Vehicle and leisure hook up charging (1 Viewer)

[harryoxford2]

Hi guru type people,

So my vehicle, BTCruiser has been sat for 4 years. Im problem solving. But...

The vehicle battery itself has run down almost completely flat,
The nleisure battery charges but after a few attempts to start the genny it is flat.

If the genny does ever get going does it charge both batteries?

It seems also that one must make a decision when the battery starts to drop off to start the genny to recharge it because if it gets too low it wont start the genny.

So genny starting, vehicle charging, these are skills I have got to learn by experience but it did suprise me that the electric hook up isnt charging the vehicle battery as well.

Any suggestions please would be most welcome

regards

harry

 

[pappajohn]

you say its been sat for 4 years......untouched or in use ?

 

[harryoxford2]

Hi Papa

Its been untouched, but charged now and then.
When I collected it 21 days ago and drove back the 100 miles the vehicle battery was fine, and Ive been starting the engine now and then. Only today did it fail, I thought it was mechanical like a stuck starter motor until I noticed the battery indicator on the dash display was at rock bottom.

Its been hooked up all this time by the way. I was hoping the onboard charger might sort out the leisure battery. But I assumed the vehicle battery would be topped up too.

If its the batteries...whats the best charger to get..one that desulfates as well as charges?

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[pappajohn]

at over 4 years old and on charge full time i'd bin 'em and buy new.

they will fail completely when you need them most.

 

[scotjimland]

agree with John .. bin them ..

Sterling chargers are one of the best .. how deep are your pockets ?

Look at the range and the specs , the more expensive ones are 4 stage with an Automatic 7 day de-sulphation cycle

Link Removed

If you have really deep pockets look here.. http://www.victronenergy.com/

I fitted a Victron Easy Plus which I bought it second hand and it still cost an arm and two legs
http://www.victronenergy.com/inverters-chargers/easyplus-12v-24v-48v-1600va/

 

[harryoxford2]

This is good thank you

Im wandering all over the net following your links.

Thank you.

(ooooo ive done me avitar and profile pic..ya can see me motor now and Oxford flooded)

Its so frustrating not to be able to pick up my wonderful operating instructions on this RV (mainly because they dont exsist) and see whats fitted. Today I started fishing around with mirrors in cupboards to read the labels on the box of metal box thingys and then look them up on tinternet.

If I knew what was onboard Id know if I need to upgrade.

First things first...new batteries. Front and back. Then a good charger and who knows the 4yr olds might recover and Ive got spares.

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[Peter JohnsCross MH]

Hi Harry,

Bin the old batteries, they will be useless, you may find the battery charger will now work with new batteries fitted

Peter

 

[Snowbird]

In reply to some of your questions...the genny does not directly charge your leasure batteries, it only charges them through the onboard charger.
The genny does not charge the engine battery.
Its most unlikly but not onheard of that the onboard charger will charge your engine battery,some do like some Hymers but have never heard of a yank that does.

 

[harryoxford2]

one question and its paid my fees

Thank you for the latest contributions, my knowledge base is expanding by the second.
You all just saved me from going into a garage and facingt a bill more than my £12 subs.

Once again Im in this box and dont know how to look back at who said what...but the genny answer is very helpful ty
the answer about bin them and the charge will probably work with new batteries makes so much sense ty.

And the suppliers Jim I followed the leads and saw some really interesting stuff. As my plan is to go out there for an extended period after a few trial runs I have to make sure Im totally self sufficient. Plus how to problem solve with limited impliments when out there.

Im in a mind to carry a spare booster battery thats always fully charged in case I run to low and need either vehicle battery boosted to start or leisure battery to start genny.....does anyone else do this.

remember those words at the end of each of my postings should be read each time......I really am unskilled at this as yet.

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[Snowbird]

You should have on the dash somwhere an emergency start button.
This meens if your engine battery goes down...you can start your engine from the house batteries.
Also if your house batteries go down...start engine and leave running for a few minutes to charge house batteries...the genny should start...you can then switch off engine and charge house batteries from genny.
On some models the emergency start is automatic with a light to tell you when its in use.
Most if not all yanks have this facility.

 

[harryoxford2]

the switch the switch

this is the switch above my head on the bulkhead that says emergency start. This is the switch in my profile too...now I know how it works thanks to you.
Your a star

 

[harryoxford2]

when I work out how to include pics

I think when I work out how to include pics in a post Ill take specific pics of my problems.

You cant imagine the fun Ive had as the switch is spring loaded and must have pressure on it to work. As im on my own Ive proped all sorts of things against it to hold the switcvh down whilst I went down to the genny start button thinking it was an emergency start for the genny.

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[Snowbird]

Ya gettin there Arry

 

[Dodgey]

Hi, what they all said:thumb:

One thing, others may disagree but I always go to Yank speciallists for the engine side, leasure whatever takes your fancy, logic being simple they should know exactly what is actually suitable for the big yank motors and I have so far always erred towards the biggest capacity practicle so there is reserve for bad weather (cold) or prolonged layups, and I've yet to have a start problem since, fatal.

Also, on the engine side look into what runs off the engine battery, daft but usually the radio which will run down the battery over time. On some RVs you'll find a switch in the cab that dictates where the radio is powered from, ie aux (leasure) or main (engine), bit obvious but set to leasure or off when not in use. I have adjusted Winne's wiring so it either leasure or nothing and the solar panel means it always on, ie retains memory, bugger looses everything 10 mins after power offoh:

Also watch reversing cameras, on our first RV I fitted a unit that had a big on/off button, great, wrong even off it was drawing a load and flattening the (usless) engine battery quickly. Again, hard wired a power switch so I knew it was off, and fitted a new battery and as said no more starting probs:thumb:

Good looking RV by the way, we do like the BT Crusers, there were 'on the list' until we saw Winne:thumb: