Matt,
Thanks very much for instructions that even I can understand!  I'm charging
the battery on 2 amps now and will let you know how the test goes.  (I'm
using 2 amps because somehow I think that 6 amps would be harmful.  Is that
right, or can I use 6 amps?)
Patti
**********************************

On 4/28/07, Matt Roberds <mattroberds@cox.net> wrote:
>
> > From:    PB <pbrattan@GMAIL.COM>
> > Date:    Sat, 28 Apr 2007 10:07:42 -0700
> >
> > I removed the battery to see how old it is, but there are no markings
> > that I can understand.  It's a delco with a handle on it.
>
> [later:]
>
> > There are 2 different etchings on the battery:  6KFD29 and 6FD291.  One
> > is factory branded into the plastic, the other is hand engraved.
>
> Per http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/carfaq7.htm#freshness , the
> relevant part of this date code on a Delco is either 6K or 6F.  This
> means 2006 and either June or October, so the battery is likely less
> than a year old.
>
> > What could I have possibly left on that would be draining the battery?
>
> It could be that some component or switch has failed, so that it is
> drawing current even when it is supposed to be shut off.
>
> If you have a multimeter with a 10 A or 20 A DC range, you can
> investigate further.  Set the meter to 10 A or 20 A DC.  Put the main
> battery back in the van and hook up the positive cable, but don't hook
> up the negative cable.  Make sure everything electrical is turned off.
>
> Put the black meter lead on the negative terminal post of the battery,
> and put the red meter lead on the terminal on the end of the negative
> cable/strap.  You will probably get some non-zero reading.  If it's
> less than about 0.02 A, you are seeing the normal current draw of the
> clock, station memory in the stereo, etc, and I would begin to suspect
> the main battery itself.
>
> If you see more than 0.02 A, go to the fuse panel, pick a fuse, and pull
> it out.  Check with the meter again to see if the reading has dropped.
> If it has, investigate the items powered by that fuse.  If it hasn't,
> put that fuse back, pick another fuse, and pull it out.
>
> If none of the fuses make the reading drop to 0.02 A or less when
> removed, then you might have a problem with the auxiliary battery or
> maybe the alternator.  You might disconnect the auxiliary battery and
> try the meter on the main battery again; if you get a reading of 0.02 A
> or less, then something is wrong with the isolation between the main and
> aux batteries - your main battery is running itself down trying to charge
> the aux battery, which normally shouldn't happen.
>
> Once you get done useing your meter on the 10 A or 20 A range,
> immediately switch it back to "volts" and (on many meters) switch the
> test leads back to the "volts" jacks.  If you don't do this, you'll blow
> the fuse in the meter the next time you try to measure voltage.  Ask me
> how I know.  :)
>
> Matt Roberds
>
>