Thread: Tekonsha P3 Battery Drain

We had an earlier model Teconsha brake controller fitted to one of our utes. While out camping one night we noticed that even though there was no trailer attached to the vehicle, the brake lights would randomly light up. It had only recently been fitted so we went back to the auto electrician with it. He said he'd had similar issues with the brand and changed it for a Redarc unit which has been faultless since. I've used Redarc since.
Don.

Hi Richard, as Pedro has pointed out, 100ma is less than 2.5 amps draw a day and should not effect your batteries unless you do very little and or short drives.

Can you post up your normal driving habits?

I have had a P3 for about 18 months now. First in my D3 and now in my D4. Have not had any issues, even when I left the car sitting in the driveway for 7 weeks.

Might be something to do with the wiring?

Originally Posted by drivesafe

Hi Richard, as Pedro has pointed out, 100ma is less than 2.5 amps draw a day and should not effect your batteries unless you do very little and or short drives.

Can you post up your normal driving habits?

Tim
I am not sure about the figures but if I leave my car idle for 5+ days = 120+ hours would that make a difference

Hunting around the web I found a comment in the ettailer web site that it should only draw a 3.6 mA when not in use. Where mine according to LR is drawing 100mA.

So if true something a miss with the controller or wiring.

I have not tested this my self yet as been a bit busy but will.

Richard


I

This seems like a suitable place,,

how do we test for mA draw?

First I have to admit this stuff confuses me a bit
So what you are saying is if the P3 continuously draws 100mA and the car is left idle for at least 5 days then I should not get a low battery message in my D4.

LR reckons it will but perhaps I should take my car to an auto electrician to verify. I am unsure who at LR checked it.

Richard

Originally Posted by wbowner

First I have to admit this stuff confuses me a bit
So what you are saying is if the P3 continuously draws 100mA and the car is left idle for at least 5 days then I should not get a low battery message in my D4.

LR reckons it will but perhaps I should take my car to an auto electrician to verify. I am unsure who at LR checked it.

Richard

I would be looking at the anti rust unit. If it is an electronic one it will draw a fair bit of power.

Originally Posted by Bearman

I would be looking at the anti rust unit. If it is an electronic one it will draw a fair bit of power.

Are you saying LR got it wrong Never.

I thunk I will get some one else to look at it.


I raised a similar thread some time ago and the consensus was it was the anti rust.
I only raised this one because LR indicated it was the tenkonsha P3 and i was wondering if others had troubles with them. I went in to see them about the LR bulletin about the message appearing when it shouldn't. Some how I agreed for them to do a full diagnosis check.

So please excuse my bit of repartition


Richard