HIDs draining battery
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
HIDs draining battery
Anyone else with a 09-12, install the OEM HIDs, and have a parasitic drain afterwards?
I have a '12 Lariat with several aftermarket electronics installed (amp steps, lockpick). After I installed the HIDs I started having battery issues. I can't count how many times it's gone dead, sometimes overnight. It is not my daily driver so it does sit for a week or two in between drives. I'm not sure if the HIDs are drawing excessively or it's a combined w the other things.
I have a '12 Lariat with several aftermarket electronics installed (amp steps, lockpick). After I installed the HIDs I started having battery issues. I can't count how many times it's gone dead, sometimes overnight. It is not my daily driver so it does sit for a week or two in between drives. I'm not sure if the HIDs are drawing excessively or it's a combined w the other things.
#3
Anyone else with a 09-12, install the OEM HIDs, and have a parasitic drain afterwards?
I have a '12 Lariat with several aftermarket electronics installed (amp steps, lockpick). After I installed the HIDs I started having battery issues. I can't count how many times it's gone dead, sometimes overnight. It is not my daily driver so it does sit for a week or two in between drives. I'm not sure if the HIDs are drawing excessively or it's a combined w the other things.
I have a '12 Lariat with several aftermarket electronics installed (amp steps, lockpick). After I installed the HIDs I started having battery issues. I can't count how many times it's gone dead, sometimes overnight. It is not my daily driver so it does sit for a week or two in between drives. I'm not sure if the HIDs are drawing excessively or it's a combined w the other things.
Simple test:
Measure the parasitic drain as it sits. DC ammeter in series with positive batt lead. Truck off, key out.
Pull the fuse on the HID harness - measure again.
Pull fuse on steps - measure
...Etc.
Record values and post back.
IIRC normal drain is in the ~50ma range.
Repeated depletions of the battery will kill it in short order - so it behooves you to find the root cause and fix it.
good luck
MGD
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I tried to measure the draw yesterday but I blew the fuse on my multimeter before I could narrow it down and didn't have time to replace the fuse. I did get the chance to measure the key off draw at 200 milliamperes.
I checked on the negative post of battery and had multimeter set to DC amps. I'll try again and post results
I checked on the negative post of battery and had multimeter set to DC amps. I'll try again and post results
#5
I tried to measure the draw yesterday but I blew the fuse on my multimeter before I could narrow it down and didn't have time to replace the fuse. I did get the chance to measure the key off draw at 200 milliamperes.
I checked on the negative post of battery and had multimeter set to DC amps. I'll try again and post results
I checked on the negative post of battery and had multimeter set to DC amps. I'll try again and post results
Some multimeters have a separate 10 amp input for higher current use ( my Flukes all do).
200 ma is on the high side. Time to find the culprit via process of elimination.
good luck
MGD
PS - Regardless, if you let the truck si for longer period, buy an intelligent battery maintainer (not a simple trickle charger). Keep it hooked up at all times during downtime. Will also prolong yer battery life. Just fyi.
Last edited by MGD; 02-24-2014 at 09:55 AM.
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Hi. Some multimeters have a separate 10 amp input for higher current use ( my Flukes all do). 200 ma is on the high side. Time to find the culprit via process of elimination. good luck MGD PS - Regardless, if you let the truck si for longer period, buy an intelligent battery maintainer (not a simple trickle charger). Keep it hooked up at all times during downtime. Will also prolong yer battery life. Just fyi.
#7
WallyMart sells the Schumacher maintainers/extenders. 1.5A. Both portable units or one that mounts permanently into the truck ( my choice - every vehicle I own has one - even the motersikkles, lol).
http://www.batterychargers.com/
There is also a brand called Battery Minder that offers good units. Try AutoDrone, Un-Advanced, O'Reilly's, PeeP Boys, etc.
http://batteryminders.com/
You want the small 1.5A -2A units - you are not using it to recharge a dead battery, rather you are only maintaining a healthy one ( to keep it healthy)
good luck!
MGD
Last edited by MGD; 02-24-2014 at 10:50 AM.
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#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
No, they are grounded to other grounds exactly as the instructions said with the ballast. I've double checked the wiring on them first as I was sure i did something wrong.
#10
One Clean Machine
iTrader: (5)
I have the oem 2013 hids installed on my 12 xlt no issues for over a yr now! How long ago did you install them, and I'm assuming this started to happen Right After installing?