Charging problems.

[Garry McG]

Hi all, complete novice looking for advice or at least to be steared in the right direction. I own a converted van but didn't do the conversion myself. I replaced both my leisure batteries 18 months ago as one was faulty. Advised to replace both. By the December 2020 both and the main battery were completely dead. Got it jump started and moved to its current location where it has been mains hooked up ever since.
Mains sockets continued to work but nothing else. Not a problem as had no need for it to move or work. Subsequently tried charging the vans starter battery only to find out it was faulty. Have since replaced it. Thought it might have been why the leisure batteries were not charging despite being hooked up. It does have WAECO IU4512 battery charger. But that only seems to come back on when I start the van up. I also have 200w solar panels which should also provide some sort of charge. But again unless the van is running there is no power to the monitoring module.
Anyone any ideas what's gone wrong or what I need someone to have a look at. I'm afraid I am not electrically minded in any way. Thanks in advance.

 

[pappajohn]

Can't help with cause but depending how long the batteries have been dead they are almost certainly damaged and while they may take a charge they won't hold a charge.
Lead acid batteries MUST be stored fully charged.

 

[monzer]

There was a post from someone not so long ago who had a problem very similar to yours. Their batteries only seemed to be taking a charge from the running engine also.

I'll see if I can find it.

 

[Nedge68]

Well, depends what the converter has done, they should be able to provide at least some basic info, the battery charger is only designed to work on EHU. So when the van was left, was the Solar actually actively charging the batteries? You might have to switch it on. It sounds like the leisure batteries are completely discharged, you really could do with disconnecting them and checking the voltage across each battery with a multimeter.

 

[gerry mcg]

Ha!
I had to do a double take!! I thought my account had been hijacked!!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[autorouter]

From your description of the problems are so many possible causes. To make a start on diagnosing the problems, you need a multimeter to take a few important voltage readings. Are you OK with taking voltage readings with a multimeter? For this job any cheap multimeter will do, you can get one for under a tenner at a DIY store.

A battery that's not being charged, and with no load connected to it, will after a few hours settle down to a 'resting voltage' of between 12.0V (fairly flat) and 12.8V (full). If the battery voltage is 13.0V or higher, something is charging it - solar, mains or alternator.

A battery being actively charged will often show a voltage of nearly 15V. When it's full, the charger will drop the voltage down to about 13.5V. That's the float charge voltage, which keeps the battery 100% full without overcharging.

So if you have a multimeter, and measure the battery terminals, you can tell what is happening to a battery. In particular, whether it is being charged or not.

As for your problems, it sounds like the mains charger isn't charging the batteries. There are many possible reasons. Is the charger getting 240V, and is it switched on? There will be a fuse somewhere on the 12V output of the charger, worth checking that. There will be a big fuse near the leisure battery, on the supply from the leisure battery to the 12V distribution/fusebox. Worth checking that too.

That Waeco charger is a 45A multistage smart charger, and if it's working correctly will be good for charging a pair of leisure batteries. 45A is a bit high for a single battery, but it's great for a pair of batteries.

 

[Nedge68]

Plenty of good advice from Autorouter, definately worth investing in a multimeter if you don’t have one, there are threads that you can find here, (approx £40.) It is also worth checking that you have the charger set correctly for the type of battery Wet/Gel/AGM etc.. you have installed to increase life and performance.

 

[Gellyneck]

Ha!
I had to do a double take!! I thought my account had been hijacked!!

So did I!