Viper GPS tracker draining battery

[CLNSKY]

Hey all,

Recently installed a Viper GPS tracker into my car and it seems that if i turn the alarm on, it will drain my battery within a couple of days.

If i don't turn on the alar, and just manually lock my doors, the battery doesn't drain as fast.

 

I have it hooked up to a trickle charger now, but i wanted to know if this is normal behaviour for a tracker?

 

Thanks,

Colin

 

[GTSBoy]

Not necessarily "normal" behaviour. But there might be nothing "wrong" with the tracker. It's far more likely that your battery is crap and can't tolerate what would otherwise be a completely acceptable current drain.

Put an ammeter in the power lead to the tracker. Report how much it's using.

[WR33KD]

I also have gps in my car but it’s a mongoose and if I don’t drive the car within 10days I have to jump it. Still trying to find out why it’s doing it 

[Piggaz]

Put it on a trickle charger. Problem solved.

[CLNSKY]

6 hours ago, GTSBoy said:

Not necessarily "normal" behaviour. But there might be nothing "wrong" with the tracker. It's far more likely that your battery is crap and can't tolerate what would otherwise be a completely acceptable current drain.

Put an ammeter in the power lead to the tracker. Report how much it's using.

Hey would you be able to recommend a battery that would suit? I have a century battery that is less than a month old that keeps going flat whenever I don't have the trickle charger on it. 

[GTSBoy]

I would have said Century. If it's only a month old then it should be fine, unless you have somehow managed to drain it flat too badly too many times already and killed it.

Why don't you do the current drain test?

[CLNSKY]

34 minutes ago, GTSBoy said:

I would have said Century. If it's only a month old then it should be fine, unless you have somehow managed to drain it flat too badly too many times already and killed it.

Why don't you do the current drain test?

No idea how to to be honest, would you able to elaborate?

Also wouldn't be able to tell which one would be the power lead to the tracker.

 

Thanks,

Colin

[GTSBoy]

13 minutes ago, CLNSKY said:

No idea how to to be honest, would you able to elaborate?

 

17 hours ago, GTSBoy said:

Put an ammeter in the power lead to the tracker.

Ammeter is a function for measuring current on your typical multimeter, which can be had for ~$10 off eBay or your local Jaycar equivalent.

14 minutes ago, CLNSKY said:

Also wouldn't be able to tell which one would be the power lead to the tracker.

Find the fuse that runs the tracker. Remove the fuse, put the ammeter across the terminals where the fuse was. Now you're in the circuit and can measure the current it's pulling.

[WR33KD]

You can also pull the power lead off the battery and test inline current draw. Mines .08 but should be around .02-.04 is normal

[junkie]

I would say give the tracker its own hidden lithium battery+charger that will turn on from the ACC curcuit.

Bonus security if the car is ever pinched and battery disconnected

[Stixbnr32]

I have a GPS tracker as well and use a trickle charger on a new battery (well not so new now).

Unfortunately you know that the tracker is running 24/7 and this requires current - this WILL drain the battery if the car is not used.  It should be over a week on a small battery (like mine).

If youre not driving a car its advised to use a trickle charger anyway.

 

Thanks. 

[CLNSKY]

I've had my tracker disconnected to see if that is the issue. Havn't had an issue with my battery since ~ 2 weeks, driven only twice. Will have to get an electrician to have a look at it i think.

 

Thanks,

Colin