Dear V-8 Buick electrical gurus, Silly question and sorry if this is the zillionth time it's been asked. I tried to search Sparky's corner without success. I left the cabin light on accidentally in my trusty 65 Special wagon and killed the battery. I just installed a new one and before restoring the power quickly checked the current draw with everything off. It was 20 milliamps. The car is fitted with an aftermarket stereo that has a clock. I can't think of anything else that would be "non-standard." 20 milliamps seems acceptably small to me. Any contrary opinions? Thanks in advance for your expertise!! :Smarty: Cheers, Edouard :beer
20 milliamps is indeed very light. Should be no other draws on it with everything else off. My boat has a "memory" power supply for the same thing.........clock & preset stations.Stays connected all Summer without issue. Make sure your charging system is working well. You should see about 13.5V at the battery with the engine running at idle.
Thanks (Re: acceptable current draw for a car "just sitting" ?) Dear Steve, John and V-8 Buick lovers, Thanks for confirming my intuitions. A car with nothing but 65 technology must have a very low "standing still" current draw. If it doesn't have a clock, what remains powered on? In my case, I've added some modern electronic gadgets - so I needed to figure out what was realistic for that. Thanks for giving me that "ball park." As to the charging system, unfortunately the engine is sick (probably a worn camshaft) and the car is waiting for a new masterpiece from Jim Weise. In the meantime, the car gets out from time to time. But with the onset of the California winter, the trickle charger will have to pinch-hit for the charging system when it is too wet to get the car out for an excursion. Thanks again! :TU: Cheers, Edouard :beer
Re: Thanks (Re: acceptable current draw for a car "just sitting" ?) Edouard, Zero amps turned off with the key in your pocket, this what it was from factory, not including a clock, if installed. '65 clock, maybe a wee bit.........not sure how it was made. The '70-72 versions are built with a spring wound every 3-4 minutes. As the spring unwinds while powering the movement, a pair of contacts on a common axis gradually come together. At point of contact a solenoid is energized, moving the spring back to a wound position, for another 3-4 minutes. They failed prematurely often due to the contact points getting pitted/worn.
Re: Thanks (Re: acceptable current draw for a car "just sitting" ?) '55 clock is the same. The winding motor on mine has failed. So it has no draw on the battery at present.
