

Try unplugging the boot release solenoid? Don't think it'd be that though - you need to start unplugging electrics in the boot area and check the loom near the hinges.

FWIW, 400mA at 12V equals roughly 5W which sounds like a bulb; might be worth pulling a few out and see if it makes any difference...

Darren

Title: Re: Power drain
Post by Octavian_P on May 3^rd, 2006, 8:33pm

on 05/03/06 at 16:56:07, Kjetil S wrote:

Don't know if I have lights in my foot wells, atleast the foot wells are unlighted at the moment. Either blown bulbs or no lights fitted at all, I guess. Checking this is on my to-do list.

There should be one light under the dashboard, near the pedals, one under de dashboard at the passanger feet, and 2 in the backseat. I saw on mine that the driver front side lamp was fallen inside and it was lighting but could not see it. These lights operate for 20 seconds when the boot is opened, or a dor (open / shut). When all four are lit up the take about 2 Amps. Also these lights are switched on by a relay that takes some current.

on 05/03/06 at 16:56:07, Kjetil S wrote:

As a note, I don't know if the draw is 150mA or 249mA, since I use the 10A input on the meter (don't wan't to accidentally destroy it). That input has 0,1A as the smallest reading.

I also have used 10A scale but it seems my multimeter has bigger precision, it has two decimals. So i got 0.18 A = 180mA

Title: Re: Power drain
Post by Kjetil S on May 3^rd, 2006, 10:11pm

I read on the page that

Quote:

FORD SCORPIO ULTIMA

The Ultima was additionally equipped with the following;

Courtesy lights in front and rear footwells,
Kerb lights,

Mine is a low spec version, so it probably doesn't have any of those (but I will still check later).

Title: Re: Power drain
Post by Octavian_P on May 4^th, 2006, 12:07pm

Mine is not an ultima, it's ghia ....but still have thoes lights. Lower spec ones did not have the puddle lights and the kerblights, these are mounted on each door, under it and near it's corner.

Title: Re: Power drain
Post by Kjetil S on May 4^th, 2006, 3:19pm

Had a quick look around the foot wells, and I couldn't find any lights. So unless they're as well hidden as the one in the glove box, I don't have them. It also seems like my car has reflective surfaces instead of lights in the doors.

Title: Re: Power drain
Post by david_molloy on May 4^th, 2006, 11:09pm

Hello
Mine only has relectors in doors - 95 24V Ghia saloon.
Have you tried removing / disconnecting / switching off all unnecessary bulbs & electrical extras.
Would either definitively remove them from the equation or prove where the fault lies - subject to further logical elimination of remainder.
Hope you get my point
david