berg Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 Im just wondering what the acceptable amount of current draw on a battery is before it starts draining it? Ive been having various problems with my car last few weeks, it seems to have a flat battery if left for a few days Im using a calcium HCB005 which is only 12 months old Ive done a parsitic drian test and the reading were 0.07, if i disconnect my toucan display which has a permanant live wire (for memory i guess) it drops to 0.03 The toucan is the only device ive added recently as is wired as per the instructions Could 0.07 amps be enough to kill a battery in a few days or should i look at replacing the battery? I have a trickle charger all set up now but if the battery is no good id rather get a new one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rider Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 All batteries have a capacity rating of amp/hr and that is the number of amps to drain the battery in one hour. So if you divide your battery capacity by the drain rate you will get the time taken to drain the battery. Any current will drain the battery, its like having a full tank of liquid with a leak. The battery capacity needs to be well above the drain point to turn a starter motor so its not really much use determining the battery life anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rider Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 (edited) If you have the Halfords Calcium HCB005 that has a capacity of 62AH. So a draw of 0.07A will drain a good battery over 37 days. So if your charge is gone in a few days either you have additional battery drain you aren't measuring or the battery is not in good condition. Edited December 21, 2016 by rider (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nodalmighty Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 Are you measuring that between the + battery terminal and the + supply? Im just wondering what the acceptable amount of current draw on a battery is before it starts draining it? Ive been having various problems with my car last few weeks, it seems to have a flat battery if left for a few days Im using a calcium HCB005 which is only 12 months old Ive done a parsitic drian test and the reading were 0.07, if i disconnect my toucan display which has a permanant live wire (for memory i guess) it drops to 0.03 The toucan is the only device ive added recently as is wired as per the instructions Could 0.07 amps be enough to kill a battery in a few days or should i look at replacing the battery? I have a trickle charger all set up now but if the battery is no good id rather get a new one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 Also worth taking a voltage reading across the two terminals when it's running and checking it's getting charged at 13.7volts or higher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berg Posted December 21, 2016 Author Share Posted December 21, 2016 If you have the Halfords Calcium HCB005 that has a capacity of 62AH. So a draw of 0.07A will drain a good battery over 37 days. So if your charge is gone in a few days either you have additional battery drain you aren't measuring or the battery is not in good condition. Thanks, it seems the drain isnt my issue then Are you measuring that between the + battery terminal and the + supply? No im using the negative, but i have tried positive too and readings were the same Also worth taking a voltage reading across the two terminals when it's running and checking it's getting charged at 13.7volts or higher. It reads on my toucan and link ecu software at just over 14v with the engine running Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 If the battery has been deep-cycled already (i.e. let go completely flat for whatever reason) then you can kiss it goodbye. Standard batteries hate being deep-cycled. When my alternator was on the way out I got a brand new battery and of course it went flat within a few days and would not accept a charge after that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nodalmighty Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 It reads on my toucan and link ecu software at just over 14v with the engine running Well the alternator looks like it's working but the battery might still be fubar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheefa Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 Exactly the same here mate. Mine is dead if left for more than 4 days without run or 12v trickle charger. I do think it is the Toucan, that's the only thing that has changed for me too since July when problems started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berg Posted December 22, 2016 Author Share Posted December 22, 2016 Exactly the same here mate. Mine is dead if left for more than 4 days without run or 12v trickle charger. I do think it is the Toucan, that's the only thing that has changed for me too since July when problems started. Hmm interesting you say that I'm wondering why it even has a permanent live connection I've had no battery on the car for 4 days and when i put one on today all settings are still saved including chosen colour etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berg Posted December 22, 2016 Author Share Posted December 22, 2016 (edited) Interesting i just found this Seems it doesnt need the permanent live really Mine does use exactly 40 milliamps too Edited December 22, 2016 by berg (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheefa Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 Thanks Chris that's interesting, so something else is amiss. Perhaps my battery is buggered but it was replaced in July with a different new one so surprised if that's the case. It's not a massive issue, just keep it on a trickle with a circuit breaker now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berg Posted December 23, 2016 Author Share Posted December 23, 2016 Thanks Chris that's interesting, so something else is amiss. Perhaps my battery is buggered but it was replaced in July with a different new one so surprised if that's the case. It's not a massive issue, just keep it on a trickle with a circuit breaker now. /QUOTE] Mine is only 12 months old, although i had let it go flat numerous times whilst doing all the work so that has probably knackered it I took it back to Halfords today and surprisingly they replaced it with no Q's Ive now hooked up my trickle charger on the new battery and i am going to remove the permanent live from the Toucan anyway as its pointless, so i should be all good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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