Thread: Electrical Leak?

First thing to check would be to make sure your alternator is charging the battery properly. Can you start the vehicle and check the voltage? Should be over 13v, maybe close to 14v.

If the alternator is working, try some of the suggestions in here:

mystery current leakage

Basically, you can put a multi meter between positive battery terminal and battery on 10A setting first. That will tell you if there is something draining the battery. If there is, you can then start checking at the fuses to narrow down the search.

Another way - if the current draw at the +ve battery terminal is less than 1A, you should be fine to leave the meter connected, then just try pulling fuses out 1 by 1 until you see the reading drop.

Multi meter is the key...

Remember all cars have some leakage and after turning off the ignition it can take a few minutes for everything to shut down. As has been said put a multimeter in line with the + and start pulling fuses, then relays to find out what your problem circuit is. Expect to see 0.1 amp or less if everything is OK.

HI thanks yeah i have an EMS2 which tells me the alternator output with is about 14v.
do most multimeters have an amp setting?

Originally Posted by def9087

do most multimeters have an amp setting?

I've never seen one without it.

Do your auxiliary circuits use the chassis / bodywork to get to earth or do you have a seperate earth circuit for your second battery?

If its the latter I'd put money on you having an earth leakage problem as has been hinted at.

Fail in that, have you got a faulty device somewhere?

R
J

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the secondary battery has its own earth leads. but the main battery runs through the chassis.
what does an earth leakage mean?
when i charge the battery up will look at the leak by removing fuses hopefully its in something simple

thanks Ned(?) ,
I have put the multimeter in line and pulled fuses.
it started out with all fuses at 0.16 , then dropped to 0.08 when i pulled out the reading light fuse ( stereo flashed at the point so maybe its wired to that fuse)
is 0.16amp something to worry about? what is a normal amp output on a defender when everything is switched off?
thanks