Current Draw of Alarm issue

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snopczynski

Member - Posts: 17

Joined: May 29, 2006

Location: United States

Posted: October 25, 2006 at 10:41 PM / IP Logged

I just put a Pyle pwd202 alarm in my 1995 Honda Civic 4 door. The battery started going dead after sitting 3-5 days in the driveway. I checked the current draw of the car and I have 75-81 milliamps of draw with the alarm armed and unarmed after sitting for almost an hour. When I pull the alarm fuse, current draw from the battery drops from 81 milliamps to about 8-10 milliamps. Is this a bad brain causing this draw? I also disconnected the shock sensor and that made no difference. I know in the cars at work we dont like to see over a 30 milliamp draw with the alarm set after 20 minutes.

Car is wired for 12v, keyed 12v, gnd, door input from trigger wire that senses all 4 doors (gnd signal), shock sensor, siren, ignition cut out, valet switch, led, and door unlock/lock with installed actuator.

Any help is appreciated.

captainzab

Silver - Posts: 606

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Joined: February 09, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: October 26, 2006 at 1:02 AM / IP Logged

unplug the alarm and see if it is the alarm causing the battery to die or not. Wait 3-5 days and see if your battery dies.

My guess is that it will die even with alarm unplugged because there is something wrong with the car.

But then again, i could be wrong and its the alarm (but dont see how according to your info)

Note: You Always Dont Get What You Pay For.

prdjr165

Copper - Posts: 293

Joined: October 31, 2002

Location: Illinois, United States

Posted: October 26, 2006 at 5:27 AM / IP Logged

I ran into the same problem a couple of times,and each time it turned out to be back feed through a relay,If you are using any relays make sure thet are diode isolated!

Mike M2

Platinum - Posts: 2,652

Joined: June 29, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: October 26, 2006 at 6:20 AM / IP Logged

How do you have your starter kill relay wired? Be sure it's getting it's power from ignition and not battery.....

Mike M2

Tech Manager

CS Dealer Services

snopczynski

Member - Posts: 17

Joined: May 29, 2006

Location: United States

Posted: October 26, 2006 at 9:15 AM / IP Logged

the problem is the alarm brain or something wired to it, thats why the draw drops with the alarm powered down via pulling the fuse.

There aren't any relays wired to the system.

The starter kill is wired through the brain on a relay that is inside the brain.

dualsport

Silver - Posts: 983

Joined: September 27, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: October 27, 2006 at 5:45 PM / IP Logged

The draw of 81mA is more than you usually want, but your battery should have enough reserve to last beyond 5 days, assuming it's in decent condition.

Were you measuring the draw by disconnecting the negative cable from the battery, or from the alarm wiring?

If you measured the actual draw through the battery cable, and it's 81mA, then you might have to check the battery itself-

snopczynski

Member - Posts: 17

Joined: May 29, 2006

Location: United States

Posted: October 29, 2006 at 11:14 AM / IP Logged

Draw test was via battery cable. The battery was low because the alarm ran it dead.

dualsport

Silver - Posts: 983

Joined: September 27, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: October 29, 2006 at 11:31 PM / IP Logged

Unless it triggered while you were away or there's some other draw on it, it shouldn't have killed the battery over 5 days at 81mA- Still, I wouldn't expect that high a draw from a alarm, unless it's got active sensors or driving bright status LEDs. Unless you can get another to try it could be defective or just the way it was designed.

Does the current draw drop much if you try disconnecting the status LED?

sparkie

Platinum - Posts: 2,061

Joined: November 06, 2003

Location: Canada

Posted: October 30, 2006 at 9:17 PM / IP Logged

The draw you are measuring is too high. It will kill a battery in a matter of days. This is especially so if the battery has been discharged a few times already. Put a battery charger on the battery and give it a good charge. Cut the battery wire going into your alarm right at the alarm. Place your meter inline and set it for DC amps to measure the draw. It shouldn't draw more than about 10 mA. Cut/disconnect wires and circuits going into the alarm till you see that the current drops. If it doesn't, replace the alarm brain.

sparky

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Current Draw of Alarm issue

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