View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
larryswanson Member
Joined: Oct 01, 2016 Posts: 1
|
Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2016 11:18 pm Post subject: Incipient battery drain |
|
|
My M38A1 Jeep has a small electrical drain even with everything off. I see no lights on etc. I understand that the starter switch or the headlight switch sometimes cause this. Does anyone know of any other likely culprits?
Larryswanson |
|
Back to top |
|
|
oilleaker1 Member
Joined: May 14, 2009 Posts: 971 Location: South Dakota
|
Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2016 6:47 am Post subject: |
|
|
The 24 volt regulator has a capacitor inside that will discharge and show a small spark at the battery cable when connecting the cable. If you put a test light between the disconnected + cable and positive post and it lights up, you have a short in the system. Sometimes a alternator can have a bad diode going to ground which will do this. If you do have a light on, disconnect power leads going to each circuit, one at a time, and watch the light. When it goes out, you found the one to look into. John |
|
Back to top |
|
|
skyjeep50 Member
Joined: Feb 20, 2007 Posts: 606 Location: Illinois
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
BCA Member
Joined: Jul 02, 2011 Posts: 134 Location: Milton, Ontario
|
Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2016 6:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Carbon build-up in the starter switch can cause a power drain. A battery kill switch, located where it is handy to use, is a good safety feature as well as a solution to current drain when parked. .. Brian |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Hawkshadow Member
Joined: Oct 10, 2012 Posts: 310 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
|
Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2016 7:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Check your batteries to see if they are "see-saw" draining. I forget the term right now but if they aren't paired one will drop to charge the other, which will in turn try to re-charge the first once it's higher and the see-saw goes back and forth slowly draining the batteries. _________________ Jordan
M38 CDN
52-30718 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
wesk Site Administrator
Joined: Apr 04, 2005 Posts: 16250 Location: Wisconsin
|
Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2016 9:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
It's called chasing and happens when the capacitance of the two batteries differs significantly usually due to a variance in age or unequal loading as is often the case when folks try to tap 12 volt off of only one battery for a 12 volt accessory. If you are one of those folks try alternating which battery you make the tap on.
Troubleshooting is really very simple. Disconnect +24 cable or the ground cable that bolts to ground and place a test lamp in series between the battery and the disconnected cable. If that lamp glows you have a short or power loss to ground. Then you disconnect one circuit at a time until the lamp goes out and you have found the offending circuit. _________________ Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100
Mjeeps photo album: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?set_albumName=Wes-Knettle&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|