Parasitic draw on battery

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Old 06-16-2013, 10:40 PM
mikemnbvcxz's Avatar
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Default Parasitic draw on battery

I have a 94 camaro 3.4 I tested the parasitic draw today and it it 48 milla amps should I worry is it to much I took it out of storage a few days ago and I was a little worried about the battery I'm to afraid to go far with it. It hasn't been driven in about 3-4 years I charged the battery but it seemed weak.
 
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Old 06-16-2013, 11:24 PM
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so after 4 years the battery still had a charge in it? if so you cant have had any draw on it. a bad battery will drain to a certain level fairly fast.
 
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Old 06-16-2013, 11:58 PM
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Your computer and radio memory/clock draws a small amount of power when the key is off.
In the neighborhood of a 50 milliamp draw is considered a safe limit, so you're fine. If your battery goes dead from that small amount, you need a new battery.
 
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Old 06-17-2013, 10:32 AM
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Parasitic draw of 48 milliamperes is not too much, but alittle high, more like 30 would be better, but then this draw is due to electronic design of the items demeanding power, blah, blah, blah.

As said, battery lasting 4 years is great, but it may have sulfated. Two ways to remove the sulphation between the plates, heavy charge /discharge - heat the battery through usage - lots of starter motor use, or carbon pile resistor. The other way is replace it - peace of mind.

If you believe the battery might leave you sit, carry along a jump box just in case. Let the local auto store test the present battery and let them tell you the condition.

BTW, most vehicles 'go to sleep in about 15 minutes' after the OE alarm is set and draw only 15 milliamperes. Once again, by design.
 
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