Power Probe ECT 2000 - Manual (Page 25)

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Tracing out Battery Drains or Current Draw
When you have a battery or current draw that is drawing enough
current to drain the battery over night or a couple of days, you
have a condition that the SMART ECT-2000 can assist you in. In
cases like this you can inject a signal into the main positive battery
cable after removing it from the positive battery post. Now you
can follow the signal along its path and look for the possible cause
of the battery drain.
Tracing battery drains are a little different than tracing a short or
open circuit. When you are tracing battery drains you are not look-
ing for a loss of signal, you are simply following the circuit path
and unplugging wires and components along the way to give you
clues to the problem.
To trace battery drains and get nearer to the location of the current
draw:
1. Disconnect the positive terminal from the vehicle’s battery.
(You will need to consult your vehicle’s owner manual for
proper battery disconnecting instruction. Some vehicles
require that voltage potential be maintained at all times on
certain components for instance, radios, onboard computers,
memory, CPUs, etc.)
2. Connect the SMART transmitter’s 20ft power lead to the
positive and negative post of the battery.
3. Connect the signal lead to the disconnected positive terminal.
Trace the circuit that is transmitting the strong signal with the
SMART receiver. (The directional indicators only show you
the direction to ground. It will not stop at the fault.)
4. Disconnect the wire and components along the circuit path to
narrow down the cause of the current draw.
Smart TRANSMITTER
12 - 42 volt
Open Circuit
Short / Grounded Circuit
Tone On / Off
ECT2000
Electronic Circuit Tracer
Place receiver pick-up in this area to self-test
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