Set the multimeter to the 10 amp setting.  Remove the negative terminal of
your battery.  Connect the meter between the terminal and the battery.  At
this point you should have a reading.  Remove all the fuses from your fuse
panel.  At this point you should have 0 amps or darn close to it - switch to
mA setting if you have to.  If there is some current, it would be from
something that doesn't go through the fuse panel - like an aftermarket
device or a problem with the starter or alternator.  Start adding fuses one
by one until you see the jump in current.

David Marshall

Fast Forward Automotive Inc.
4356 Quesnel-Hixon Road
Quesnel BC Canada  V2J 6Z3

http://www.fastforward.ca    mailto:sales@fastforward.ca
Phone: (250) 992 7775        FAX: (250) 992 1160

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-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Peter Lackner
Sent: April 3, 2005 11:16 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Cc please Re: Testing for power draw on battery?

I have a similar problem, so anyone answering directly, please cc to me as
well -
Many thanks -
Peter Lackner
90 syncro
SB CA

> From: Brian Wasson <briwasson@VERIZON.NET>
> Reply-To: Brian Wasson <briwasson@VERIZON.NET>
> Date: Sun, 03 Apr 2005 23:48:56 -0400
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Testing for power draw on battery?
>
> Hi all,
>
> I've noticed that while my van sits unused something is drawing my
> battery down over the course of a few weeks, and I'd like to find what
> the problem is. I do have a multimeter, but am unsure about how to go
> about searching for a rogue circuit. I followed the recent thread about
> checking things at the fuse box, but don't really fully understand what
> I'm looking for. How does one test a circuit at the fuse panel to see
> if there is a current draw even when the van is off?
>
> Any suggestions/help would be most appreciated!
>
> Brian W.