Amps

[PabloPicasso]

I've fitted more modern cabin lights with various functions some touch on/off with USB Ports, and a central light with bright/neutral/warm white and dimmer setting. With them all on and my multimeter in series I started on the 10A setting and reduced step by step to 200u. It reads 11.6 on this lowest setting.

Is that less than 1/5 of an amp. Is that an insignificant draw for lights use overnight if lead acid batteries fully charged to begin with?

 

[ylop]

It sounds like 11.6 micro amps ie 0.0000116 A which is considerably less than 0.2 A.

If these are like mine I will be interested to hear if they randomly turn themselves on, or refuse to turn off…

 

[AngusMcDoon]

A typical LED cabin light takes about 100 milliAmps at 12 volts. 11.6 on the 200 microAmp scale would indicate 11.6 microAmps. That is too little. On most multimeters you have to change one of the test leads from one socket to another when you change from the 10 Amp scale to lower scales. Did you do that?

 

[William_H]

11.6 uA sounds ok for all lights off and USB no load. As said if that is what you measured with lights on then try another meter or check lead arrangement. ol'will

 

[chris-s]

Too little, sounds like a measuring mistake. I don’t know your meter but on mine, there are two positive lead sockets, one of which is for currents on the 10amp range. If you started on the 20amp range, and then reduced the range, is there a separate socket you should have used for the lower ranges?

 

[PabloPicasso]

The red lead was in the 10A socket for above. Was that correct?

 

[chris-s]

That sounds like the problem. Typically the 10amp socket is only for use when the selector dial is set to the 10amp range. When setting the dial to measure a lower range of currents then you would put the lead into the ‘usual’ socket.
Of course, this is without knowing what your meter is so could be wrong, but is typical for most basic meters.

 

[Alex_Blackwood]

I've fitted more modern cabin lights with various functions some touch on/off with USB Ports, and a central light with bright/neutral/warm white and dimmer setting. With them all on and my multimeter in series I started on the 10A setting and reduced step by step to 200u. It reads 11.6 on this lowest setting.

Is that less than 1/5 of an amp. Is that an insignificant draw for lights use overnight if lead acid batteries fully charged to begin with?

As already stated. you have your leads are in the wrong holes. The RED lead should be in the + and the BLACK lead in either the 10 amp hole for measurements of 1 amp and above and in the "Common" hole for mA.
Be careful, it is easy to "Blow" the meter if set up is wrong when reading amps. ranges.

 

[PabloPicasso]

Ok I'll try again with leads as you suggest.

Can 6 LED cabin lights really draw more than 1amp?

 

[Alex_Blackwood]

Ok I'll try again with leads as you suggest.

Can 6 LED cabin lights really draw more than 1amp?

Some multimeters have a 250mA max. on the mA scale. Use the 10 amp scale first it should go down to read higher mA readings.

 

[S04]

.........................................The RED lead should be in the + and the BLACK lead in either the 10 amp hole for measurements of 1 amp and above and in the "Common" hole for mA.

I don't think you an state that with certainty, it really depends on the meter. On my Fluke the black is always in the Common socket whatever is being measured, it is the red lead that is located in either the 10A or the 300mA socket depending on the current to be measured.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Ok I'll try again with leads as you suggest.

Can 6 LED cabin lights really draw more than 1amp?

If you can post a picture of your meter we'll give you 9 different opinions of how to connect the leads.

 

[Alex_Blackwood]

I don't think you an state that with certainty, it really depends on the meter. On my Fluke the black is always in the Common socket whatever is being measured, it is the red lead that is located in either the 10A or the 300mA socket depending on the current to be measured.

Yes you are of course quite correct. I should know better

 

[Stemar]

Ok I'll try again with leads as you suggest.

Can 6 LED cabin lights really draw more than 1amp?

If the lights are like these, the specification says they claim a light output of 230 lumens, and 230Lm LEDs are generally about 2.4w, which would want 1.2 amps

I have a couple, and they work well, making good reading lights over a bunk. They also do a reasonable job of charging, but it's too easy to tangle yourself in the charging lead

 

[AngusMcDoon]

...2.4w, which would want 1.2 amps.

200 milliAmps, or do you mean charging current?

 

[ylop]

200 milliAmps, or do you mean charging current?

I guessed he meant 200mA each and thus the 6 referred to in Pablo's post would be 1.2A

 

[Alex_Blackwood]

I guessed he meant 200mA each and thus the 6 referred to in Pablo's post would be 1.2A

Also worth bearing in mind that if the manufacturer quotes, say, xx watts for the LED it may be ignoring the power taken by any associated control circuitry. e.g. in the 2.4 watt example quoted you may find it draws nearer 1.5 amps (or more) All a bit of a minefield.

 

[wonkywinch]

I've fitted more modern cabin lights with various functions some touch on/off with USB Ports, and a central light with bright/neutral/warm white and dimmer setting. With them all on and my multimeter in series I started on the 10A setting and reduced step by step to 200u. It reads 11.6 on this lowest setting.

Is that less than 1/5 of an amp. Is that an insignificant draw for lights use overnight if lead acid batteries fully charged to begin with?

Just to confirm that your multimeter was in series with the load? ie, lift off one of the probes, all the lights go out?

General purpose multimeters are not designed to measure complex waveforms and the current demand from an LED luminaire is not likely to be smooth and linear like a resistive load. The multimeter is only really suitable for "how goes it" estimations.

 

[PabloPicasso]

Yes, in series. I have 2 lights with USB like the ones in Stemar's post. 2 spot type where the original bulb has been replaces with leds, one led over the sink, and a new cabin light like this pic below.

Thats that's 6 in total.