dead engine battery

monzer

monzer

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I've been plugged in to mains for 3 or 4 days now so I thought the battery master would be keeping a trickle charge on the engine battery.

Turns out it hasn't for some reason and the van ain't starting :(

First of all, to get it going, is it safe enough to connect jump leads from hab battery to engine battery?

Secondly, why the hell is the battery master not doing its job?
 
monzer said:
First of all, to get it going, is it safe enough to connect jump leads from hab battery to engine battery?
Click to expand...
That would depend on the type of batteries you have as leisure.. should be ok but some arnt designed for that heavy a discharge and dont come with a cold crank rating..
If i could id use another vehicle of similar type for a jump if possible..
You will have to check the battery master.. does it have a tell tale led to indicate its on.. and then check voltages with a meter.. it only supplies about an amp , so any substantial drain on the start either fault or accidental wont be coped with by the battery master..
Andy
 
I think some motorhomes actually have the facility to utilise the leisure battery to start the vehicle, so I dont see why you cant use it for an emergency start. do you have a separate battery charger you could also hook up the issue might be your vehicle battery not the charging system?
 
Probably time for a new starter battery.
I'd take it out and get it tested (which may be easier said than done).
 
If I'd been on the go earlier I could have got some of the people leaving to give me a jump. I don't fancy asking anyone here to pack up their van for 5 minutes to help me out. I'll pop down to the shop and get either jump leads or battery charger.

I have had the stereo on now and again and the occasional charge of the 4GEE device but I thought the battery master would cope in recharging it as I was hooked up.

Maybe right regarding new battery.

I am on a bit of a slope so did think about trying to bump it down the hill but maybe not the brightest idea.

Engine battery is reading 11.9 and hab is at 12.4 which I reckon is a bit low seeing as I have just unplugged mains.

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Well when I took those reading there I could have sworn last time I checked the engine battery was lower at 11.4 so thought I'd give it one more go and the old dear fired up.

I'll keep an eye on it. Nice 70 mile drive to La Manga today so plenty time for a charge.

Thanks for your help.
 
@monzer
Same happened to us this time last year, got a jump start and drove 150 miles before stopping overnight without EHU . Following morning wouldn't even turn over. Located the nearest Norauto and they checked the battery(ours on a 2010 Fiat is under the passenger side floor panel in the cab.) Cables going everywhere! He tested the battery and declared it dead. They fitted a suitable Varta battery,( has a pan European 2 year warranty) including fitting, cost about €150. No problems since(touch wood)

Barry
 
It's took a good charge on the way down. It's up to 13.3 or so. I'll see what happens. I've got bigger things to worry about in the drunk singing french people beside me :LOL:
 
If you are referring to the original Vanbitz battery master? these only transfer 1amp per hour and are meant for when in storage to support the engine battery with the alarm on.
Do not use your radio or anything else without the engine running

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12.7v = fully charged battery when its disconnected from everything (just take the earth off) leave for an hour and test.
If I remember correctly 12.3v = 50% discharged.
If it goes down to 11.something - time for a new battery.
 
What general kind of reading should I be getting off a hab battery that is plugged in to mains and not currently powering anything else?

I took a reading when I parked up and it was 12.23v

Plugged in and left for an hour then I got 12.61v

Then another hour or so later it read the same 12.61v

Should it be going up higher than this?
 
U cant tell the state of a battery (unless u have one of those fancy monitor jobbies) if u have it connected or on charge. Disconnect and leave it alone for a couple of hours before taking a reading. Then look at my previous post.
 
monzer said:
What general kind of reading should I be getting off a hab battery that is plugged in to mains and not currently powering anything else?

I took a reading when I parked up and it was 12.23v

Plugged in and left for an hour then I got 12.61v

Then another hour or so later it read the same 12.61v

Should it be going up higher than this?
Click to expand...





I think you should have over 13v if the van is on EHU and onboard charger is working?????????
 
monzer said:
Plugged in and left for an hour then I got 12.61v

Then another hour or so later it read the same 12.61v
Click to expand...

That's about right for a charged battery with no charger connected or anything discharging.... IE: a battery at rest.... Your charger isn't working.
It should be showing well over 13v if the charger was working.
Check the breakers and any 12v fuses ON the charger.

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