Battery usage / chargeing.

[Summies]

Hi there go easy please as i am only a few months into my first motorhome.

My question is if i am hooked and i were to plug into the 230v socket in the van something like the wifes hairdryer will this run from the battery and drain it or direct from the hook up. And if i have drained the battery how long will it take to charge it up and will i of damaged it to the point i need a new battery?

hope this makes sense

 

[pappajohn]

anything you plug into 230v will run on the hookup or genny if you use one....

the only time it will use the battery is if you have an inverter.

as for charging times....depends on your charger output and how flat the battery is.

you shouldn't flatten the battery below 50% at most.
below 50% its technically dead and buried

 

[Summies]

thanks then i guess i have a problem as the control panel is showing the battery charge is very low and i have had it on hookup today.

 

[pappajohn]

find and look at your charger....it may be turned off.

usually an illuminated rocker switch somewhere on the charger casing.

also look at the mains 230v fuse box and ensure all breakers are turned on.

 

[Summies]

charger seems to be on circuit breakers are on there is no switch on the charger but it is making a slight noise so i assume it is working?

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[haganap]

Hi Summies, you might be new but your getting good.
If you have been on hook up all day and your battery is showing low voltage, your right sounds like a problem. Mine charge within a few hours of being totally shot. Leave it overnight, re-check in the am. If no joy, check fuses and if still no joy, depending on age etc could have a knacked battery. They are struggling in this cold weather.:thumb:

 

[haganap]

also, what van is it?

 

[Summies]

ah cold wether did a wild camp the other night. hardy used much other than lights and water pump. But still i should have a charge by now. i guess i have a battery problem, is there a way of testing a battery.

 

[Summies]

swift ace milano on a 56 plate

think the battery is a snowdon type 110.

 

[haganap]

ah cold wether did a wild camp the other night. hardy used much other than lights and water pump. But still i should have a charge by now. i guess i have a battery problem, is there a way of testing a battery.

Voltage meter, will give you the Charge in it.

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[pappajohn]

as paul said...a volt/multi meter across the battery terminals.

do it first with the hookup disconnected, note the voltage then plug in again and recheck.

if its the same reading on both tests you probaly have a charger fault....if the reading is higher on hookup then a duff battery is likely.

batteries can and do develop internal faults at any time so it may have worked last time out but not this time.

 

[dellwood33]

Have you checked the levels in the battery ?

 

[Summies]

levels?

 

[dellwood33]

On Lead Acid Batteries there is the facility to remove a series of plugs from the top of the battery and check that the plates are covered with a solution of dilute sulfuric acid.
If the levels are low, they can be carefully topped up to just cover the plates, using distilled water - available from car accessory shops.
This does not apply to sealed for life or gel batteries.