[Hib Halverson]

If you connect a volt meter between the batter and ground it will read whatever the battery voltage is.

If you connect an amp meter between the battery and ground you'll read current flow. There should be only a few hundred milamps.

From reading the other posts, I think you understand the procedure of using either a test light or an ammeter then pull fuses.

You might also have a battery which is, itself, shorted.