DWS964

The drain on my battery has been relatively high (needing charged or jumped after 2-3 days or sometimes less). I checked the current draw at the battery and came up with approx 150 mA. Then, pulled fuse by fuse and could not locate a source to reduce the draw, including the fuses in the engine compartment. The only circuit remaining, I believe, is the alarm circuit, which may have a local fuse on the control unit under the seat; but I have yet to try locating it.
I checked the voltage at the battery - engine off = 12.6V, engine idling 13.6V - and does not increase with increasing rpms.
I checked for AC volts at the battery w/ engine idling and got three results with three different meters: 23vac, 25vac, and .056vac
All three of my meters are fairly cheap ones - the two cheapos gave the 23-25vac, while the better one showed .056vac.
So, what is the verdict? Do I have an alternator problem, possibly bad diodes? Other items to check?
Thanks guys.

springer3

150 mA is too high but not horrible. If that drains the battery in 2 days you clearly have a bad battery. 13.6 is just a little low for charging voltage, and that could be a contributor. The range is 13.8 to 14.5. AC voltage? 0.056 is the credible value. Design on cheap meters lets them read AC even when it is all DC. Try reversing polarity, and you might read a lower AC component.

deep_uv

I was getting <13 VDC and 2.5 VAC when idling with my bad alternator. I previously had 120ma current draw but have not had a chance to re-measure since the alternator replacement. 120ma would drain my battery in about 3-4 weeks of sitting idle.