Leisure Battery

Is it goosed?

 
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presstout1
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Leisure Battery

 ·  Posted: 22.12.2016  ·  #1
Loading up the van this afternoon to head South tomorrow.
Have been having a few issues with batteries. The charger has stopped working on EHU.
Van hasn't moved much this past couple of months, but I have had it on EHU, & took it out a couple of times & fired it up a few times too because battery was low.
Even had to remove batteries for charging because van wouldn't start on one occasion.
This evening leisure battery was 5.2V. I started the van & the controller started beeping & there was a line of black boxes across the screen.
I tried various options. Removed terminals from LB, hit all the buttons, unhooked EHU etc. Controller continued beeping.
I put LB on charger. Thought there was nothing, but found my tester was goosed, so got another & it was reading 12.5V, so had come up fairly quickly.
I eventually took the earth lead off the vehicle battery & the controller was working normally when I reconnected it. So all good now. Still worried about it tho, so pinched the LB from my daughters caravan to take as a backup.
Bottom line is, I am considering 2 new LB's + solar panel in the new year.
Wise or not?
Plus I'll have to get the charger sorted.
the fat controller
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Re: Leisure Battery

 ·  Posted: 22.12.2016  ·  #2
JJF
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Re: Leisure Battery

 ·  Posted: 22.12.2016  ·  #3
Concur..... Best job I did.
2 leisure batteries and 160w solar and a dual controller. 90% charge to leisure batteries and 10% to starter battery. Rarely use on board charger at all anymore. Go for it.
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Re: Leisure Battery

 ·  Posted: 22.12.2016  ·  #4
I had to replace both leisure batteries the first weekend that I had the van. When the new batteries were installed they still didn't work. When it was investigated a dodgy corroded fuse in the habitation fuse panel was the problem. When replaced, there was no problem. As I was not sure how old the old batteries were, I kept the new batteries in for piece of mind.
My engine battery was fine on hook up, but when the van was parked up for more than a week it was quite low and after a week and a half need jump start assistance. When I had a timing belt issue earlier this week I decided to replace it too. The mechanic tested the old battery on a load tester and it gave a result of good. Therefore, I must have something that is draining the battery. I have kept the new battery in and will monitor the voltage over a few weeks and will investigate further if necessary.
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Re: Leisure Battery

 ·  Posted: 22.12.2016  ·  #5
Put an ammeter in line with main battery wire. KEEP KEYS OUT OF IGNITION. Otherwise you'll blow fuse/meter.
You should have an amperage drain if there is a draw in the circuit. Now, remove fuses one by one while monitoring meter. Replace each fuse after removal and when you get the amperage drain drop off the meter when you pull a particular fuse then that is the circuit the drain is on, makes it easy to trace then.
A faulty diode in the rectifier of the alternator is another possible route to drain but won't show on the fuse test.
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Re: Leisure Battery

 ·  Posted: 22.12.2016  ·  #6
:up: :up: :up:
presstout1
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Re: Leisure Battery

 ·  Posted: 22.12.2016  ·  #7
All good advise
Thank you
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Re: Leisure Battery

 ·  Posted: 22.12.2016  ·  #8
If the batteries are done and it isn't something else I agree with with the above.

Get a matched pair of the largest capacity leisure batteries that will fit and at least 100watt solar panel. The bigger the panel the better.

Have a great trip
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Leisure Battery

 ·  Posted: 22.12.2016  ·  #9
If you have security or alarms fitted check what they are drawing
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Re: Leisure Battery

 ·  Posted: 22.12.2016  ·  #10
Quote

The mechanic tested the old battery on a load tester and it gave a result of good.


Is this the best way to test a battery. If so, where can you get one?
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Re: Leisure Battery

 ·  Posted: 22.12.2016  ·  #11
It was part of a 20 grand vehicle analysis machine which does battery testing as well as gas analysing, engine timing etc. Hes in Omagh.
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Re: Leisure Battery

 ·  Posted: 23.12.2016  ·  #12
So is that why certain breakdown companies just tell you to buy a new battery when it goes flat?
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Re: Leisure Battery

 ·  Posted: 12.01.2017  ·  #13


Just found one of these in Lidl for £2.99. Couldn't walk past it for the price. :up:
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Re: Leisure Battery

 ·  Posted: 12.01.2017  ·  #14
Thats a good bargain,that's the worst about Lidl and Aldi,you go in for a liter of milk and spend 100euro on things that never see the light of day,and you forget that you have the stuff safely put away on a shelf in the garage gathering dust 🇧🇭 🇧🇭
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Re: Leisure Battery

 ·  Posted: 12.01.2017  ·  #15
Quote by TAYLOR.

Thats a good bargain,that's the worst about Lidl and Aldi,you go in for a liter of milk and spend 100euro on things that never see the light of day,and you forget that you have the stuff safely put away on a shelf in the garage gathering dust 🇧🇭 🇧🇭


So true !!!

But heres one that might get use ... Aldi have a mini oil filled Rad on offer this sunday for €29.99

Aldi Mini Oil Filled Radiator
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Re: Leisure Battery

 ·  Posted: 12.01.2017  ·  #16
I'm sure you heard this one but just in case here it is again

Mark&Wendy
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Re: Leisure Battery

 ·  Posted: 12.01.2017  ·  #17
:lol: :lol:
presstout1
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Re: Leisure Battery

 ·  Posted: 12.01.2017  ·  #18
Quote by Elmo

Quote by TAYLOR.

Thats a good bargain,that's the worst about Lidl and Aldi,you go in for a liter of milk and spend 100euro on things that never see the light of day,and you forget that you have the stuff safely put away on a shelf in the garage gathering dust 🇧🇭 🇧🇭


So true !!!

But heres one that might get use ... Aldi have a mini oil filled Rad on offer this sunday for €29.99

Aldi Mini Oil Filled Radiator


I bought one of those in Home Bargains for £14.99 a few weeks ago. Great job :up:
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Re: Leisure Battery

 ·  Posted: 12.01.2017  ·  #19
Quote by presstout1

Quote by Elmo

Quote by TAYLOR.

Thats a good bargain,that's the worst about Lidl and Aldi,you go in for a liter of milk and spend 100euro on things that never see the light of day,and you forget that you have the stuff safely put away on a shelf in the garage gathering dust 🇧🇭 🇧🇭


So true !!!

But heres one that might get use ... Aldi have a mini oil filled Rad on offer this sunday for €29.99

Aldi Mini Oil Filled Radiator


I bought one of those in Home Bargains for £14.99 a few weeks ago. Great job :up:


Big difference between £14.99 and 29.99 euro 🇧🇭 🇧🇭
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Re: Leisure Battery

 ·  Posted: 13.01.2017  ·  #20
B&Q up North have them as I got one a few weeks ago and I've got it on low in the van and it's great.
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Re: Leisure Battery

 ·  Posted: 14.01.2017  ·  #21
Quote by jacktherev

B&Q up North have them as I got one a few weeks ago and I've got it on low in the van and it's great.


Good to know thanks. Im going to get one in the morning.
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Re: Leisure Battery

 ·  Posted: 15.01.2017  ·  #22
we got ours in Tesco Newry, Cheaper than B&Q. £29.99
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Re: Leisure Battery

 ·  Posted: 15.01.2017  ·  #23
Aldi ones are 800 watt but if you want a smaller 450 watt then Argos have these at 26.00 Euro http://www.argos.ie/static/Pro…DIATOR.htm I have two of them for a few years now and they are good with two you can spread them out in van.
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