Curriculum
Module 09intermediate
Current Measurement & Parasitic Drain
Measure electrical consumption safely and diagnose vehicles that discharge batteries while parked.
Lessons
10
Estimated time
200 min
Completed
00/10
By the end of this module
Track down the circuit or module keeping a vehicle awake, including intermittent drains.
Lessons
10 total
- 01Current Measurement FundamentalsChoose a safe current measurement method.20 min
- 02Using Low-Amp and High-Amp Current ClampsCapture current without opening the circuit.20 min
- 03Vehicle Sleep and Wake-Up BehaviourKnow when a parked vehicle is genuinely asleep before judging draw.20 min
- 04Parasitic Drain Test SetupSet up a repeatable key-off current test.20 min
- 05Fuse Voltage-Drop Drain DetectionNarrow a drain without pulling every fuse and waking modules.20 min
- 06Finding the Active CircuitMove from excessive total draw to the responsible branch.20 min
- 07Modules That Refuse to SleepDiagnose the reason for activity rather than merely disconnecting the module.20 min
- 08Intermittent Battery DrainsDevelop a strategy for drains that are absent during the workshop visit.20 min
- 09Alternator and Diode-Related Key-Off DrawInclude the alternator in a logical parasitic-drain investigation.20 min
- 10Diagnostic Case: Overnight Battery DischargeFind and prove the cause of an overnight discharge.20 min