Batteries

[Jewellbags]

The most popular subject I guess . Had a night not on hook up last night and the diesel heater cut out in the wee hours as the leisure battery was getting low . Not an issue , happened before and 5 minutes with the engine running solved it. I have solar on the roof and probably standard batteries . But what are your top tips to preserve charge and what are the best bangs for buck in supplementing the charge . Ps - we’d been on site since 1pm , quite a bright day and only really had the radio on during the day . I also ran the engine when I started the diesel heater

 

[Richard n Ann]

Sounds like your battery has come to the end of it's life. I know the diesel heaters use a lot of power on start up but battery should last over 1 night.

 

[pappajohn]

Not an issue , happened before and 5 minutes with the engine running solved it

5 minutes
Barely long enough to get electric through the wires.
Unless you have B2B fitted it would take a couple of hours or more to get any usable charge into the battery.

 

[Jewellbags]

I have a battery master fitted

 

[Lucky]

I have a battery master fitted

Still, 5 minutes is next to nothing

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[pappajohn]

I have a battery master fitted

Battery master only trickle charges the engine battery when the leisure battery is full.

Or do you mean a battery to battery (B2B) unit.

 

[Jewellbags]

Sorry B2B

 

[paddymcc]

I have a battery master fitted

Battery master supplies a charge to the cab battery when the leisure battery has surplus. A B2B provides additional charge to the leisure battery when the engine is on - more than a standard fit alternator will.
But agree your leisure batteries need replacing.

Beaten to it by pappajohn.

 

[ShaKen]

How old is the battery and what capacity?

 

[paddymcc]

So if you have a B2B and solar then definitely need a new battery.

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[Jewellbags]

The batter was fitted when I bought the moho in 2019 . I’ll bounce it to the dealer to see what they say

 

[autorouter]

Most batteries fail by gradually losing storage capacity, so for example a 100Ah battery will behave like a 50Ah battery. This is due to sulphation, caused by leaving the battery in a discharged or semi-discharged state for long periods without fully charging it.

Running your B2B for 5 minutes would put in about 3Ah of charge (say 30A for 1/10 hr). If you can run with that, it means there is no excessive drain on the batteries. So either the batteries weren't full when you first parked up, or they've lost a lot of capacity and are due for renewal.

 

[Jewellbags]

The moho is on hook up at home and we took a 40 minute drive to get here... it appears from what you are saying that it has degraded . I’ll get it checks and replaced

 

[Tombola]

Battery is knackered. what ah is it and is it lead acid.
Probably about 110ah. If you have a b2b and solar maybe think about replacing it with lithium is spening a bit time off grid

 

[Jewellbags]

Battery is knackered. what ah is it and is it lead acid.
Probably about 110ah. If you have a b2b and solar maybe think about replacing it with lithium is spening a bit time off grid

Is lithium significantly better ? And sort of cost am I looking at ?

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[Tombola]

They are more expensive, but for long term work out cheaper. Charge faster, weigh less and provide the full power for the virtually full capacity/length of charge (not 50% like lead acid) .

Im glad I ditched my lead for them, but for occasional use it may be different for some folks. There are hundreds of threads about lithium/solar/b2b etc here.
Prices vary a lot, from basic like this that I know some members on here have a 100ah https://www.ebay.co.uk/b/Lithium-Rechargeable-Batteries-100-Ah-Amp-Hours/48619/bn_7117068759

I have had this one a year now which has bluetooth app for monitoring the BMS and had no issues at all, and like the built in app that can run alongside my victron app if required, though of course they do cheaper ones and this is 200ah remember https://www.qualitysource.co.uk/products/novel-series-12v-200ah
I ordered a cheap one from China a while back just to test it worked out about £300 with delivery and it is in my garage supplying power there for 2 months via an inverter and works fine, just had to add a cheap external battery blutooth monitor.

 

[Jewellbags]

They are more expensive, but for long term work out cheaper. Charge faster, weigh less and provide the full power for the virtually full capacity/length of charge (not 50% like lead acid) .

Im glad I ditched my lead for them, but for occasional use it may be different for some folks. There are hundreds of threads about lithium/solar/b2b etc here.
Prices vary a lot, from basic like this that I know some members on here have a 100ah https://www.ebay.co.uk/b/Lithium-Rechargeable-Batteries-100-Ah-Amp-Hours/48619/bn_7117068759

I have had this one a year now which has bluetooth app for monitoring the BMS and had no issues at all, and like the built in app that can run alongside my victron app if required, though of course they do cheaper ones and this is 200ah remember https://www.qualitysource.co.uk/products/novel-series-12v-200ah
I ordered a cheap one from China a while back just to test it worked out about £300 with delivery and it is in my garage supplying power there for 2 months via an inverter and works fine, just had to add a cheap external battery blutooth monitor.

Many thanks for the advice . The aim is to be off grid more often as and when the world opens up again so I’ll consider the investment . Thanks for taking the time

 

[Tombola]

Many thanks for the advice . The aim is to be off grid more often as and when the world opens up again so I’ll consider the investment . Thanks for taking the time

go lithium/solar/b2b/inverter ( if you need an inverter) I get loving looks from my darling wife when she uses her hairdrier without having to trot to the facilities

One thing I would say, is as I ony learned this week from here is, have a look for an inverter/charger combined that has and "auto" switchover so that when you plug into ehu or unplug from ehu the whole thig still supplies your sockets as if on ehu, seems much easier.

I fitted a seperate relay switch thingy for it.

 

[Jewellbags]

go lithium/solar/b2b/inverter ( if you need an inverter) I get loving looks from my darling wife when she uses her hairdrier without having to trot to the facilities

One thing I would say, is as I ony learned this week from here is, have a look for an inverter/charger combined that has and "auto" switchover so that when you plug into ehu or unplug from ehu the whole thig still supplies your sockets as if on ehu, seems much easier.

I fitted a seperate relay switch thingy for it.

So the 3 pin sockets work off grid as well ?

 

[Tombola]

So the 3 pin sockets work off grid as well ?

yup, with an inverter if you have decent batteries with enough juice.

EDIT..I see what your doing...you looking for the loving looks aswell arent you

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[Jewellbags]

yup, with an inverter if you have decent batteries with enough juice.

EDIT..I see what your doing...you looking for the loving looks aswell arent you

I have to do something - my charms as dashing good looks ain’t cutting it anymore

 

[Jewellbags]

So the saga continued and had to leave the campsite tonight as it had no ehu , and the leisure was draining by the minute either with the diesel heating running or just the tv etc - dud battery as you have all suggested . Question is what is the standard warranty on batteries as this was installed new in October. 2019 - got a rush in a replacement now as we are away next weekend again

 

[Tombola]

So the saga continued and had to leave the campsite tonight as it had no ehu , and the leisure was draining by the minute either with the diesel heating running or just the tv etc - dud battery as you have all suggested . Question is what is the standard warranty on batteries as this was installed new in October. 2019 - got a rush in a replacement now as we are away next weekend again

What make is it
And tbh, if it had been down to a low voltage for a long period of time that would have knackered it anyway, so warranty wouldnt cover it

 

[Jewellbags]

I really don’t know what type it is - just got home - but it’s been on ehu at home all the time

 

[addoaddo]

B2b only work well when the engine is running at over about 1500rpm. At tick over it will only put a tiny charge in the batter

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[autorouter]

B2b only work well when the engine is running at over about 1500rpm. At tick over it will only put a tiny charge in the batter

Depends whether it is voltage-triggered or triggered from the D+/ignition. Mine is triggered from D+ and gives full output at tickover. That may or may not be what you want. I think it could be outputting more than the alternator is generating, ie taking power from the starter battery. Suits me fine.