How to Find Current Drain in a Car with a Multimeter and Clamp Meter

Have you ever had to start a car with a dead battery? We bet you have. Annoying, isn't it? If it happens on a regular basis, a possible reason of battery discharge can be leakage current.
We shot a special video to demonstrate how to detect leakage current in your vehicle. Hope it will help.

[petertorro]

Great video, Is it possible to measure on the positive because my clampmeter doesn t fits in between the batterie?

[bobomomo]

I have to choose between 2 clamp meters :

1- Uni T UT210E mini pro, with these DC ranges:
Volt (0.1mv - 600v)
Amp (0.1mA - 100A)

➡️Good for parasitic draw test, but don't go for high ranges

2- kaiweets HT208D, with these DC ranges :
Volt (600 mv - 1000 v)
Amp (60A - 1000A)

➡️ No low reading for parasitic draw test, but has high ranges



Can I choose type 1 to do most car diagnoses as a hobbyist, or I need both types?

☺️💛Thanks

[frankcigna]

My only question where the hell did you put the probes to though you didn't say and I never did this before

[Respect-ycpv]

My multimeter just ac volts ‏‪ can i checked with battery?

[kryshalarose]

If using the amp clamp on the positive cable, does the negative need to still be disconnected?

[chocolate_squiggle]

That's terrible, don't zero out the meter after closing it around what you want to measure - unless you're then going to remove it without changing it's position/orientation and read the negative figure instead. By zeroing it after you've put it around your wire you'll ensure you don't read anything at all (zero). What you saw on screen afterwards was likely from moving the meter around.
I don't know about exactly the meter in this video, but the UT-210E from same brand is very sensitive to movement on the 2A range. Less so on 20A but then you have less resolution too. Most practical way I've found is to hold the meter very close to the battery cable, zero it out and without moving it afterwards, open the jaws and slide the battery cable inside. Move the cable rather than the clamp meters position or orientation. Brace the hand holding the meter against something to help prevent inadvertent movement. If you can't manage this you'll have to put the meter down somewhere after clamping the battery cable, disconnect the terminal, zero it out (still not moving the clamp), then reconnect the battery terminal and read your value.

[fortunatedad]

Dumb question but does it matter if I clamp on the positive or negative side cables? Thanks

[moturcu]

1:51 Does it matter if the cable is plus or minus?

[kurtiscalmsetccdwell]

Wont pulling fuses result in modules waking up on the can bus lines and create draws that may not be real as a result?

[christopherowens]

I’m getting a lower current reading on a clamp meter than on my multimeter. I think you mentioned that multimeter receives a higher current. So in conclusion, which testing tool should I rely on when testing current?

[Galaxy-ezmh]

Hi..i don't know wtf is ac dc a v or oem.. can you please help me find a meter clamp for a car which reads automatically the shit I'm putting the clamp multimeter on ?! Thanks!

[PAVANZYL]

Why do I get different readings on the + and - cables when a battery is charging?

[worldpeace]

Very informative but you forgot to show which connection to use on the multimeter because there are 3 connector on the multimeter

[ericparent]

can you use the clamp on the negative cable ?