After posting a question concerning sparking when connecting battery terminal, the guy that sold me the Cherokee gave me a set of factory manuals. In the battery/starting/charging section is an item titled"Ignition Off Draw". It states "...a normal vehicle will draw from 5 to 20 milliamps. A vehicle that has not been operated for an extended period (approx. 20 days) may discharge battery... The 20 MA are needed to supply ECU memory, digital clock memory..." The factory manuals are great, if you maintain your Jeep they are a "Must Have" Keep the greasy side down-Cove

 

The $5 Harbor Freight digital meter actually works. At least for a while. It can measure DC amp draw up to 10 amps. You could pull the terminal and run the power through the meter and see the draw. Careful though, if you turn too much on and exceed the 10 amps it will blow the meter's fuse, or mess it up.

OH! and, be sure to put the lead back in the voltage socket when you are done. If you later go to check voltage with it plugged into the Amp socket, it's a direct short that will melt the meter leads, (I'm told)

 

when you connect cables and see a little spark, that is an indicator that there is a circuit on somewhere.