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D_E_Bishop's avatar
D_E_Bishop
Explorer
Nov 12, 2016

I did have a parisidic draw

I mentioned in a post about Deltran Solar Battery Tenders that I was having a problem with my chassis battery dying and received several well meaning and in other circumstances helpful suggestions.

What I found astounded me, in short, I had to disconnect the power from my temp/Compass device and didn't connect my battery dying with that. When I was able to close up the dash, I hooked the device up and did not notice that the device wasn't working. Turns out that the four wire plug that came with the device is keyed with not one but twp "D" shaped covers over the connectors, one on each side. In makes ir hard to plug them in any way but with D shaped plug contacts to the outside D shaped sockets other than correctly or and this is where I'm befuddled 180 and eighty degrees out of alignment.

That put the 12vdc directly from the battery to the ground of the circuit board. While some components are kaput, some made a high resistance path to ground.

Replaced the Direction/Temp main unit and now it works great and no parasitic drains.

Four hours and a $270.00 replacement part later I can tell where I'm going and how hot it is.
  • D_E_Bishop's avatar
    D_E_Bishop
    Explorer
    Nov 13, 2016
    Well the comments are a little off in regards to my forcing the connectors together. I've been in the electrical business for awhile and I know better than use a bigger hammer.

    The connector is a nylon automotive/electronics connector in a straight four configuration with three power sources and a ground. One from the battery one from the ignition and one from the headlights. The two outside plugs and sockets are "D" shaped the two inside are round. I didn't believe it when I looked at the connectors before I put them together. They can be connected 180 degrees out.

    Sorry about forgetting to mention what the four connecting wires were. It's funny how applying 12vdc to the ground side did not blow the fuses but it was interesting that the overhead light that is in the old TV cabinet had a very faint glow and evidently the power was looking for a ground and found it through the headlight and dash lights circuit.

    Just an interesting problem and set of circumstances. Also very expensive.
  • Ozlander's avatar
    Ozlander
    Explorer
    Nov 13, 2016
    That's what happens when you force a connector instead of finding out why it won't go together. Getting a bigger hammer doesn't always work.
  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    Nov 13, 2016
    On the other hand...

    BE NICE CHILDREN!

    So he isn't the best communicator in the world. Sue him. He had the wherewithal to post his problem then sheer fortitude to try and diagnose and repair it himself. This buys points in my book. Instead of criticizing syntax would it not be more intelligent of YOU ALL to assist the poster and ask questions? Armchair critics of people WHO ACTUALLY DO THINGS rank right down there in my ordinal of uselessness.

    BRAVO señor D.E.Bishop!





































































    /
  • Sam_Spade's avatar
    Sam_Spade
    Explorer
    Nov 13, 2016
    allen8106 wrote:

    I don't know if its just me and my feable mind but this entire post makes no sense to me.


    Translation:
    He installed an accessory.
    He did it wrong and it shorted out......partially.
    And it continued to draw power when the ignition was OFF.

    A critical part of the mistake not mentioned was connecting it to a power line that is hot all the time.
  • mike-s's avatar
    mike-s
    Explorer
    Nov 13, 2016
    allen8106 wrote:
    I don't know if its just me and my feable mind but this entire post makes no sense to me.
    It's not you, and it's not "parasidic" (sic), it's not even parasitic. From the little bit which is understandable, sounds like he plugged something in backwards ("180 and eighty degrees out of alignment") and broke it.
  • road-runner's avatar
    road-runner
    Explorer III
    Nov 13, 2016
    Well, I think he said the connector to an electronic module somehow got mated/inserted incorrectly, resulting in the module frying and causing an increased constant load on the battery, running it down prematurely.
  • allen8106's avatar
    allen8106
    Explorer
    Nov 13, 2016
    D.E.Bishop wrote:
    I mentioned in a post about Deltran Solar Battery Tenders that I was having a problem with my chassis battery dying and received several well meaning and in other circumstances helpful suggestions.

    What I found astounded me, in short, I had to disconnect the power from my temp/Compass device and didn't connect my battery dying with that. When I was able to close up the dash, I hooked the device up and did not notice that the device wasn't working. Turns out that the four wire plug that came with the device is keyed with not one but twp "D" shaped covers over the connectors, one on each side. In makes ir hard to plug them in any way but with D shaped plug contacts to the outside D shaped sockets other than correctly or and this is where I'm befuddled 180 and eighty degrees out of alignment.

    That put the 12vdc directly from the battery to the ground of the circuit board. While some components are kaput, some made a high resistance path to ground.

    Replaced the Direction/Temp main unit and now it works great and no parasitic drains.

    Four hours and a $270.00 replacement part later I can tell where I'm going and how hot it is.


    I don't know if its just me and my feable mind but this entire post makes no sense to me.

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