Re: Battery drains when 37 packard is turned off.

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2011/4/16 14:06:46

The possibility Rusty usggested is a grounded generator field connection. To check just remove the wire at the voltage regulator marked "F" or Field. Tape the end so it doesn't ground. See if the drain continues.

Though use of a voltmeter is nice, an easy way to see if you have a current drain with no tools is to, with EVERYTHING turned off, remove either batter cable and then, watching closely, bring it into contact with the battery terminal. Any spark indicates you have a current drain.

I presume you also recognize that a failing battery will refuse to hold a full charge - all the more reason to do the simple check above. If the test shows no spark or discharge at a battery cable and the battery continues to run down, the battery itself is suspect.

If you do see a spark, then the prior advice of inactivating one circuit at a time, either by pulling the fuse or disconnecting, until you no longer have a spark at the battery post will identify the problem exactly as suggested. No rocket science needed here - just a process of elimination.