Battery going flat (1 Viewer)

[Turrells]

Hi all

Our motorhome was in storage for three weeks between uses. When collecting it last Wednesday, it wouldn't start, no dashboard lights, no turnover noise, nothing, dead as a dodo. AA came and jump started it and after an hour's run it was fine.

Yesterday, on site, tried to start it and again, nothing. Something must be draining the battery. Any thoughts please?

 

[MC 55 FUN]

Radio, alarm & tracker are the usual battery draining suspects, after 3 weeks without charge your battery is likely to be flat & a jump start / an hours run won't fully recharge it - hence it being flat again, the Moho needs a lengthy run or the battery needs to be charged for at least 12 hours.

The battery could of course be knackered.

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

At 3 weeks standing it may lose enough to cause a starting failure but the dash lights should still light up if he battery is not completely knackered.
It sounds like you will be likely to need a new battery unless of course you have found something that is draining it more than the alarm and clock/radio memories

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[Turrells]

Thanks for your thoughts both of you. Forgot to mention that AA man said the battery looks fairly new. Also, after the hours run we drove 80 miles to the campsite, so that should have charged it.

 

[andy63]

Hi all

Our motorhome was in storage for three weeks between uses. When collecting it last Wednesday, it wouldn't start, no dashboard lights, no turnover noise, nothing, dead as a dodo. AA came and jump started it and after an hour's run it was fine.

Yesterday, on site, tried to start it and again, nothing. Something must be draining the battery. Any thoughts please?

If you can do it or know someone who can find out what the drain is.. then you will be better able to judge whether that is acceptable..
Give the system time to shut down to its normal off state before getting a reading..
If it is acceptable (and im guessing not more than 300ma but that will depend on what you have ie alarms , trackers etc ) and battery still can't handle it then you will know you need a new battery but might also pay to look at solar and battery master to keep it right in future..
Andy

 

[Lenny HB]

If it was completely flat 80 miles no where near far enough to fully recharge it. But dies sound like the battery has had it.

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[pappajohn]

If it is acceptable (and im guessing not more than 300ma

300mah isn't acceptable.
Over a 3 week period it will total 152 amps....maybe twice the batteries capacity.
30milliamps would be an acceptable figure

 

[andy63]

300mah isn't acceptable.
Over a 3 week period it will total 152 amps....maybe twice the batteries capacity.
30milliamps would be an acceptable figure

Yea John suspect you are closer the mark.. but that was a figure that I actually read on my transit but accept that I had to open the door to take the reading which may well have woken up some functions..
I suppose if you want an accurate reading you would have to sit in the van and wait till everything shut down..
I still think that a moden vehicle with alarm and trackers etc may well take more than 30 ma ..
Andy

 

[pappajohn]

I fitted an aftermarket radio in a '97 Vauxhall corsa.
Strange wiring in those so had to connect power and memory wires to same supply.
Ign off and Radio off at button and draw was 192ma....Battery flat in 10 days none use.
Turning off that way only turns off the amplifier circuit but the radio receiver is still live drawing 192ma.
Managed to wire it properly and radio button on but radio off with ign...19ma used by memory only.

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[Printermick]

Our reversing camera was connected to the starter battery and would drain it in about that time. There is a small switch on the dash that isolates it.

 

[The Wino]

Drive it for a bit then disconnect the battery if iys flat again then you know its had it (but a pain for the radio code/alarm etc.

 

[Turrells]

Thanks to all who replied. It has been suggested that the security system, which hasn't been working recently,, could be the culprit. We will be on to local. highly recommended company tomorrow.

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[Pia]

Hi all

Our motorhome was in storage for three weeks between uses. When collecting it last Wednesday, it wouldn't start, no dashboard lights, no turnover noise, nothing, dead as a dodo. AA came and jump started it and after an hour's run it was fine.

Yesterday, on site, tried to start it and again, nothing. Something must be draining the battery. Any thoughts please?

Can you not start from the habitation battery?

 

[Turrells]

Pia, how do we do that please?