1070

[randyrenfro7]

Have any of you had a selenoid to have a amp draw while parked. Mine is showing 1.7 volt draw from positive post to ground and running the batteries down over a period of a few days.

 

[John Saeli]

Have any of you had a selenoid to have a amp draw while parked. Mine is showing 1.7 volt draw from positive post to ground and running the batteries down over a period of a few days.

My guess is that it's the alternator.

 

[wore out]

Have any of you had a selenoid to have a amp draw while parked. Mine is showing 1.7 volt draw from positive post to ground and running the batteries down over a period of a few days.

You want to be checking for a "CURRENT DRAW" rather than a "VOLTAGE DRAW". That being said, disconnect all wires from the alternator and tape them to keep them out of trouble and see if the battery drain stops.

 

[randyrenfro7]

With the battery cable off the starter stud and the acc wire removed (ie alternator and all internal circuits) positive lead on + cable and neg on stud reads 1.7 VDC . The only path is through the solenoid itself. I had already checked the accessory wire for drain 0 volts.

 

[LPakiz]

Try this. Unhook one of the battery cable from the battery and hook the smallest 12 volt bulb you can find (like a dash light) in SERIES with the battery post and the cable. If you have a draw, the bulb should glow dimly. You can solder some leads directly to the bulb if you can't find a suitable socket.
Now unhook the alternator. Then pull fuses, one at a time. Unhook wires from the ignition switch, light switch, anything that might be drawing power. When the bulb goes out, you found the draw.
Voltmeters are great for some tests but be aware that the very slightest current leak will register on the voltmeter. As someone alluded to, you are looking for AMP DRAW.

 

[randyrenfro7]

Thank you or I could put my meter to amps, the same thing. But if there is anything over milliamps present checking this way there is a leak to ground inside the solenoid.

 

[LPakiz]

Yeah, there should not be a draw thru the big terminals. But the "activator" terminal (s) SHOULD show a draw equivalent to whatever the activator coil wants to draw.

 

[LPakiz]

Unhook the small activator wire from your solenoid. Test that wire for the presence of voltage. Should be none unless you are attempting to activate that solenoid.