batteries

[timetraveller]

A tip for ClassicBiker to find out if you have a piece of equipment which is causing a battery drain. Use a modern digital volt metre and when everything is supposedly 'off' try putting the DVM between the +ve battery terminal and the lead which is normally connected to that. If you switch to amps. milliamsp or whatever then it is possible that you will not see a reading because the current flow is too low. However, if you switch to 'volts' and get any reading at all other than zero, something is still live. You can then go round the items one by one until you find out which is slowly draining the battery. A decent battery in good condition should not be going dead within months but might be down to 10 or 11 volts. Less than that then either the battery or some electrical fitting is faulty. Good luck.

 

[ClassicBiker]

A tip for ClassicBiker to find out if you have a piece of equipment which is causing a battery drain. Use a modern digital volt metre and when everything is supposedly 'off' try putting the DVM between the +ve battery terminal and the lead which is normally connected to that. If you switch to amps. milliamsp or whatever then it is possible that you will not see a reading because the current flow is too low. However, if you switch to 'volts' and get any reading at all other than zero, something is still live. You can then go round the items one by one until you find out which is slowly draining the battery. A decent battery in good condition should not be going dead within months but might be down to 10 or 11 volts. Less than that then either the battery or some electrical fitting is faulty. Good luck.

Thanks for the pointer. I've only just acquired a digital multi meter, I've had an analog one forever and have only bothered looking for current flow never for potential. Good tip that. Thanks again.
Steven