leisure battery problem (again) (1 Viewer)

[peddlingfree]

Four weeks ago I had a long weekend at Moreton-in-Marsh and everything was ok. Since returning home I isolated the motor battery but left the leisure battery. Yesterday, I checked the leisure battery and found it flat with crystals coming out of it. It was new Spring last year.

Does anyone know why this would have happened? Is 4 weeks too long to leave it - there was nothing switched on as far as I am aware. And what should I do now?

Advice would be much appreciated as I have had countless problems and thought this summer I had finally got to grips with everything.

Thanks.

 

[Jaws]

Four weeks to leave it is next to no time at all.
Sounds like it is duff I am afraid
One thing of concern.. If it has the dread crystals forming that does indicate it is not a sealed for life battery.. Which means the electrolytic levels should be checked and probably topped up
Did you ever do that ?

 

[Boringfrog]

Where you on EHU at home or have you got solar panels fitted?

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[peddlingfree]

Oh dear, no I have never topped up electrolyte levels and I do have a tiny solar panel which I used to attach to motor vehicle battery but someone told me not to bother. Is it just a leisure battery that needs to be topped up? its not vehicle batteries is it?

 

[peddlingfree]

I bought the battery from Spinney and asked them if it had a guarantee. They told me to look on the battery and I couldn't see anything and said so. They then said it was probably 2 years, that was May 2015. This is the 3rd duff battery in a row. I went to Spinney's to ask if they could sort out what was happening. They looked at it then said it needed a new one. Then for the next couple of months I worried about why nothing was working. Eventually, a caravanner friend suspected a fuse had blown which is situated right next to the battery under the floor. That turned out to be the answer then. I hadn't realised because there are trip switches for 4 fuses but not for the leisure battery one.

 

[Madcaravanner]

Have had some battery problems where the battery was dead too soon after purchase
The dealers found that the supplier/manufacturer had sent them OLD batteries they replaced and got refund from the manufacturer and then threatened to change supplier if they didn't improve

the shop now sells a different brand of battery so.....

get the dealer to check the battery for age and when they received it most usually have a 2 year warranty now

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[MitchandJenny]

If not warranty.
Top up the cells with distilled water.
CLEAN rainwater will do.
Mitch.

 

[pappajohn]

If not warranty.
Top up the cells with distilled water.
CLEAN rainwater will do.
Mitch.

Spot on, it's already got acid in it

 

[PhilandMena]

I bought the battery from Spinney and asked them if it had a guarantee. They told me to look on the battery and I couldn't see anything and said so. They then said it was probably 2 years, that was May 2015. This is the 3rd duff battery in a row. I went to Spinney's to ask if they could sort out what was happening. They looked at it then said it needed a new one. Then for the next couple of months I worried about why nothing was working. Eventually, a caravanner friend suspected a fuse had blown which is situated right next to the battery under the floor. That turned out to be the answer then. I hadn't realised because there are trip switches for 4 fuses but not for the leisure battery one.

Some reading for you that will improve your knowledge of Leisure batteries, how to select the right one and how to maintain them.
(If you always do what you've always done. you'll always get what you've always got!)
http://www.thencc.org.uk/our_schemes/ncc_verified_leisure_battery_scheme.aspx
http://www.campingandcaravanningclu...nicalhelp/datasheets/guide-leisure-batteries/

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[peddlingfree]

Thank you all for your replies

 

[movan]

I didn't know you had to top batteries up ... how often are you supposed to do it please?

 

[PhilandMena]

Chack every 6 months, that should be sufficient. (Lead acid batteries only) Use distilled water, you can purchase easily from garages, Supermarkets etc.

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[Fletton]

This just got me thinking...

My two Wets are "sideways-on" in a tight space in the service locker...

I always look at them when filling fresh water tank.. and note level.

But it has just occurred to me that I can only see the end cell of each..

They are a mare to slide out...

Is it likely that some of the other cell may be lower in fluid than the ones I can see.... I seem to recall having to put electrolite in each cell - indicating that fliud-wise - they are self contained

Do i need to rave them out!?

John T

 

[peddlingfree]

The outcome
The battery was under guarantee and has been replaced. I got as far as buying an intelligent charger from them but the then the chap advising me got into conversation with the chap fitting the new battery who said the charger wouldn't work. So it got returned within 10 minutes.
I have a hook-up at home and it seems that last winter when I had the it hooked up to keep the Truva electric heater on minimum to keep the motorhome aired it would have overcharged the leisure battery and hence the crystals appearing so many months later.
I have been advised by them not to hook-up until 2 days before I want to use the motorhome.
So now I'm wondering how to overwinter it - will search threads.

 

[PhilandMena]

The outcome
The battery was under guarantee and has been replaced. I got as far as buying an intelligent charger from them but the then the chap advising me got into conversation with the chap fitting the new battery who said the charger wouldn't work. So it got returned within 10 minutes.
I have a hook-up at home and it seems that last winter when I had the it hooked up to keep the Truva electric heater on minimum to keep the motorhome aired it would have overcharged the leisure battery and hence the crystals appearing so many months later.
I have been advised by them not to hook-up until 2 days before I want to use the motorhome.
So now I'm wondering how to overwinter it - will search threads.

That sounds like a load of nonsense to me. Your on board battery charger should not cause damage to your batteries by being on permanent hook up. Check what type of battery charger is fitted. If it is a modern 3 stage charger it can be left on hook up permanently without damage to the batteries. Mine is never off hook up when parked at home.

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[Bobby22]

The outcome
The battery was under guarantee and has been replaced. I got as far as buying an intelligent charger from them but the then the chap advising me got into conversation with the chap fitting the new battery who said the charger wouldn't work. So it got returned within 10 minutes.
I have a hook-up at home and it seems that last winter when I had the it hooked up to keep the Truva electric heater on minimum to keep the motorhome aired it would have overcharged the leisure battery and hence the crystals appearing so many months later.
I have been advised by them not to hook-up until 2 days before I want to use the motorhome.
So now I'm wondering how to overwinter it - will search threads.

If you can put it on hook up, put it on charge once a week, over winter.

 

[Boringfrog]

The outcome
The battery was under guarantee and has been replaced. I got as far as buying an intelligent charger from them but the then the chap advising me got into conversation with the chap fitting the new battery who said the charger wouldn't work. So it got returned within 10 minutes.
I have a hook-up at home and it seems that last winter when I had the it hooked up to keep the Truva electric heater on minimum to keep the motorhome aired it would have overcharged the leisure battery and hence the crystals appearing so many months later.
I have been advised by them not to hook-up until 2 days before I want to use the motorhome.
So now I'm wondering how to overwinter it - will search threads.

How will keeping heating on "air" your motorhome?

 

[peddlingfree]

The motorhome is 10 years old so I don't suppose it is a modern one.

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[peddlingfree]

by airing, I mean to keep mildew away, and damp out of the seating
maybe I'm worrying about nothing?
I've just got used to worrying - it seems to have become my natural state.

 

[funflair]

How will keeping heating on "air" your motorhome?

It won't, it will encourage damp because warm air carries more moisture which will condense on cold surfaces.

Just my opinion FWIW.

Martin

 

[peddlingfree]

most interesting .. change of tactic required then

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[Allanm]

When we aren't using our van and it is parked at home, we always have it on hook up and heating on low when cold.
We have done this to our last 3 vans, a brand new one, a 16 year old RV and a 19 year old British van. With warm air inside there are no cold surfaces for any condensation to form on. Motorhomes are well ventilated so there should be no stale air as heating inside will encourage the movement of air
We keep our cupboards open to remove the possibility of cold spots and have never noticed any moisture.
And the batteries are charged all the time, our 19 year old van has an intelligent 3 way charger fitted as standard so no need to disconnect batteries. Most motorhomes should have similar or better charging systems.

 

[hilldweller]

This is the 3rd duff battery in a row..

Big alarm bells start ringing. 3 duff in a row is so unlikely. You've a drain you need to sort out. If you get one under warranty, great, if they refuse they are probably right, you've killed it.

 

[hilldweller]

I didn't know you had to top batteries up ... how often are you supposed to do it please?

Check every month or two. But only if the battery can be filled, many are sealed. If you see screw caps, 6 big ones, get a coin and look inside.

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[PhilandMena]

most interesting .. change of tactic required then

Agreed. The key to preventing damp in your motorhome is ventilation. Crack open the top window in your shower/toilet (An inch will do it) same for your habitation rook vent. This will enable air to circulate. You do not need any heating on over the winter at all. However, if your still not comfortable with this plan store your mattress and cushions inside your home. Hildweller raises a valid point, if you have 3 sets of failed batteries there is almost certainly a leak somewhere and if so you need to find and correct it. Lastly, get online and find what kind of battery charger you have in your motorhome, I suspect it will be more than suitable.

 

[TheCaller]

@peddlingfree Can you let us know the make & model of your motorhome? Can you conform it's a 2006 model (you said it was 10 years old)? Can you see a make & model on the mains charger?

Without that information it's impossible to advise whether it is safe to leave EHU permanently connected. In 2006 some converters were still fitting dumb chargers that weren't suitable for permanent connection.

It may be possible to leave the EHU connected & running a heater, but still turn the charger off. Can you find an on/off switch on the charger itself, or on a control panel?

 

[peddlingfree]

Its a Swift Suntour 530LP 2.0JTD

Reading upside-down it says on the charger located in the wardrobe
MOD NE143-S
input 230v 16A 50/60Hz
output max 144v -200w
NORDELETTRONICA

There is no on/off switch.
The control panel over the door has a toggle between the motor and leisure batteries which is supposed to show how charged they are. With the new battery, the leisure battery is half-way in the green section. The motor battery is currently isolated. I could isolate the leisure one as well.

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[Jaws]

ust looked up the model you have and here is a quote..

An intelligent multistage 16A leisure battery charger designed for caravans and motor homes which significantly reducing charging time and avoids permanent damage to your battery.
It IS an intelligent charger so unless it is faulty it can be left on all the time,,,, for years in fact !

 

[peddlingfree]

so I need to question the man who fitted the battery and told me the previous one had crystallised because I'd had the motorhome hooked up last winter?
If that wasn't the reason for the crystals what could it have been? lack of topping up with water?

this is a puzzle to me which is going on and on

 

[TheCaller]

Ok, so now we know that the charger is suitable for permanent connection, the next question is - is it working properly?

The control panel indicators are notoriously unreliable. I'm not sure if 'half way in the green' means charged or only half charged.

Have you got a multimeter of some sort? We really need voltage readings straight off the battery to be able to tell what's going on.

Turn everything off, including the hook up for 24hrs. Measure the battery voltage. It should be between 12.2 & 12.6V (If it's below 12.2 you definitely have a problem!).

Assuming it is towards the upper end of that range, turn a few lights on for a couple of hours, then turn them off & plug the hookup back in & make sure the control panel is switched on & it's set to charge the leisure battery. Measure the battery voltage again - it should be above 14V. If it's the same or lower than before, the charger isn't working.

Leave it charging for 24hrs, but with everything else switched off - no lights etc. With the charger still switched on, measure again. The voltage should now be between 13.6 & 14V. If it's still higher, it's possibly faulty & may be overcharging the batteries.

Post the results on here.

If you don't have a multimeter, it's worth getting one. After a sense of smell, it's the most useful diagnostic tool in a motorhome.

Unfortunately, I've seen it suggested elsewhere that Nordelettronica is not the most robust manufacturer of that type of equipment.

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