Battery Drain with key on

PDXCougfan

PDXCougfan

Member
Whats the normal rate of discharge with the key on/engine off? Im getting around 5 amps discharge showing and it seems high. Just wondering if i have a current leak somewhere (cutoff or something else). Its on a 28 if that makes a difference with a diode upgrade in the cutoff.

Thanks
Rob
 
Most coils will draw very close to 2 amps with key on and engine off. Some ammeters are not exactly on the money for accruacy. Try a good volt/ohm meter to see what the actual draw is.
 
Depends on whether the points are open or closed. The key shouldn't be left on if the engine isn't running.
 
One of my more expensive lessons learned about Model A's was the night that I stalled the engine while going into the garage. Since it was downhill, I let the car coast on in, then parked it, set the brake, and left it overnight. I forgot to shut off the ignition.

Next morning, there was a strong smell of burnt electrical components in the garage. I had not only burned up the coil, I had destroyed the electronic module of my FS Ignition system.

I now have a master shut-off switch and use it faithfully every time I stop the car.
 
The stock Model A coil draws about 4 amps when the engine isn't running but the points are closed. Your amp guage could easily be off by an amp, so you are close to the correct reading.

When the engine is running the coil draw drops to about an amp and a half. The faster the engine runs, the less the coil draws, but it will stay between about 1 to 1 1/2 amps.
 
Michael in Sedona said:
One of my more expensive lessons learned about Model A's was the night that I stalled the engine while going into the garage. Since it was downhill, I let the car coast on in, then parked it, set the brake, and left it overnight. I forgot to shut off the ignition.

Next morning, there was a strong smell of burnt electrical components in the garage. I had not only burned up the coil, I had destroyed the electronic module of my FS Ignition system.

I now have a master shut-off switch and use it faithfully every time I stop the car.
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Though I don't show a discharge with the key off, I like to take the ground cable off the battery if I am leaving the car unattended for more than hour... just to be sure. Sometimes when I return and place the ground back on the battery and turn the fuel on, I forget to turn "on" the ignition. Embarassing, but easily corrected.
 
Mike V. Florida said:
I don't mean to be rude but can you not forget to turn off the master switch as you did the ign switch?:rolleyes:
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Not a rude comment at all. I've simply gotten into the habit of always shutting off the master switch. If I'm parking the car at the market or wherever, obviously I'm taking the key with me, so it's off, but I still turn off the master switch too.
 
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