Battery charging problems Elddis Aspire 240

[sjcorking]

On site with EHU, two nights ago the alarm on the main control panel went off to say the leisure battery was at 11.5v. We have two batteries in our Aspire 240 both replaced a year ago. With everything turned off overnight it has gone up to 11.9 but won't go above. Today we took both batteries to Halfords who tested them and said one was 12.1v and the other 12.4v and both capable of being charged. Last year when we had to replace both we were told we had over charged them by leaving the inverter on and this should only be switched on whilst driving. Today it wouldn't switch on whilst driving however it will switch on when we're hooked up to the mains but we're concerned about doing this as don't want to have they same issue as before. Any advice very much appreciated, thank you.

 

[Lenny HB]

The battery test would have been a CCA test which is totally meaningless for a leisure battery.
If you were using the inverter to power anything more than 500 watts it would have shortened your battery life.

Best way to test a leisure battery is by the slow discharge method.

First charge the battery fully and leave it to settle for an hour then:-

For example if it's a 100a/h battery load it with a 5 amp load and run for 5 hours, this will represent a 25% discharge. (adjust load/time to suit the size of the battery)
Disconnect the load and leave to stand for at least 30 min then measure the voltage.
Repeat the test and you will have discharged the battery to 50%.
You can repeat again then it will be 75% discharged.


Always best to test each battery individually if in any doubt.

 

[pappajohn]

I think you're getting confused with terminology.
An inverter doesn't charge the battery, it discharges it.
The probable reason for the flat battery is the split charge or mains charger isn't working so the battery discharges

 

[sjcorking]

Pappajohn

 

[sjcorking]

I think you're getting confused with terminology.
An inverter doesn't charge the battery, it discharges it.
The probable reason for the flat battery is the split charge or mains charger isn't working so the battery discharges

Thank you, how do I find/test the split charge or mains charger please?

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[mitzimad]

Its possible that you've turned the mains charger of I would consult your electrical system instructions eldis its probably a Sargent system

 

[sjcorking]

It's very possible, we just don't know how to find it to check and the user manual is hopeless!!

 

[Bessy765]

We had 2012 Aspire 255, under the nearside settee is the fuse box. Next to that is the battery charger, it had a red button you push in to turn the charger on. Not sure if it is the same as yours. Is everything else working? In particular the electric step retracting when you start the engine. Does the fridge run on the 12. Volts again when engine running, do the hab lights go out again when you start the engine. These all need a D+ signal from the alternator when you start the engine. There is a relay inside the bottom of the (B) post (the one where the driver seat belt is fixed to. If this relay fails none of these items will work nor will your batteries. Get charged by the engine.

 

[autorouter]

we just don't know how to find it to check

You can check for yourself with a multimeter. Any cheap multimeter from a DIY store will be OK for this, you can pick one up for a tenner or so. As you can imagine, this question has come up before. For how to use a meter, see post #24 of this thread.

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If you take a few voltage measurements, that can tell you a lot about how your systems is/isn't working.

 

[sjcorking]

We had 2012 Aspire 255, under the nearside settee is the fuse box. Next to that is the battery charger, it had a red button you push in to turn the charger on. Not sure if it is the same as yours. Is everything else working? In particular the electric step retracting when you start the engine. Does the fridge run on the 12. Volts again when engine running, do the hab lights go out again when you start the engine. These all need a D+ signal from the alternator when you start the engine. There is a relay inside the bottom of the (B) post (the one where the driver seat belt is fixed to. If this relay fails none of these items will work nor will your batteries. Get charged by the engine.

Thank you Bessy765, did you put the charger on when on site connected to ehu?

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[Bessy765]

Just leave the charger switched on if you are not on ehu it wont come to any harm no voltage no output.

 

[pappajohn]

Thank you, how do I find/test the split charge or mains charger please?

sjcorking
You don't need to find any in the first instance
To check if they are working is simple
Using a voltmeter/multimeter, check the leisure battery voltage WITHOUT HOOKUP and engine OFF
Now start the engine and check again, the voltage should be higher than it was...maybe 14v or more.
Stop the engine and leave for half an hour, then plug into hookup. Again the voltage should be higher than the first reading.
If either of the voltages don't rise it's time to find the charger and split charge relay and 5hey could be anywhere