Ignition switch positions question

[IDB1]

Surely I would be having more problems than 1 sluggish start in over a year if there was a power drain?

The loom shorted because the insulation rested on something hot which melted it..

An addendum to the original question - leaving the ignition in the accessory position didn't do any harm ..

BUT.. more power was used than was provided by the solar panel

And the price of battery chargers these days!!!... :shock:

 

[hamster]

I ran a car for 4 summer days with no alternator - 100 miles driving and starting around times. So in the summer I'd believe that it is unnoticeable, it's only in winter when the full battery capacity is needed.

Anyway, I've said my penn'orth. I'd put an ammeter on and check that nothing else is amiss.

 

[IDB1]

Which would be ace if I had an ammeter

 

[marin man]

The biggest issue is that nearly every journey in it is short and after dusk.. .

You still out robbing Ian

 

[IDB1]

The biggest issue is that nearly every journey in it is short and after dusk.. .

You still out robbing Ian

 

[marin man]

I wont tell Ian

 

[MikeD]

I ran a car for 4 summer days with no alternator

The alternator belt tensioner on ours broke a couple of months back. Fortunately a diesel so didn't actually need one to run. Less fortunately the same belt drives the power steering pump, which made parking it quite hard work

 

[Neil]

Surely I would be having more problems than 1 sluggish start in over a year if there was a power drain?

The loom shorted because the insulation rested on something hot which melted it..

An addendum to the original question - leaving the ignition in the accessory position didn't do any harm ..

BUT.. more power was used than was provided by the solar panel

And the price of battery chargers these days!!!... :shock:

My guess is that there's probably no problem with drain - I suspect your battery is a bit knacked.

 

[Pogo]

Here is a link to a good article on batteries, testing and fault finding. It's is specifically written with Harleys in mind but many of the tests and procedures are relevant to any vehicle 12v electrical system-

http://www.harley-davidson-hangout....341-troubleshooting-your-charging-system.html

I have a solar trickle charger on my Jeep, it's only run very occasionally and I use the charger to prevent a drain over long periods of time. The Amps provided are very low and will not recharge a discharged battery but it will keep a top up on a healthy battery. I trail the lead out of the cab and into the engine compartment directly to the battery because like you my fag lighter only works with the ignition on.

As KiwiDave says in his article get yourself a multi-meter. Cheap ones can do a great job of locating your problem for under a tenner- I got mine from Aldi for a fiver and still use it now and again 3 years later.