Battery drain issue/ .010 reading on volt meter

[72 Super]

Okay a little update

After sitting over a week with battery disconnected I had get 12.53 volts.

With the engine running I get 14.34

Under load 14.05
No load 14.35

[72 Super]

With another multimeter I am still coming up with 0.01 reading.

Multimeter
Black lead plugged into COM
Red lead into 5A

Black lead to neg terminal on the battery
Red lead to negative battery cable

[Big Kev-O]

In the picture your meter is set to the full Amp range and is showing .01 Amps which is 10 milliampere. This is probably the lowest value it can detect while in the Amp range setting. To get a more accurate reading you should have the dial turned to the 200m or 20m range and the lead should be plugged into port below the one you have it in.

If the 10 milliampere reading is correct you should not be having an issue with battery drain unless there is a load that you are not picking up all the time. For example, I have a brand new key switch in my truck and it will allow me to pull the key out when I am in the accessory position. When I do this it leaves the accessories powered up and slowly drains the battery. If my radio is off when I stop the truck I don't even realize that the key is in the ACC position.

Let us know what it reads when the meter is set to milliampere.

[72 Super]

Originally Posted by Big Kev-O

In the picture your meter is set to the full Amp range and is showing .01 Amps which is 10 milliampere. This is probably the lowest value it can detect while in the Amp range setting. To get a more accurate reading you should have the dial turned to the 200m or 20m range and the lead should be plugged into port below the one you have it in.

If the 10 milliampere reading is correct you should not be having an issue with battery drain unless there is a load that you are not picking up all the time. For example, I have a brand new key switch in my truck and it will allow me to pull the key out when I am in the accessory position. When I do this it leaves the accessories powered up and slowly drains the battery. If my radio is off when I stop the truck I don't even realize that the key is in the ACC position.

Let us know what it reads when the meter is set to milliampere.

I think I found the issue. I pulled the radio plug out of the fuse panel. My multimeter didn’t change. I then pulled the cig lighter plug out of the fuse panel and my meter went to 0.00. I then noticed the radio had no power. Someone spliced the radio into the cigarette lighter harness wire.

[72 Super]

Originally Posted by 72 Super

I think I found the issue. I pulled the radio plug out of the fuse panel. My multimeter didn’t change. I then pulled the cig lighter plug out of the fuse panel and my meter went to 0.00. I then noticed the radio had no power. Someone spliced the radio into the cigarette lighter harness wire.

I switched the Red lead to the middle slot. I now get 00.0 at 200m and I get 0.00 at 20m.

I then plugged the cig wire back into the fuse panel and it went to 8.2 on the 20m setting.

[72 Super]

Here is how my multimeter is set now with Black lead at Neg. battery terminal and the Red at the Neg. cable.

[body bolt]

Originally Posted by 72 Super

Here is how my multimeter is set now with Black lead at Neg. battery terminal and the Red at the Neg. cable.

If you haven't yet, you're going to blow the fuses in the meter. Lighters are typically >= 10amps. I suggest forgoing the current tests unless you have a lot of fuses. Why do you think something is draining your battery? Does the battery drain significantly over time with it disconnected? Have you tested the battery?

[RustyPile]

Originally Posted by 72 Super

I think I found the issue. I pulled the radio plug out of the fuse panel. My multimeter didn’t change. I then pulled the cig lighter plug out of the fuse panel and my meter went to 0.00. I then noticed the radio had no power. Someone spliced the radio into the cigarette lighter harness wire.

It doesn't matter what circuit is used to power the radio.. If your radio was turned off during these tests, you're reading the current draw of the radio's memory function.. Normally that draw isn't enough to run down the battery over a short period of time.. Connect the radio's power lead to the "radio" fuse in the panel.. Re-run those tests and you'll probably get the same results... If your battery is good, I suspect the radio memory is faulty and drawing more current than it should... A good test for this would be leaving the radio completely disconnect from any circuits and let the truck sit a few days with the battery connected.. If the battery holds it's charge, you'll know the radio is the source of the drain..

[body bolt]

Originally Posted by 72 Super

I think I found the issue. I pulled the radio plug out of the fuse panel. My multimeter didn’t change. I then pulled the cig lighter plug out of the fuse panel and my meter went to 0.00. I then noticed the radio had no power. Someone spliced the radio into the cigarette lighter harness wire.

OK, I didn't see this. Does your truck have A/C? I had a problem where the anti-dieseling relay was constantly energized and it's on that circuit. Do you hear a click when you disconnect/connect the battery cable or insert the fuse? That relay is next to the lighter. I just unplugged the relay and left it that way.