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Topic: Clock draining battery

in Forum: C3 Electrical


Clock draining battery

Posted: 11/6/06 6:41pm Message 11 of 14
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BINGHAMTON, NY - USA
Joined: 7/19/2003
Posts: 3808
Vette(s): ......
Sounds like youve got a stuck relay,or a short somewhere,got fire insurance Ouch


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Clock draining battery

Posted: 11/6/06 8:13pm Message 12 of 14
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Canada
Joined: 10/21/2003
Posts: 92
Vette(s): 1972 Stingray 4spd Ontario Orange on Black Presently undergoing complete body off started 11/03 and ongoing. Restoration completed July 30, 2006
I did an amp draw today with the clock disconnected and it shows that it is not drawing anything.  I checked the new mechanical and the points are good and when opened they operate the main spring as they should so I don't think it's the clock.  I'm thinking a short or bad ground somewhere in the circuit, possibly the alarm since that is not working properly.  I'm going to take Joel's advice and look into the alarm switches and relay but there's only so much a guy can do without tearing hair out.  Thanks for the input.
 
Keith




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Clock draining battery

Posted: 11/7/06 9:06am Message 13 of 14
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Canada
Joined: 8/6/2004
Posts: 533
Vette(s): Coupe 74 - 454 Drive it like you stole it!
Just repeating what everybody else said, but when I fixed mine a while ago, it drained my battery in 3 or 4 days.  Like Alan said, every clock will draw a different amount at every draw.  I cleaned mine up pretty good, so it goes for almost 90 seconds between draws (you can hear the click).
 
Ground is certainly something to look into.  Most of my electrical problems (probably all of them now that I think about it) have been related to grounds.
 
Since you are doing a complete resto, I think you should put the mechanical in it, because a judge would know to listen for the clock if you were in a Vette show.
 
Also as said above, I too have a battery quick disconnect.  If you are not driving your car every week (maybe every other week), then you should have this thing.  Little note about the quick disc.; I also drained a battery even if I had one.  I would start the car every other week for 4 months but not drive it and then disconnect the battery.  I guess the crank was enough to drain it too over time; so even with a quick disc.  it has to be driven or hookup to a battery tender once in a while.
 
One last note about the mechanical clock; don't open/close  the cover  more than you need to, the 3 little tabs are very "weak" and I broke one of them; very frustrating.  Duck tape rescued my situation!



Clock draining battery

Posted: 11/7/06 11:28am Message 14 of 14
Former Member
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Canada
Joined: 10/21/2003
Posts: 92
Vette(s): 1972 Stingray 4spd Ontario Orange on Black Presently undergoing complete body off started 11/03 and ongoing. Restoration completed July 30, 2006
Thanks for the input.  I won't be having the car judged  by NCRS standards so will keep in the quartz, I've already changed once from the mechanical so will keep it as backup.  And, ya, I've already broken off one of the tabs, too.  I have disconnects on my other cars, but as you noted, they still need a tender and run over the winter storage.  I'm almost willing to bet I've got a ground problem somewhere in the circuit and since the alarm system is brand new and not working, I'm going to start there, as it is on the same circuit as the clock.  I can only do a little bit at a time and keep my sanity, electrics and me just don't get along.  Will keep everyone posted over time.  Thanks again for all the input.
 
Keith




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in Forum: C3 Electrical


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