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taffrican



Member Since: 14 Jan 2011
Location: Living room
Posts: 625
Wales 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Java Black
Battery drain???
G'day chaps, been getting a lot of Skytag low battery alerts lately, I have a fairly new battery fitted (less than 6months) and
I first thought that my heatshot was pulling battery down so I moved that over to the leisure battery to see what happened. 2 weeks later, another alert, my alternator appears to be charging fine. When I switch the car on it shows between 10-11v on my battery meter which I know should be higher, where should I be looking next? What else could be dragging the battery down (it does appear to do it more when the weather is very cold like now)
Cheers
Mike Optimists say the glass is half full..
Pessimists say the glass is half empty..
Engineers say the glass is twice the size it needs to be!
Post #221926 25th Mar 2013 1:07pm
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mikeh501



Member Since: 07 Jan 2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1142
United Kingdom 
get an ammeter and start tracing current usage whilst your engine is off is what id recommend as a layman.
Post #221943 25th Mar 2013 1:54pm
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Diablo



Member Since: 26 Oct 2011
Location: Basingstoke
Posts: 335
1984 Defender 90 200 Tdi SW Keswick Green
Maybe skytag is draining it! Laughing
Post #221949 25th Mar 2013 2:17pm
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yaho



Member Since: 26 Nov 2008
Location: Bialystok
Posts: 200
Poland 2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 SW Keswick Green
Quote:
Maybe skytag is draining it!


Maybe. Friend of mine had to regularly switch off tracking when cold as it was draining his battery overnight. I am talking about 20 below zero though. Janusz
www.yahodeville.com
Post #221961 25th Mar 2013 2:36pm
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taffrican



Member Since: 14 Jan 2011
Location: Living room
Posts: 625
Wales 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Java Black
Thanks for input chaps, checking the individual circuits was my next step (just sat at work plotting my attack Very Happy ) but what I was really looking for was any tips/insight on common pitfalls like imobiliser, common wiring problems etc. etc.
and of course it could be the skytag tracker itself Whistle I'm not ruling anything out at this stage, just a bit frustrated as I've got nothing on here at work and a problem on my car that needs sorting Big Cry that I can't do anything about until tomorrow Big Cry Optimists say the glass is half full..
Pessimists say the glass is half empty..
Engineers say the glass is twice the size it needs to be!
Post #221977 25th Mar 2013 3:14pm
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Dave-H



Member Since: 08 Feb 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1507
England 2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Tonga Green
Can't see it being the tracker, they only draw milliamps.

How old is your battery? mine did this [although battery seems fine] a replacement battery solved it Guns and Landrovers .... anything else is irrelevant.
Post #222011 25th Mar 2013 4:33pm
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taffrican



Member Since: 14 Jan 2011
Location: Living room
Posts: 625
Wales 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Java Black
About 4-5 months old Shocked Optimists say the glass is half full..
Pessimists say the glass is half empty..
Engineers say the glass is twice the size it needs to be!
Post #222014 25th Mar 2013 4:38pm
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Dave-H



Member Since: 08 Feb 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1507
England 2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Tonga Green
With engine running, how much voltage does your meter show then?

It's also worth getting a load test carried out on battery, not uncommon for batteries to fail [even new ones] Guns and Landrovers .... anything else is irrelevant.
Post #222017 25th Mar 2013 4:40pm
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taffrican



Member Since: 14 Jan 2011
Location: Living room
Posts: 625
Wales 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Java Black
A little over 14v Optimists say the glass is half full..
Pessimists say the glass is half empty..
Engineers say the glass is twice the size it needs to be!
Post #222018 25th Mar 2013 4:44pm
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Go Beyond



Member Since: 30 Jan 2012
Location: Headcorn, Kent
Posts: 6678
United Kingdom 
Just checked with Skytag for you and as DaveH has said the unit only pulls milliamps.

I'm with DaveH on his diagnosis, get the battery checked out or swap with your leisure battery
Post #222020 25th Mar 2013 4:49pm
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taffrican



Member Since: 14 Jan 2011
Location: Living room
Posts: 625
Wales 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Java Black
Go Beyond wrote:
Just checked with Skytag for you and as DaveH has said the unit only pulls milliamps.

I'm with DaveH on his diagnosis, get the battery checked out or swap with your leisure battery




Many thanks for that, much appreciated, I was considering doing that but wasn't sure if a leisure battery would be up to it Shocked.... I don't really want to risk damaging the leisure battery, I think I'll try and locate the problem Thumbs Up Optimists say the glass is half full..
Pessimists say the glass is half empty..
Engineers say the glass is twice the size it needs to be!
Post #222027 25th Mar 2013 4:59pm
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Morepower



Member Since: 08 Jan 2013
Location: Fife, Scotland
Posts: 630
New Zealand 
I've had a similar problem... Pm me to discuss as you may have wired it the same way as mine... Which could be your issue..

Tim It doesn't matter how bad it is, It can always get worse...

2013 Bowler 110 (Sold)
2016 Bowler 90 Rally Spec (Sold)
Post #222169 25th Mar 2013 10:19pm
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K9F



Member Since: 12 Nov 2009
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 9610
United Kingdom 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
^^^^
Tim,

Did have a chuckle at your forum name especially considering the current thread you're posting on. Laughing If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!!

Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!!
Post #222188 25th Mar 2013 11:09pm
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