Another flat battery! Just two weeks old...

[John Barrett]

Installed 2001 by first owner and I have not used the Alarm since we bought the MH In January this year..
Went out this morning to fit parking sensors.
Opened the bonnet to take a look.
Went inside to turn on radio: no joy.
No Alarm lights on dash.
Tried to start engine: no joy.
Electric steps work OK.
Alarm fob does not seem to work. Batteries read 3.11V.
The Manual tells me that the starter battery must be dead. Not so as I fitted a new starter battery one week ago. Possible link?
There are two rocker switches in the glovebox and a barrel lock. Playing with them does not work!
I am minded to remove said system...
Help!

 

[TCG]

why don't you give vanbitz a call

 

[John Barrett]

why don't you give vanbitz a call

Yes, I will thanks.

 

[Simon Select]

Strikeback is just an alarm albeit a very good one.
Problem with power draw I would imagine...... Well it could be a lot of things!

 

[Speve]

Seems a bit of a coincidence that you fitted new battery last week are you sure you haven’t altered something or not reconnected a cable?

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[Wagoneer]

The toggle switches in the glove box are to do with the bicycle alarm loop. The loop plugs into a caravan/trailer type plug at the rear of the vehicle attached to the chassis.

PS. When I sold my Hymer with strikeback the new owner transferred the paperwork into his name for a nominal fee. This allowed the new owner to ask Vanbitz for assistance, if and when necessary.

 

[John Barrett]

I rang VanBitz. They told me the vehicle battery must be flat. Sure enough, the new battery is reading just two volts!
Time to ring Battery Megastore!

 

[eddie]

Perhaps we could change the thread title, to "I have another flat battery"

 

[andy63]

Time to ring Battery Megastore

Possibly more important that you find out what the drain on the battery is..
Why did you change the battery last week..
Andy

 

[John Barrett]

Perhaps we could change the thread title, to "I have another flat battery"

Title Changed. The alarm worked after five minutes on the charger. I now have to find that severe current drain. There are only two extra wires on the battery and they go to the EBL, which was serviced recently, and the fact that the EHU was connected raises suspicions!

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[John Barrett]

The man at Battery Megastore told me that it was impossible for a battery to read that low. However, my limited knowledge suggests to me that one or more cells have died. I've put it on charge and tomorrow I'll start the engine with the voltmeter connected, then we shall see...
John

 

[Garfields]

Very unusual for new batteries to be duff
Much more likely something is drawing the power
Radio lights fridge etc

 

[Speve]

I think lesson should be learned here for everyone, don’t name or blame until you are absolutely sure of the problem and what Or who caused it?

 

[John Barrett]

I think lesson should be learned here don’t name or blame until you are absolutely sure of the problem and what Or who caused it?

Agreed!

 

[Speve]

Agreed!

Have edited my post to lesson learned for everyone it was not aimed at you specifically

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[John Barrett]

Have edited my post to lesson learned for everyone it was not aimed at you specifically

The problem for me was compounded by the knowledge that the previous owner told me they had to resort to two separate callouts involving the immobiliser. I assumed it was the same problem. Assume is a dangerous word as it makes an ASS out of U and ME!
I've put it on a four amp charge to gently bring it back to life. There shouldn't be any sulphation or buckled plates at this early stage, I think!
John
Making more unforced errors the older I get...

 

[Lenny HB]

Worth getting a DC clamp meter then you easily see what current is being drawn.

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[John Barrett]

Worth getting a DC clamp meter then you easily see what current is being drawn.

Uni-T Ut210e for sale | eBay

Find great deals on eBay for Uni-T Ut210e. Shop with confidence.

www.ebay.co.uk

Will this gadget help with the current drain measurement? It has a 10A feature.
BTW there was no current drain via the EBL: the 30A inline fuse had blown, probably long ago!

 

[Two on Tour]

Worth getting a DC clamp meter then you easily see what current is being drawn.

Uni-T Ut210e for sale | eBay

Find great deals on eBay for Uni-T Ut210e. Shop with confidence.

www.ebay.co.uk

Lenny, Lenny, your loosing your touch, that clamp meter does not do DC current.

 

[John Barrett]

Lenny, Lenny, your loosing your touch, that clamp meter does not do DC current.

Looking at the symbols I don't think mine does either!
Looking again perhaps it does!

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[Two on Tour]

Will this gadget help with the current drain measurement? It has a 10A feature.
BTW there was no current drain via the EBL: the 30A inline fuse had blown, probably long ago!

View attachment 404731

No John, it only does AC current not DC current which you will need for current drain from your battery.

Edit : I did not look hard enough, yes your meter does do DC current.

 

[John Barrett]

No John, it only does AC current not DC current which you will need for current drain from your battery.

Edit : did not hard enough, yes yor meter does do DC current.

View attachment 404746

Agreed. I just found this useful video: demo 12 minutes in!

 

[Speve]

Lenny, Lenny, your loosing your touch, that clamp meter does not do DC current.

Not like Lenny HB to get it wrong it does say AC DC on description.

 

[pappajohn]

The man at Battery Megastore told me that it was impossible for a battery to read that low.

He's talking rubbish. I've had batteries so discharged they even don't register a voltage on a digital voltmeter.

 

[tonyidle]

I've had batteries so discharged they even don't register a voltage on a digital voltmeter.

I've had them so low I've had to dig 'em out.

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[Two on Tour]

Not like Lenny HB to get it wrong it does say AC DC on description.

But it does not state DC current which you need to measure DC amps does it.

 

[John Barrett]

He's talking rubbish. I've had batteries so discharged they even don't register a voltage on a digital voltmeter.

Agreed. So many people in that position seem to talk that way these days!

 

[Lenny HB]

Lenny, Lenny, your loosing your touch, that clamp meter does not do DC current.

Specsaver for you.
I've got one brilliant bit of kit.

Model: UT210E. Its resolution ratio is 1mA. Maximum range has maximum rage of 100A AC/DC; particular VFC start mode. Maximum Clamp Head Size: 17mm. LCD Size: 39.3mm 21.5mm. Product Size: 175mm 60mm 33.5mm."

 

[Speve]

But it does not state DC current which you need to measure DC amps does it.

View attachment 404824

This is from the more expensive one next to the £11 one.

 

[Two on Tour]

Specsaver for you.
I've got one brilliant bit of kit.

Model: UT210E. Its resolution ratio is 1mA. Maximum range has maximum rage of 100A AC/DC; particular VFC start mode. Maximum Clamp Head Size: 17mm. LCD Size: 39.3mm 21.5mm. Product Size: 175mm 60mm 33.5mm."

Here's a scan from your eBay link, go on show me were it state DC current or your line of :-

"Model: UT210E. Its resolution ratio is 1mA. Maximum range has maximum rage of 100A AC/DC; particular VFC start mode. Maximum Clamp Head Size: 17mm. LCD Size: 39.3mm 21.5mm. Product Size: 175mm 60mm 33.5mm."

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