clamp on meter
You are not currently logged in. Login to myAccount   Forgot Your Login?   SignUp For a Free Account
 
Sell Your StreetRod FAST!-Help-Contact Us
Quick Search:
clamp on meter
Posted: June 12 2005 09:17 PM
 
Al Christopher (aka MasterDeluxe) [ View ] [ itsa39@webtv.net ] [ Car Ads ] [ Blogs ]
Runnemede, New Jersey
 
I mentioned to some on who was talking about finding which ckt. was running down a battery.I sais that a few years ago I had watched either " Crank and Chrome ",or " Two Guys Garage ".they said that you could isolate the ckt. that was draining the battery with a clamp on meter.You wouldn't have to open any ckts for testing.The person I was talking to,said clamp on meters are for AC only.He sais the only ways to do it was with a test lamp,or multi meter.Where the two guys blowing smoke again ???........Al C
 
 
Comments
 
Posted by DavyJ  -  06/12/2005 04:26 PM

speaking of radios.. i've traced a problem back to one of the early style cd players, seems it uses a lot of juice to maintain a cd in place if you leave it loaded.



dave
Still driving the wife's car, cause I am slow. [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Niagara Falls, Canada Charter Member since February 2005
 
Posted by MasterDeluxe  -  06/12/2005 07:26 AM
Thanks Blown 29......Al C
MasterDeluxe [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Runnemede, New Jersey Charter Member since March 2005
 
Posted by MasterDeluxe  -  06/12/2005 10:18 AM
Thanks Shine........Al C
MasterDeluxe [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Runnemede, New Jersey Charter Member since March 2005
 
Posted by JAWS  -  06/12/2005 07:50 PM
Disconnect the negative cable and install a test light between it and the negative post. If it lights up you have a draw somewhere. Do not use a dvom to do this at first because you may have a large draw and it will blow the internal fuse on the dvom.Use the test light first and depending on how dim the light is will determine roughly how big a draw you have. Bright is large draw, dim is small. Disconnect fuses or main power leads one at a time. watch the light each time if no change in light brightness reconnect and move to the next one. The light will go out when you find the circuit that has the draw. Find and repair draw. Once the light is out. You can use a dvom to make sure you do not have a smaller draw. Be care full with the dvom order not to accidentally complete the circuit with the leads, which will blow the internal fuse. Remove the + lead from the meter before you set it to miliamps. Install it in the same way you did the test light. Check the reading, around 200 miliamps is an acceptable draw for a clock or stereo. If you have a computer controlled engine you may have slightly more, due to the Keep Alive Memory.-Brant
An electrical headache can make a great car a pain [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Boise, Idaho Charter Member since August 2004
 
Posted by MasterDeluxe  -  06/12/2005 09:17 PM
Thanks Dave and Brant........Al C
MasterDeluxe [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Runnemede, New Jersey Charter Member since March 2005
 
Posted by Crazyhorse Rod Shop  -  06/12/2005 08:14 AM

radio memory can drain a weak batt. it may start fine but if it sets long it will go dead. a short is going to blow fuses. remove the fuses and replace with 2 amp . you can find a drain this way.
dont poke the porchdog........he bites [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] BLUFF DALE, Texas Charter Member since March 2003
 
Posted by blown29  -  06/11/2005 11:09 PM
you can get both ac or dc clamp on amp meters. If the wire you are trying to find has a short, or a dead ground. The wire will draw waaaaay more amps than the than the load it was intended. If there are a large number of wires that you think the short may be in, such a running from the fuse block. I have used a compas to find a short in a large bunch of wires. the comp will point to the short as you move the compas along the wires.Hope this helps some...Just my 2cents...Travis
blown29 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Highlands, Texas
 
Back To Top
Please Login or Register to Comment
Existing Member? Sign In.
New Visitor? Click Here to Get Started!
 
Existing Member but forgot your Login Information? Click Here.