Headlight warning buzzer battery drain

Post by **Cruz** » 18 Dec 2007, 10:38

The van battery went flat and the only thing I have done to the van in the last few months is to add a headlight warning buzzer. It was this that was draining the battery for some reason as when I touched the positive terminal to the battery there was no spark but I could hear a slight noise from the buzzer. Other than that the buzzer was silent so it's a strange one.

It cannot be a co-incidence that the battery goes flat for the first time ever soon after a I fit (bodge) a buzzer onto it.

Anyway I connected the +ve to the heater control illumination and the -ve to the drivers door switch but did I do it right?

behind the heater control theres a brown and blue/grey wire to the little bulb, and attatched to the door switch is just a brown wire.

I fed the +ve to the blue/grey wire on the heater control illumination and the -ve to the door switch which had just a brown wire going to it. However to fit it to the door switch using a lucar crimp connector I had to remove the one on the existing brown wire and then twist the wire from the buzzer to the brown wire and crimp a connector on.

Where have I gone wrong? (1983 van)

Post by **tonytech** » 18 Dec 2007, 11:14

Coincidence.
I cant see the buzzer draining your battery.
The small buzzers I have lying around here only draw 20mA.
Unless in attaching wires you have shorted something out.
Do your interior lights still work OK (not on permanantly)

T

Post by **Cruz** » 18 Dec 2007, 17:05

Interior lights above doors are set to off (middle) as they are useless anyway. I have a battery powered led push lamp for lighting the cab if needed.

I'll see if it happens again now battery is fully charged again.

Very strange seeing as I've never had any trouble since getting the van 2 1/2 years ago

Post by **kevtherev** » 18 Dec 2007, 17:49

elves mate, you have an infestation. this will help

[IMG:196:225]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/ ... /elves.gif[/img]

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 29 Jan 2008, 12:45

Elves are a right pain Kev. Had to clear four from my mates Type2 last week. I reckon they get in through the exhaust pipe. I wouldn't mind but they're so destructive at times - dashboard lights, sliding windows, they really mess about in there.

Glad to see you bought my copy of the Elves manual I sold on ebay last week They're getting harder to find now.

Post by **ermie571** » 29 Jan 2008, 15:19

CovKid wrote:Elves are a right pain Kev. Had to clear four from my mates Type2 last week. I reckon they get in through the exhaust pipe. I wouldn't mind but they're so destructive at times - dashboard lights, sliding windows, they really mess about in there.

Glad to see you bought my copy of the Elves manual I sold on ebay last week They're getting harder to find now.

Watch out Coventry mebers......Coc Kid has evicted FOUR who will be lookign for new lodgings......unless he helpfully relocated them to the nearest *cough* transit

Post by **morrison** » 29 Jan 2008, 16:42

Hi
There was a post recently where a battery was being mysteriously drained by what turned out to be the starters on fluorescent lights that the owner thought were "redundant" but in the on position were still drawing current. Hope this helps.
This is the extent of my electrickery knowledge. Confession - I was 19 before I discovered that earth did not mean the current hopped the rubber tyres before disappearing into the ground

. My friends have thankfully not often recalled this in the last 25 years much.
Andy