Is this too much battery draw?

[G50]

I haven't run this test in quite a few years, and I always forget how this multimeter works.

Here's the draws at different setting (I don't remember what the 20, 200, and weird symbol settings are for!)

[G50]

I'm not sure what those reading even show in milliamps or amps.

[grant lyon]

Turn dial clockwise one more notch to 10A and confirm reading is small 0.200 or less (purpose is even though you would be unlikely to be measuring 1/4 A to 10A without wiring burning, do the check to not blow the meter fuse for the milliAmp range if you somehow are measuring more than a fraction of an amp. If the number is .200 or less then do next step: move the red lead plug down one socket to the red one with V()mA marking and turn the dial to the 200m dot: now you are reading up to 200mA (0.200 A) where the milli means thousandths and not shown "A" for Ampheres is assumed (shorthand notation). Assuming you see less than 200mA on the meter, you can then turn the dial to the 20m dot which is for a 20mA range (reads up to 0.020 A) -- but if the reading goes off scale (shows something like 999) flip the dial back to the 200mA range to get a valid measurement . Other threads on PP indicated up to 30mA is OK(depends on radios and other equipment and what /where you are measuring. Cars with minimal electronics would have more like 10mA or less leakage current. If you google the meter model on the web you can find manuals for your meter after answering a few questions. For example helpful threads on PP google this (put this in a google search)
battery leakage current site:forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/

[rick-l]

Check the fuse in your meter.

The first picture shows 30 micro amps
The second one 300 micro amps

I think they would call this a 3 1/2 digit meter, the first digit only displays a 1. If you set it on 20m the maximum it will display is 19.99 mAmps.

[G50]

Turn dial clockwise one more notch to 10A and confirm reading is small 0.200 or less.

OK, did this, it reads 0.03.

If the number is .200 or less then do next step: move the red lead plug down one socket to the red one with V()mA marking and turn the dial to the 200m dot.

Did that, I moved the lead down to the middle socket, dial to 200M and measured. It reads 0.00

Assuming you see less than 200mA on the meter, you can then turn the dial to the 20m dot which is for a 20mA range (reads up to 0.020 A).

Did that, reads 0.00 again

[G50]

Originally Posted by rick-l

Check the fuse in your meter.

The first picture shows 30 micro amps
The second one 300 micro amps

I think they would call this a 3 1/2 digit meter, the first digit only displays a 1. If you set it on 20m the maximum it will display is 19.99 mAmps.

I opened it up and checked the fuse. It's hard to tell, but it looks like it's blown.

I'm going out to pick up a new (hopefully simpler) meter.

[rick-l]

I'd go the new fuse route. That meter is orders of magnitude better than a Harbor Freight meter.

Just get used to reading it. If it flashes go to the next scale up, read the number and then see if there is a multiplier.

In the first picture you see 0.03. The only item that makes any difference is the m (or Greek MU (u) for micro) on the XX0m setting. You are seeing 0.03 m that is .03 milli Amps.

[grant lyon]

Most likely the fuse for the mA ranges is blown. Can't recall if the resistance (ohms, the funny upside down "U") measurement is fused; it probably is. Flip the dial to 06:00 and put the red lead in the 2nd down socket (marked V-ohms-mA and touch the lead ends together: if the fuse is good you should get something like a 0.0 reading, if the reading is large (9's), then the fuse is blown. The idea of starting measurements with the 20A range unless you are certain the current is small is useful to avoid blowing the fuse for the mA ranges. BTDT, and now you know the lesson for the next time or for another meter which will also probably be fused. Spare fuses are handy. Both the 20A and the mA ranges have separate fuses.

[rick-l]

Unlikely there is a fuse on the ohms range as this is a high impedance input. If the ohms function does not work it may be time for a new meter.

The upside down u is a Capital Greek Omega standing for Ohms.

[Algernon]

NOTE, with the leads plugged in as shown, only the 10Amp range is valid!!!
So neither of the displayed results mean anything!!
Dial the 10A range for a reading up to 10A. If it is low, move to more sensitive range - 200mA AND REMEMBER to MOVE the +ve lead down to MIDDLE SOCKET!!
For a reading below 20mA, move the dial up to the 20mA range ( no need to move the leads anymore.)
The meter is marked "mA" next to the middle socket, and the upper socket is marked "10A only" or such, (it's obscured in the 2 photos) and is right next to the 10A range marker which is white highlighted to remind you to use this upper socket only for 10A range!

[G50]

Originally Posted by Algernon

NOTE, with the leads plugged in as shown, only the 10Amp range is valid!!!
So neither of the displayed results mean anything!!
Dial the 10A range for a reading up to 10A. If it is low, move to more sensitive range - 200mA AND REMEMBER to MOVE the +ve lead down to MIDDLE SOCKET!!
For a reading below 20mA, move the dial up to the 20mA range ( no need to move the leads anymore.)

Thanks!

For the readings in post no. 5 above, I did move the lead down to the middle socket. I edited post 5 to make it more clear.

[G50]

Originally Posted by G50

Turn dial clockwise one more notch to 10A and confirm reading is small 0.200 or less.

OK, did this, it reads 0.03.

If the number is .200 or less then do next step: move the red lead plug down one socket to the red one with V()mA marking and turn the dial to the 200m dot.

Did that, I moved the lead down to the middle socket, dial to 200m and measured. It reads 0.00

Assuming you see less than 200mA on the meter, you can then turn the dial to the 20m dot which is for a 20mA range (reads up to 0.020 A).

Did that, reads 0.00 again

I put a new fuse in and tried the above again.

At the 10A setting I get a reading of .03.

I then moved the lead down to the middle socket, the dial to 200M and measured.

It read 28.5 for a brief moment, then the fuse blew again.

[dad911]

If you are measuring current, you should be disconnecting one lead from battery, so you can put meter in series circuit. Then only use 10 Amp range.

You are NOT measuring across battery terminals, right?

I Highly recommend a clamp-on ammeter for use on cars, instead of the typical multimeter.

[G50]

yes, I'm disconnecting the negative cable and putting the multimeter in between the negative battery post and the negative battery cable.

I did it with the 10A range and it measures .03

I pulled every fuse, one at a time. The reading never changed, stayed at .03

[rick-l]

Originally Posted by G50

yes, I'm disconnecting the negative cable and putting the multimeter in between the negative battery post and the negative battery cable.

If you are blowing the (10 Amp?) fuse in your multi meter you may have problems.

There is another alternative however. Do you have an amp or something that would have a large capacitor in it? If so the inrush when you hook the meter up may blow the (non slo blow?) fuse in your meter on the lower scale.

The way around this is to take the cable off, put a wire between the battery and the cable, hook the meter up to the battery and cable and then remove the wire leaving the meter in series to measure current.

If there is a large spark when you hook the wire up with the key off (in your pocket) you know you have a problem.

Why do you think you have a problem with battery draw? Does it go dead after a couple days?

[G50]

The battery gets weak after around 4 days of sitting.

It doesn't blow a 10 amp fuse. The fuse is 500mA.

There is as small spark when I hook the weire up with the key out.

[G50]

There's no amp or nonfactory electrtonics in the car. Just a fairly plain alpine headunit.

[rick-l]

500 mA fuse ... There is at least a 6 Watt light bulb on somewhere

1/2 amp is way too much current draw with the key out and the doors and trunk lid closed. stay on the 10 amp scale (with the bigger fuse?)

[G50]

Originally Posted by rick-l

500 mA fuse ... There is at least a 6 Watt light bulb on somewhere

1/2 amp is way too much current draw with the key out and the doors and trunk lid closed. stay on the 10 amp scale (with the bigger fuse?)

I stayed on the 10 amp scale. It reads .03.

I pulled each fuse one by one, none made any change in the reading!

[rick-l]

I think there is still something wrong with the meter. The 3 looks like an offset for the A-D converter. Notice it is always on the least significant digit. Is there a fuse on the 10 amp scale?