Is this battery voltage drop normal?

Bognor Saint

Bognor Saint

Joined
Oct 11, 2016
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Bognor Regis
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MH
Bailey Adamo 69-4
Exp
6 years
We keep our motor home in a secure storage compound and we bought it new last May. We had to have an alarm and tracker fitted. The van is locked but the alarm is not set whilst in storage as the storage people do not have a fob, the tracker is active. Now here is my problem, I have an app that gives me location etc and the current state of the vehicle battery. Today it is reading 12.3V. I understand that a fully charged battery will be 12.6v plus. The battery was showing as fully charged 2 weeks ago as we had been away and it was on EHU at home before I returned it to the compound. Our previous 2 motorhomes did not have this set up so I never knew the state of the battery so it was a case of "out of sight, out of mind"! Now I've become obsessed it checking the app! The storage company will connect it to an EHU so a flat battery really shouldn't be an issue. The tracker company say that the drain is minimal.
Any thoughts? Thanks. Paul
 
Are there any other items drawing power, eg radio \ media centre, etc. We've got a shutdown button on our power control unit that cuts all power except the door locks, tracker and alarm. When in shut down we can go weeks in winter with minimal sun (solar panel fitted).
 
all modern vehicles have a battery drain the vehicle has various low powered activities going on all of the time. without a small solar or other input i believe it is not uncommon for a battery to drain at around 4 / 5 weeks.

so it sounds about normal too me.
 
Gellyneck said:
Are there any other items drawing power, eg radio \ media centre, etc. We've got a shutdown button on our power control unit that cuts all power except the door locks, tracker and alarm. When in shut down we can go weeks in winter with minimal sun (solar panel fitted).
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I should have said. I do shut down from the control panel but I believe this just the leisure batteries. I don't gave solar, it's keep in undercover storage.
 
Last edited:
Maybe try the battery isolator function (if fitted)?


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Bognor Saint said:
We keep our motor home in a secure storage compound and we bought it new last May. We had to have an alarm and tracker fitted. The van is locked but the alarm is not set whilst in storage as the storage people do not have a fob, the tracker is active. Now here is my problem, I have an app that gives me location etc and the current state of the vehicle battery. Today it is reading 12.3V. I understand that a fully charged battery will be 12.6v plus. The battery was showing as fully charged 2 weeks ago as we had been away and it was on EHU at home before I returned it to the compound. Our previous 2 motorhomes did not have this set up so I never knew the state of the battery so it was a case of "out of sight, out of mind"! Now I've become obsessed it checking the app! The storage company will connect it to an EHU so a flat battery really shouldn't be an issue. The tracker company say that the drain is minimal.
Any thoughts? Thanks. Paul
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The gadget monitoring the battery will be taking power. How does it send you the info? Must be cellular phone signal if it's some distance away.
I'd say the battery voltage drop is normal for the amount of time it's been left.
 
Richard and Ann said:
The gadget monitoring the battery will be taking power. How does it send you the info? Must be cellular phone signal if it's some distance away.
I'd say the battery voltage drop is normal for the amount of time it's been left.
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Yes, it's cellular phone signal.
I think I'm feeling that perhaps this is normal. I suppose the next question is at what voltage do I get it back on EHU.
Thanks
 
Bognor Saint said:
Yes, it's cellular phone signal.
I think I'm feeling that perhaps this is normal. I suppose the next question is at what voltage do I get it back on EHU.
Thanks
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Each discharge is known as a cycle and the more cycles a battery has the shorter it's life. I would fit a solar panel to keep it topped up, or if you've already got one fit a dual controller or battery master to keep both batteries topped up ?

PS 12.3v = 70% charged

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You normally have 2 batteries, motor and habitation (leisure). Which is your app monitoring?

When on EHU is your charger doing both batteries, or more commonly is it doing just the habitation?
 
Kannon Fodda said:
You normally have 2 batteries, motor and habitation (leisure). Which is your app monitoring?

When on EHU is your charger doing both batteries, or more commonly is it doing just the habitation?
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Thanks. It has 2 leisure batteries. The tracker is connected to the vehicle battery and it is this battery that the app monitors. All batteries are charge on EHU.

Solar not an option as it is kept in undercover storage.
I've had a battery master on a previous MH and I may consider it again.
 
Is your insurance company happy that you do not set the alarm? If they have insisted on it they probably expect it to be used.

I get a similar voltage drop over a 2 week period with tracker, alarm and basic vehicle systems active. Even a 30 milliamp quiescent current adds up to 10Ah over 2 weeks.
 
A couple of us a while ago discussed this at a meet up. We decided we had to leave the alarm switched off in storage as it problematic. Not ideal solution though. :(

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I don't think you have anything to worry about. Two options as I see it, 1. Monitor battery state and do not let it fall below 12.4 volts 2. Disconnect the negative terminal whist it is in storage.
 
PhilandMena said:
I don't think you have anything to worry about. Two options as I see it, 1. Monitor battery state and do not let it fall below 12.4 volts 2. Disconnect the negative terminal whist it is in storage.
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Not sure option 2 is a good idea because the back up batteries in the alarm and tracker are not designed to support them for long periods. I think my tracker alerts the tracking company if the main power source is disconnected because it can be the first sign of unwanted interference.
 
We also went away at the weekend and suffered very quickly from low batteries - we have the solar - I put it down to the cold and not using the MH often enough, I shall be bringing him home this weekend and plugging him in to the 240v for 24hrs. Two weeks ago the batteries were showing at 14v so very charged, am sure its the cold ! Having said that the starter battery never misses a beat and is always fully charged so you would of thought all three would suffer if it was the cold... Is there anything on at all that may draw a charge !
 
PhilandMena said:
I don't think you have anything to worry about. Two options as I see it, 1. Monitor battery state and do not let it fall below 12.4 volts 2. Disconnect the negative terminal whist it is in storage.
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Hi. Option 2 not viable as the motorhome may have to moved to enable another van to move out. Ours is kept in one of six storage barns. The process for picking up is that I give 24 hours notice and the van is removed from an inner secure compound to a holding secure area ready for pick up. Access to this area is only available to owners like me with secure passes.
 
What about taking a long extension lead and an Optimate 2 maintainer then? Microprocessor controlled they can be trusted to look after batteries very well long term. They can only charge at 0.8amps so no big currents can flow if any faults occur. They let the battery rest between charges and float them at 13.6v ?

You just need a standard 13a socket somewhere ?

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Richard and Ann said:
What about taking a long extension lead and an Optimate 2 maintainer then? Microprocessor controlled they can be trusted to look after batteries very well long term. They can only charge at 0.8amps so no big currents can flow if any faults occur. They let the battery rest between charges and float them at 13.6v ?

You just need a standard 13a socket somewhere ?
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Ideal situation yes but as it's in storage not practical as it may have to be moved. As it is I have to pay a nominal charge for EHU when I request it.
Anyway I've arranged for it to be hooked up tomorrow.
 
If your using the app Tracker Touch I am sure that the battery voltage shown on that is the tracker unit battery itself not the vehicle starter or habitation ones. I have this and its also a monthly average not an immediate voltage at the time you check.
 
Gazzag said:
If your using the app Tracker Touch I am sure that the battery voltage shown on that is the tracker unit battery itself not the vehicle starter or habitation ones. I have this and its also a monthly average not an immediate voltage at the time you check.
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It's vehicle battery. The app updates twice a day.
 
I have exactly the same issues and I am still struggling after nearly 3 years to find a working solution for my Rapido motorhome with two leisure batteries and large solar panel. My vehicle battery has gone flat three times and needing a jump start. Once you find a solution do let everyone know as I find using EHU doesn't recharge the vehicle battery sufficiently.
 
our CI motorhome did not charge the vehicle battery on hook up, only the leisure, hence fitting a battery master, no problems after that, but unlike OP we had solar. found biggest drain was the removable front radio, once we started taking that off we saw a big difference.

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scotzsue said:
our CI motorhome did not charge the vehicle battery on hook up, only the leisure, hence fitting a battery master, no problems after that, but unlike OP we had solar. found biggest drain was the removable front radio, once we started taking that off we saw a big difference.
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This has got me thinking. Our media system is controlled by a rocker switch with 3 positions. Position 1 means it is on when the ignition is on, position 2 is when the ignition is off but media system on so as to be available when parked. Central position is off. Apparently this is standard with Dethleffs.
I usually park the switch in the centre position but perhaps I've left it at 1! A visit to storage this week I think.
 
Bognor Saint said:
This has got me thinking. Our media system is controlled by a rocker switch with 3 positions. Position 1 means it is on when the ignition is on, position 2 is when the ignition is off but media system on so as to be available when parked. Central position is off. Apparently this is standard with Dethleffs.
I usually park the switch in the centre position but perhaps I've left it at 1! A visit to storage this week I think.
Click to expand...
Anything is worth a try.
Hope it helps
 
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