2 weeks ago I charged up my 1F cap to the alternator output (13.86 volts) and put it on a shelf in the garage. Today I read the terminal voltage and it was 12.12 volts. This is an answer to PEI330Ci who felt his capacitor was draining his battery when left in storage.
Conclusion: I am a little surprised the voltage dropped that much (no doubt not the best capacitor materials) but that would not have been the lone reason for the dead battery since the cap would have only asked for battery terminal voltage of 12ish volts.

Cool test John,

Thanks for letting me know I'm not completely insane. I agree with you that that caps probably weren't the single cause of the battery drain. I've been thinking about what I disconnected, and I realized that at the time, I had a ground loop through some of my signal cables. Some of my electronics had their grounds disconnected, but the positive still connected. (wiring has since changed)

Morel of the story, disconect both positive and negitive wires.

^ I would simply do that at the battery.

I never thought of that. I leave mine ( car ) in storage during the winter only driving her when it's dry. Been finding that if I ignore the Mini for say an month or more it's dead or close to it. But during the summer months I get her out much more often an every thing is ok. I know I may have an other curent draw but this is an start. Thanks

All the little milliamp draws can kick your but without a periodic recharge.

^ Cadillac is having some problems with their new cars killing the battery in 2 weeks of inactivity. This sounds simular and it is, Caddy is using solid state switches/ relays which are cool, new, modern and all that. BUT SS relay's are never truely open (since they have no air gap like mechanical relay's) so they pull a couple milliamps all the time. Now realize their are dozens of relay's on a caddy and that wears down that big ol battery!

Plus it's a GM so, ya know, it's trash. :D

Today the capacitors terminal voltage was 10.64 volts, MYTH BUSTED: the cap in of itself is not a resistive load on the battery

LOL...you sure it's not 10.63 volts? at that point it should be a purely resistive load yes?

Joking.

Thanks for busting a myth and my ego. Next time I'll just disconnect the battery. LOL

Adam

That's odd, my caps that I pulled from my system in January of last year still show 6 volts.