Battery: parasitic drain

[2ndAmend]

45ma is not terrible but does seem high. First thought is a float charger, I keep one on all the time. They are capable of 750ma but my measurements show they supply about 5ma when charged, which is why I say 45ma sounds slightly high. A float charger would probably be a good band-aid.

I have analyzed parasitic losses several times in the past. Recently a friend with a 2010 or so Ram was pulling about 200ma. I left the meter on the battery and pulled fuses one-at-a-time until it went to zero. It was a dashboard circuit. Then I started pulling power wires of the devices on that circuit, when I pulled the radio, it dropped to zero.

 

[jgilj]

Damn batteries don’t last nowadays!

 

[Catless]

45ma is not terrible but does seem high. First thought is a float charger, I keep one on all the time. They are capable of 750ma but my measurements show they supply about 5ma when charged, which is why I say 45ma sounds slightly high. A float charger would probably be a good band-aid.

I have analyzed parasitic losses several times in the past. Recently a friend with a 2010 or so Ram was pulling about 200ma. I left the meter on the battery and pulled fuses one-at-a-time until it went to zero. It was a dashboard circuit. Then I started pulling power wires of the devices on that circuit, when I pulled the radio, it dropped to zero.

I have tested several modern vehicles and the normal parasitic draw after the bus goes to sleep is around 30 mA (0.030 A). All 3 of our Chrysler vehicles are 30 mA and my 2011 GMC truck is 25 mA.

 

[2ndAmend]

Damn batteries don’t last nowadays!

Did I say haven't replaced a battery since I started using float chargers?

Maybe it is as you are saying, the old ones are better? Could be...

 

[2ndAmend]

I have tested several modern vehicles and the normal parasitic draw after the bus goes to sleep is around 30 mA (0.030 A). All 3 of our Chrysler vehicles are 30 mA and my 2011 GMC truck is 25 mA.

Sounds reasonable, and the reason why a float charger is so important on a vehicle that is not used every day.

 

[Jimmy N.]

Did I say haven't replaced a battery since I started using float chargers?

Maybe it is as you are saying, the old ones are better? Could be...
View attachment 179482

Kubota batteries are supposedly very good. My early '10 M6040 is still on its original battery.

It does have a permanent Canadus desulfation unit attached, but the '13 L3800 has never had anything special done with the battery and is also on its OE battery.