Electrical Problems, I have a short somewhere, Possible Solutions Options

[Cutrara]

Since Monday, a short somewhere in my wiring has been draining my battery (No, it's not the battery or alternator, I had them both checked) I took my car to get inspection/emissions and had them check it. He said the alarm was draining more power than it should. I pulled the alarm brain and disconnected the constant 12+, and ground wires from the alarm harness, and it's still draining. I have work all weekend and school all next week. I've designed a battery kill switch to cut off the battery as a temporary solution until I can diagnose the wiring problem over Christmas break.

Here is the kill switch I've designed:


Does this look OK for the application I'm using it for?
Would you improve anything?
Do you think something is shorting out?
Where do you think the short is?

Thanks,
Alex Cutrara

This post has been edited by Cutrara: Dec 17, 2005 - 4:00 PM

[Dr_Tweak]

What you need to do is locate the drain, not try to fix it by adding another circut in. Take your key out and make sure all the lights and whatnot are shut off, then take a circut tester light and put it between the positive battery terminal and the cable. Then go to your fuse boxes and pull one fuse at a time. When the light goes out, you found the circut that is draining power. Now trace the circut out until you find the short.

-Doc

*edit* If you do decide to run a relay, you're going to need a 100-150 amp main power relay. You'll probably have to order it.



This post has been edited by Dr_Tweak: Dec 18, 2005 - 12:05 AM