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Amperage Parasidic Draw

Old Nov 7, 2022 | 03:40 PM
  #1  
72buickgs's Avatar
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From: Windsor, On
Car: 1984 Trans AM
Engine: 305
Transmission: 700-4r
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Amperage Parasidic Draw

I performed an amperage parasitic draw with my multi meter-- Neg cable disconnected & one test lead attached to the -ve cable & the other test lead to the -ve battery terminal, I see the draw as 0.13 milliamps.
The only light on is the led display for time on the radio.
I understand 0.25 - 0.50 milliamps could be normal for the computer boards that must have power constantly on late model vehicles.
Is 0.13 amps okay? I think that it is.
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Old Nov 7, 2022 | 06:12 PM
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From: Chasing Electrons
Car: check
Engine: check
Transmission: check
Re: Amperage Parasidic Draw

That is too high. And the time display on the radio should not be on. There is a common transistor that goes bad in the radio that causes the display to stay on.

It will drain the battery and can-be/is an easy fix. There are several folks that can fix it. For now just unplug the radio battery feed connector.

RBob.


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Old Nov 7, 2022 | 06:46 PM
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Re: Amperage Parasidic Draw

Is it .13 amps (130 mA) or .13 mA? Your post makes reference to both.

130 mA is too high I agree with RBob.
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Old Nov 7, 2022 | 10:41 PM
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72buickgs's Avatar
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From: Windsor, On
Car: 1984 Trans AM
Engine: 305
Transmission: 700-4r
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Amperage Parasidic Draw

scale on multimeter at 10 amp setting. red lead plugged into 10 amp recepticle on meter. Connection made
between - ve battery terminal & - ve cable.
Reading on screen is 0.13 . Is that 13/100 amp? thus 130 milliamps?
I will check the electrical diagrams for radio circuits to see what other users are that circuit(s).
I will pull the radio fuses - I am guessing one for radio & another for constant voltage to radio..

Last edited by 72buickgs; Nov 7, 2022 at 11:01 PM.
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Old Nov 8, 2022 | 12:04 PM
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Joined: Oct 2021
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From: Windsor, On
Car: 1984 Trans AM
Engine: 305
Transmission: 700-4r
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Amperage Parasidic Draw

I did the fuse removal thing & found that the radio was culprit. Removing the constant power wire eliminated the draw.
Tkx RBob for the info.
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Old Nov 8, 2022 | 01:56 PM
  #6  
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From: Windsor, On
Car: 1984 Trans AM
Engine: 305
Transmission: 700-4r
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Amperage Parasidic Draw

As I stated in above message, I cut the orange constant power to the radio. I reinstall the radio & now I have no reception am nor fm, just noise. Tape deck works.
Does cutting that wire cause that problem?

Last edited by 72buickgs; Nov 8, 2022 at 03:19 PM.
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