Yet another leisure battery question (1 Viewer)

Mags52

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So, after loads of discussion and watching our leisure batteries getting less and less able to keep their charge we bought new batteries at Caravanas Cruz near Alicante. They gave us excellent service, checked the solar controller and advised us that the batteries were dead. Refitted new ones and checked everything again. We've only had this van for 4 months so we don't know what abuse they'd suffered in the past.
New batteries installed and on mains hook up since yesterday I thought I should see how they're holding their charge this evening now that it's dark so unplugged from the mains and left a few lights on for an hour. They started at 12.7 and dropped in the hour to 12.3
Is this normal? I'm wondering if we have something that we don't know about that's drawing power.
Any thoughts?
Thanks
Mags
 

funflair

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It depends on what you mean by "a few lights" but I would not expect to see as low as 12.3, are your lights LED.

Martin
 
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Mags52

Mags52

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No they're not LED. At least as far as I know. We left the outside light, two small strip lights and a couple of tiny cupboard lights on (the latter two was a mistake!). There must be something drawing power but can't think what it is. The van is going back to the dealer for a couple of fixes under warranty when we get back to the UK so maybe we should get them to look at it. We're just concerned that these batteries won't make it - they were expensive!

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funflair

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When you turn everything off for the night just sneak back and have a look after everything has been shut down for 10 minutes and see what they are reading.

Martin
 

PeteH

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It` all the Fault of Mr "Ohm". He was the one who decided that Resistance (ohms) was a product of Amps / Volts OR that current (amps) equalled Volts X resistance Etc:

So a 21Watt lamp will consume (because Watts is the product of Volts X Amps) 21 /12 or Approx 1.75 Amps. IF you have a battery of (say) 100Ah that will Theoretically provide 1amp for 100 hrs (it won`t for several reasons, likely less that 1/3rd of that). So your lamp(s) will last give or take 30hrs per lamp, and for every lamp that will further reduce the Time factor. (2 = 15hrs etc). What you are experiencing is not that unusual IMHO?.

Pete
 
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Mags52

Mags52

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We have 2 x 100 Ah batteries. But I'm just a bit paranoid that the problem is somewhere else and that our expensive new batteries don't fix the it. We're heading north from Spain tomorrow and once we get to France will be on Aires - that will test them properly, especially as it's getting colder and we'll need to run the blown air heating.

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Badknee

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We have 2 x 100 Ah batteries. But I'm just a bit paranoid that the problem is somewhere else and that our expensive new batteries don't fix the it. We're heading north from Spain tomorrow and once we get to France will be on Aires - that will test them properly, especially as it's getting colder and we'll need to run the blown air heating.
We have two 135ah no solar and have lasted five days in a rally field. LED's all round and don't leave the blow part of the heating on, just the gas part and we haven't had any problems.
 

funflair

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Whatever the situation is with your batteries if you intend to spend time off hook up it would be worth investing in a few LED's.

Put them back on the hook up and then pull your hook up lead tomorrow night when you go to bed and as long as you have nothing running overnight and assuming no solar, check the volts in the morning, I would expect to see close to 12.7.

Martin
 
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Mags52

Mags52

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We have two 135ah no solar and have lasted five days in a rally field. LED's all round and don't leave the blow part of the heating on, just the gas part and we haven't had any problems.
How do you turn the blowers off?

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Badknee

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How do you turn the blowers off?
Ours is a Truma and has the gas control on the top left, see image, and turns gas on, fires the starter and sets the temp. On the right is the fan speed switch and at night we leave it off and the van is kept warm, when first of us get up in the morning just turn blower on for more heat down the other end of van.
image.jpg
 
Feb 24, 2013
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Another massive vote for LED lights as soon as you can and until you can use lights really sparingly

Our MH is a 08 model fitted with loads of early 'mood' lighting, in the form of rope lights, fluorescent strips and in the bathroom masses of small halogens that we cant seem to swap, we also have a controller that allows me to see Amps being used.

I have gone round turning on individual lights to check, the bathroom draws 5.4A :eek::eek:, some of the strip lights over 3A, but where we have changed to LED's they barely register any consumption, around 0.1A for 4 lit together

Have also heard that blown air is another killer

Don't let it spoil your trip, if you are stuck you can always run your engine for a while to top the batteries up, not the most efficient or neighbour friendly option, but quite effective, but you might also prove that it is your charger causing the problem, if they stay charged longer after a drive that might be a clue (y)
 

Badknee

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When you do replace your bulbs for LED's spend a little extra on the ones below because it seems the 12v ones can blow according to reports on Fun. Ours are 8-30v and in the lounge I have put warm white and in the kitchen and bathroom cool white and boy can you tell the difference! As David says the saving in power is monstrous.
image.jpg
image.jpg

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Delboyarapaho

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I have an autotrail and my batteries are pretty much knackered but I wont change them until next season. However I looked at the control panel today and the meter told me I had 100%AH but the leisure battery only indicated 11volts. I guess I assumed the meter showing 100% capacity was good news but clearly it is a meaningless indicator because the batteries have no life in them. Can anyone rationalise these two factors and explain what each meter is telling me?
 
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Ours is a Truma and has the gas control on the top left, see image, and turns gas on, fires the starter and sets the temp. On the right is the fan speed switch and at night we leave it off and the van is kept warm, when first of us get up in the morning just turn blower on for more heat down the other end of van.View attachment 81141
@Mags52 has an AutotrailAutotrail Miami so it won't have the fire type heating it will be the heating that works from the boiler.

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funflair

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Surely at 12.7 volts they cannot have been fully charged when disconnected from the EHU.

12.7 volts is pretty much what a lead acid battery will settle at once it is taken off charge a gel battery will show slightly higher voltage.

Martin
 

Jaws

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And the answer is... Autotrail !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was really worried about mine and in the end got a decent meter on them and checked the buggers ( the batteries )
Since then I have checked maybe half a dozen other Autotrails.. all with pretty much identical results.. The Sargent panel reads .35v lower than they ( the batteries ) actually are
 

PeteH

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Wait at least 1/2 an hour before measuring. The Battery has to "settle". What you need to see with a full charge on a disconnected "Wet" battery. is about 12.6 ish volts, That`s your start Point.

Pete

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Dec 12, 2010
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If you feel capable, get your led's from ebay, caravan supply shops seem to charge way over the odds for them.
Changed all mine for ones encapsulated in clear silicon, it was as easy as changing a light bulb in the house. We have one fluorescent tube in the hab area that will be a pain to change and it consumes more power on it's own than all the rest put together.
 
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Mags52

Mags52

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If you feel capable, get your led's from ebay, caravan supply shops seem to charge way over the odds for them.
Changed all mine for ones encapsulated in clear silicon, it was as easy as changing a light bulb in the house. We have one fluorescent tube in the hab area that will be a pain to change and it consumes more power on it's own than all the rest put together.
As soon as we're back in the UK I'll get on to the search for LEDs. Our van has a load of strip lights. I thought they were low consumers. Oh dear.
 

pappajohn

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You had 12.3v with lights on.

Turn off all the lights....no load....and check again after 15 mins
Bet they show 12.6v to 12.7v.

Batteries under load will always show a reduced voltage.....doesnt mean its knackered.
While cranking an engine the starter battery may show as low as 9v....stop cranking and it will return to 12.6v +

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Mags52

Mags52

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You had 12.3v with lights on.

Turn off all the lights....no load....and check again after 15 mins
Bet they show 12.6v to 12.7v.

Batteries under load will always show a reduced voltage.....doesnt mean its knackered.
While cranking an engine the starter battery may show as low as 9v....stop cranking and it will return to 12.6v +
Thank you PapaJ I am much reassured.
 
Apr 12, 2010
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I have changed all our lights to LED. The striplights are the main culprit. LEDs consume less than 10 % of a normal bulb.
Since then the batteries have never lost charge.
To do the job really properly, you should fit solar as well.
Phil

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Mags52

Mags52

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I have changed all our lights to LED. The striplights are the main culprit. LEDs consume less than 10 % of a normal bulb.
Since then the batteries have never lost charge.
To do the job really properly, you should fit solar as well.
Phil
We've got solar so will get to the LED lights as soon as we get back. I had no idea there was such a huge difference.
 

PeteH

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is it possible to change strip lights to LED?

Yes. I cannot remember where but I saw some Tubes which where allegedly a strip of LED`s inside?.

At Lincoln I think?

This could be what you are looking for?:- http://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/12v-led-interior-strip-light-with-opaque-lens-unswitched.html

The outside Light on my Rapido had 4 halogens in. I took then all out a tapped into one to supply a strip of self adhesive LED`s behind the cover. works perfectly!.

Pete

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