current draw while key is off?

[Sam King]

I have been having battery problems since I bought my 79SC in march. After removing all of the po owners junk(alarm, amps) I am still having a dead battery problem. So I got a new battery yesterday. Put it in and checked the current draw between the ground and negative terminal. With the key off it is pulling 5.5amps. I took each fuse up front and in back out one by one and checked the current draw each time. No change. I then took each relay out one by one but no change in current draw. Am I doing something wrong? I don't think this is normal. Any one have any other suggestions to try? I am pretty good at electrical stuff. But this has me puzzled.

I tried a search but could not find specifically what I wanted.

PS. The po said the alternator was upgraded about 2 years ago.

[john walker's workshop]

remove the red alternator wire from the starter solenoid, reinstall the battery cable to the solenoid and see if it goes away. i've had several alts that were the problem. unplug the clock, turn off dome and glovebox switches. 35ma is considered an acceptable draw between the body and negative post.

[Sam King]

Wow what a brain fart. I found the missing piece to my puzzle. I forgot to move the lead on my multimeter from voltage check to amp check. Thanks for the reply. Looks like I am ok.