Secret consumers of electrical energy (Fiesta 4)

If a battery that was still working the day before suddenly stops producing electric current, this most often means that a "secret" consumer in the on-board electrical network has completely discharged the battery. First, make sure of this by checking the voltage at the battery terminals. If necessary, isolate the "secret" consumer.



SEQUENCE OF WORKS

1. To determine the current leak, disconnect the wire from the negative terminal of the battery and connect an ammeter between the battery terminal and the disconnected wire. If the ammeter shows current with all consumers disconnected, then you have a "secret" consumer of electrical energy.

2. Check all electrical circuits in turn. Connect the wire to the negative terminal of the battery, open the fuse box cover, remove the fuses one by one and connect the ammeter probes instead of the fuse. If there is no current, the electrical network being checked is in good condition. Even a small current is not a cause for concern. Devices such as the on-board computer, clock, radio and security alarm are constantly under battery voltage. But they consume much less electrical energy than if the electrical device is faulty.



3. Repeat the measurements in the fuse box until your meter shows a high current consumption. From the fuse table, you need to determine which electrical consumers are connected to this electrical circuit.

4. Turn off all electrical devices in this circuit one by one and measure the current consumed each time. If the universal measuring device no longer shows high current consumption, then you have found the "secret" consumer of electricity.