Device to measure paracidic amp draw?

[reamer]

My 2012 Escape will kill the battery after @ 2 days if not started. 2nd new Motorcraft battery, Load testing good (no bad cells). No error messages, codes. No lights or radio, ect stuck "on"  Let the car go to "sleep" with doors closed and locked., hood open, No hood light. I did a quick amp reading (disconnect neg. bat. cable then series hook up of meter), waited 10 minutes, reading 30 milliamp draw Which is quite normal BUT persistent me, I stared at the DVM display for over 10 minutes, and a see there is a @170 milliamp spike "here and there" ….I'm thinking enough of these spikes could bring the battery to under 12V after 48 hours? Is there a device I can buy that I can data record the draw that is capable of recording down to 10 milliamps?
Thoughts?
Thanks Ron

[Gary Lewis]

This Fluke does: https://www.fluke.com/en-us/product/electrical-testing/digital-multimeters/fluke-289.  But at $650.....

But, the Pokitmeter has intrigued me: https://pokitmeter.com/.  At $89 it sure looks good.  My nephew put me onto it.  Let me see if he bought one......

[Gary Lewis]

He hasn't, but is still thinking of it.  Maybe you should be the tester for us?

[Rembrant]

reamer wrote

I did a quick amp reading (disconnect neg. bat. cable then series hook up of meter), waited 10 minutes, reading 30 milliamp draw Which is quite normal BUT persistent me, I stared at the DVM display for over 10 minutes, and a see there is a @170 milliamp spike "here and there" ….I'm thinking enough of these spikes could bring the battery to under 12V after 48 hours?

Ron,

The one little thing I can add is to do this test again with the meter in series. Do you have the alligator clips for the tips of the probes? I used a couple pieces of wire since the clips on my are fairly small, but whatever...so you can leave the meter in place hands free. Watch for your spikes, and then pull each fuse out of the fuse box one at a time and see if the spikes/draw goes away with any of them. That will at least narrow down the problem area.

[reamer]

Hi Gary...Will look into this Now..
Cory this was done in series, The problem is that it spikes only for a second, not long enough to pull 1 fuse never mind a series of fuses.
it would be an easy find if the draw was continuous....
When you coming to Corona,.... I mean Massachusetts, can you say "roll bar"

[reamer]

Gary, I ordered one, lets put it to the test......

[old55pete]

Wasent the 2012 Escape one of the ones that were recalled because the alternator had a draw when the engine was off?

[Gary Lewis]

reamer wrote

Gary, I ordered one, lets put it to the test......

Excellent!  My nephew and I are anxious to see how it works.  I recently almost purchased a Fluke for more than twice that price, and it doesn't do as much as that thing does.  Please let us know how it goes.

[reamer]

could be a while, looks like they come from Australia..

[Gary Lewis]

What did that do to the shipping cost?

[reamer]

$7.00 shipping.

[Rembrant]

reamer wrote

When you coming to Corona,.... I mean Massachusetts, can you say "roll bar"

Ron,

There were some whispers recently that I might have to make another trip to Sturbridge, MA this year, but there's been nothing confirmed. I have also been told that I may not be allowed in that factory again due to new security rules and me being a foreign national.

And, on that roll bar...I believe that old rat infested '81 is gone now. I'm not 100% sure as it is quite a long drive away, but I saw a picture of it on FB recently. There is a local group that posts pictures of derelict vehicles, and it was on there. This is it...with the trees cut down, and garbage and rats removed...lol. Looks like the rollbar is gone too. Sorry man.

[Gary Lewis]

reamer wrote

$7.00 shipping.

That's cheap coming from down under!

[reamer]

Hi Cory
Thanks for trying, Sounds like I Need to get a Tubing bender and add this to the list....

[Rembrant]

reamer wrote

Hi Cory
Thanks for trying, Sounds like I Need to get a Tubing bender and add this to the list....

??

https://nh.craigslist.org/pts/d/new-boston-roll-bar/7087171997.html

[Rembrant]

So many people have them for sale and don't know what truck they fit...

https://dayton.craigslist.org/pts/d/conover-pick-up-truck-roll-bar-roll/7078893855.html

[reamer]

Not much fits the Flareside bed but a Flareside-bent bar and the support bar mounts on the main bar are narrower than a styleside bar set up.

[6.9-250]

I find this guys channel extremely helpful with diagnostics.  VERY good teacher.  Check it out if you have time.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRso1A0VScw

If the link doesnt work the title of his video is "Improved Methods to Find Parasitic Draw (Battery Drains Overnight)" by Schrodingers Box