What is the normal range for car battery discharge?
2 Answers
The normal range for car battery discharge is around 45 milliamperes. The following are the reasons for car battery discharge: 1. Accidentally activating the anti-theft alarm; 2. Ground leakage from electronic components and circuits such as car electrical devices, wiring harnesses, sensors, controllers, and actuators; 3. Short circuit or oxidation shedding of battery plates leading to self-discharge and power loss; 4. Electrical switches not turned off when parking. The solutions for car battery discharge are: 1. Check whether the battery voltage and power generation are normal and whether the battery terminals are rusty; 2. Remove the negative terminal of the battery, set the multimeter to the maximum current range, connect the red probe to the negative cable, and connect the black probe to the battery terminal and secure it; 3. Turn off all electrical devices inside and outside the car, lock the doors, observe the current size, and adjust to the appropriate range.
As a Honda Civic owner, I often pay attention to battery issues. The normal current leakage range is generally between 20 to 50 milliamperes, which is too small to be easily noticeable. Exceeding this value may drain the battery overnight, especially in winter when cold weather affects battery performance. I've measured it with a multimeter before - new cars typically maintain around 30mA. If dashcams or other aftermarket devices are installed with improperly handled interfaces, the leakage current can skyrocket. Regular checks are simple: turn off the engine and wait about ten minutes for the system to enter sleep mode, then measure the battery current. When leakage is high, have a professional shop check for module faults, such as ECU or door lock sensor issues. Timely repairs can prevent embarrassing roadside breakdowns. Battery maintenance is also crucial - keep the terminals clean and connections secure.
