Escort Van & dead batteries

[timtheenchanter]

I have an escort van (S reg) and the battery keeps going flat, the battery is fine (although I now have 2 to keep one full) and the alternator has been checked as is fine.
The battery will be good for a couple of days, then need changing and the battery re-charging.
I want to check if there is somthing draining the battery when the engine is off, can I just connect a multimeter, on amps setting between the +ve of the battery and the +ve battery lead?

 

[Belle427]

you can as long as your sure the current draw is less then the max current the mulimeter will take or it will smoke it

 

[timtheenchanter]

my multi will take up to 10A on the highest setting, and judging by the time taken to flatten a battery it must be less than this (I estimate about 3-5A) so i will start there and work down.

 

[davieboy]

if you find there is a draw (around 0.05A is usually OK, by the way) then trace it by removing the fuses one at a time to see if the draw dissapears.

obviously, remove one fuse, look at meter, and put fuse back, then move onto next etc. to identify which circuit. it hasn't got an aftermarket radio in it by chance?