Quote:
Originally Posted by speedygonzales
He swears something comes on by itself and draws a bunch of power but every time he looks at current draw it's gone.
He wanted to use something to record long term current draw. I told him to use a meter set to min/max.
He claims he can't find a meter that stays on for a long enough period of time.
I told him he won't have any such device doing a random power draw.
That's were it stands as of now.
Incidentally my Fluke 87 does NOT turn off during min/max mode. The auto OFF function is disabled during min/max operation.
Power-On Option: Disable Automatic Power-off
Automatic Power-off extends the life of the battery by
turning part of the meter off if neither the rotary switch
nor a pushbutton is operated for half an hour.
(Automatic Power-off is not allowed in the MIN MAX
Recording or Data Output modes.)
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Not real sure now on why the amount that is drawing really means much other than anything over normal.
What I was trying to come up with is some device that once that draw started happening that it was trigger some sort of device, buzzer, something using its own power source to warn me when the draw is happening. Then I get in and start pulling and disconnecting things until I can find it.
This is obvious its not something simple but I need to at least try to narrow it down and try to isolate it.
Correct me if I am wrong. If it starts drawing and I can eliminate several circuits that will help narrow the possibilities of what is causing it.
My meters are that one Radio Shack meter (that one will stay on as much as two hours at time, never drops off in only 20 minutes) Its a manual/auto range dual-display digital multimeter with a PC Interface.
Then I have the Fluke 77 and the Fluke 336 Clamp meter. All are auto power down.
So, back to the triggering system. I am looking for something that once a draw starts happening, more than say normal, it will trigger a device that I can hear and come running. I have been chasing my tail on this now for some time as I have mentioned so all your help is More than appreciated !!!
I am back to the meter (radio shack one) is in line watching for amp draw, plus the Fluke 77 is under the hood to test the voltage.
One would think (at least this one) that a device that has its own power, put Inline that anything over a certain about of draw would have a buzzer or some sort of warning available ???
Thanks again guys for your help !!!! I am still at it.