Electrical drain solved Feedback please

[DocMel]

I had a slow drain, so I took out all the fuses and put one back at a time until I could at least isolate the circuit

It was in the aftermarket 3 gauge autometer cluster that I had installed:  Whats weird is that I have had this cluster in for almost 3 years with no probs.  So now, with all gauge wires disconnected (except the oil pressure feed line) I no longer have a power drain

Now only the oil gauge works with no back lighting, as to be expected

Question:  Has anyone experienced this, and what could be causing the drain:  Maybe a short in the gauge wiring somewhere?

[Jamiez]

When you say slow drain, I assume you mean that the battery discharges after the car has been sitting?

The easiest fix would be to take the power for the gauges and connect it to a circuit that is only hot when the key is on.  It sounds like you're feeding the power off one of the always hot circuits.

[72cudamaan]

When you say slow drain, I assume you mean that the battery discharges after the car has been sitting?

The easiest fix would be to take the power for the gauges and connect it to a circuit that is only hot when the key is on.  It sounds like you're feeding the power off one of the always hot circuits.

    Maybe tie it in to the headlight circuit. I wouldn't think there would be a huge current draw from them.

[4Cruizn]

Weird that it would start after being installed for 3 years . . . . 

[DocMel]

Let me restate:   It wasnt tied into an "always hot" circuit:  If that was the case, I would have had the battery discharge when I first installed it 3 years ago.

What I'm asking is if maybe a short occurred somewhere between the gauge cluster and where I had it tied in, and if anyone had ever had that happened to them

[Jamiez]

If it's not an an always hot circuit and the battery is draining with the key off, then some how the circuit is getting power from an always hot circuit.  That's most likely not a ground problem, it's more likely that you have the hot side of something connected.

With the fuse in and the key off you must be getting power to the gauges but with the fuse out no power to the gauges?  If that's the case somewhere before the fuse power is feeding in.  You'll have to work your way backwards trying to find where power is feeding into that circuit.

[Chryco Psycho]

WHy would you have the gauges hooked to constant power ? It should be off with the key .
I figure one of the gauges probably Temp is live & trying to read across the sender even if the reading is lower than the gauge can display

[dodj]

Weird that it would start after being installed for 3 years . . . . 

Perhaps you did some other wiring you thought was unrelated but ended up (somehow) bridging battery power to your after market gauges? 

[DocMel]

Good point   Ill try removing the hot wire completely, and rewiring from there and see if it works w/o a drain

[HemiOrange70]

Had same problem with the radio. Had it wired to a key on power only wire and it still drained battery ?Had three different mechanics and radio installers look at it and no one could figure it out-so I disconnected it completely

[MEK-Dangerfield]

For me, my drain was the Rally gauge clock. If I let the car sit for 3 weeks or so, it would do a hurtin' on my battery.

The easy solution for my was a battery cutoff on the negative terminal. Just unscrew it after each drive, and no more drain on the battery.


   http://www.amazon.com/Post-Battery-Master-Disconnect-Switch/dp/B001N729FS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388516238&sr=8-1&keywords=battery+cut+off+switch

[Skunkworks Challenger]

I agree with MEK, my clock will drain my battery if I don't run the car.

[tman]

For those that do not run their cars during the winter, why not use a Battery Tender or something similar?  Its better for the battery.  Costco just started to sell them.  Use it for long time storage.  I use a Jr for my generator battery. 
Ever since I started using one, my batteries last so many years longer now.  Before that, I had to get new battery almost every 3 years.  There are others, but don't skimp on cheap ones.  Ive got the Battery tender plus. The Jr is good for motorcycle type batteries, but would work on the car.  Just a much lower amp charge.  Costco was selling them for $40.

http://batterytender.com/?gclid=CJvEsfaf27sCFVaVfgodL0cAsQ

[spamtank]

Hey MEK, I've been looking for those.  I've only been able to find the positive terminal disconnect.  And the hood closes on it. 

Appreciate that!