Leisure batteries goosed

[Feltwell]

Opened the van today and all hab electrics dead. Checked the more accessible of the 2 leisure batteries - 8 volts . 6 weeks after our last holiday and only a week after the van was last driven, plus it has solar.

Thought it's probably not a good idea to plug the van in - 2 x 100ah completely flat batteries might fry the van's own charger - so have put a battery maintenance charger on them, that can cope with them being flat. Am going away next weekend, will be the last trip before spring, hoping they can hold out for 1 last weekend - don't really want to buy 2 new batteries to just sit in the van all winter!

They've not done too bad - 4 years old, OK but not fantastic, but at 2 years old Mrs F inadvertently left the wardrobe door open, courtesy light on, whilst the van was parked up on the drive - which completely flattened them. So under the circumstances, to come back to life after a recovery charge and keep working for another 2 years isn't bad really.

 

[PhilandMena]

You have done well. An intelligent charger may recover them sufficiently for another weekends use. I think you will have to use them very sparingly if you can recover them. Best of luck.

 

[Feltwell]

I think you will have to use them very sparingly if you can recover them. Best of luck.

Yes - I was going to wild camp, but think a CL with hookup might be a better idea now!

 

[two]

If you have EHU, the state of the batteries may not matter.

 

[Feltwell]

Definitely FUBAR'd (*). 24 hours on charge and still only 8 volts, same as when the charge started.

Don't want to go on EHU when they're like this in case it damages the van's charger, or the alternator when I'm driving for that matter - 2 x 100AH totally dead batteries would put a lot of load on them.

So, bit the bullet and ordered 2 x Yuasa L36-EFB, as recommended by the ever-so-helpful A&N Caravan Services, from Tayna Batteries. Let's see how they go.

(*) erm, "broken beyond redemption" .

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

 

[Figaro]

Would putting completely flat batteries on charge really over stress the charger ?
I`ve not heard that before, worth noting though if it`s correct

 

[PhilandMena]

Definitely FUBAR'd (*). 24 hours on charge and still only 8 volts, same as when the charge started.

Don't want to go on EHU when they're like this in case it damages the van's charger, or the alternator when I'm driving for that matter - 2 x 100AH totally dead batteries would put a lot of load on them.

So, bit the bullet and ordered 2 x Yuasa L36-EFB, as recommended by the ever-so-helpful A&N Caravan Services, from Tayna Batteries. Let's see how they go.

(*) erm, "broken beyond redemption" .

I recently had a bad experience with Tanya batteries, ordered two and when I checked them on arrival they were both below 12.4V and the fluid level in one was low, although above the plates. Both batteries rejected and returned. I suspect most customers just fit them without checking them out first.

 

[Lenny HB]

Would putting completely flat batteries on charge really over stress the charger ?
I`ve not heard that before, worth noting though if it`s correct

Yes, quickest way of blowing up your charger.

 

[Feltwell]

Would putting completely flat batteries on charge really over stress the charger ?
I`ve not heard that before, worth noting though if it`s correct

Edit - hit post just after Lenny!

Yep - the charger is working much harder, especially with larger battery banks. That's why, when my batteries went flat first time from a courtesy light being left on, I didn't just plug the van in - I used a separate smart charger that I've got to recover them.

It's not my area of expertise, but this chap was very helpful to me when I had some electrical problems, even though it meant no business for him. His specialism is fixing electrical chargers. He says "Almost all the Motorhome and Caravan mains Charger failures we saw were down to poor batteries, an overlarge battery bank or both." Lots of stuff on his website:-

http://www.aandncaravanservices.co.uk/how-does-a-charger-work.php

I recently had a bad experience with Tanya batteries, ordered two and when I checked them on arrival they were both below 12.4V and the fluid level in one was low, although above the plates. Both batteries rejected and returned. I suspect most customers just fit them without checking them out first.

Thanks, will check them. This is one of the new "Enhanced Flooded Batteries" that are apparently doing extremely well in test results. Ask me in 4 years if they were a good idea

 

[PhilandMena]

Thanks, will check them. This is one of the new "Enhanced Flooded Batteries" that are apparently doing extremely well in test results. Ask me in 4 years if they were a good idea

I've just purchased 2 x Exide ET 650 Lead Acid batteries and Will be more than happy if I get 4 years out of them as I'm a FLT and they will get hammered.

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

 

[Stacetop]

The last batteries I bought were on the advice of aandncaravans.

I have had them 4.5 years and only on Saturday showed a slight issue when I had the blow heater on and the pump running. They recovered as soon as one was turned off but I thinks that’s possibly the start of them going. We are heavy users off grid, all tear round use too. So quite happy!

Will go with their recommendations again but we need a sealed battery!!

 

[PhilandMena]

The last batteries I bought were on the advice of aandncaravans.

I have had them 4.5 years and only on Saturday showed a slight issue when I had the blow heater on and the pump running. They recovered as soon as one was turned off but I thinks that’s possibly the start of them going. We are heavy users off grid, all tear round use too. So quite happy!

Will go with their recommendations again but we need a sealed battery!!

Care to name the make for the benefit of other members ?

 

[canopus]

Just ordered 3 Exide ES1600’s, ten weeks lead time . Just had a week away with no EHU and noticed the inverter was struggling under load so we are replacing now before the onset of winter.

The existing Deta DG140’s have served us well the last six years, and were on the van when we bought it. Since Deta are German they could well be the original ones fitted when the van was new in 2006.

 

[funflair]

You should have a cracking power bank there Ken and for a good few years to come

Martin

 

[Feltwell]

Quite impressed with Tayna (not Tanya!) batteries - cheapest online I could find, found an extra code on their facebook page which got me another fiver off - ordered yesterday, arrived this morning very well packaged.

Now fitted in the van! Took the old ones out, 4 volts on one and 6 on the other - err, yeah, a bit past it.... Funny how quick they go though, I thought they weren't holding charge for as long as they had been whilst we were on holiday in August, but they were still putting out a decent voltage.

My old ones were recommended by A and N Caravan Services, he's kept his advice up to date and these are the new ones he recommends. Time will tell, but main thing is I'm sorted for going away this weekend with my youngest son, whilst Mrs F and the eldest 2 are away at a Scouts event & Remembrance parade.

He wants a "boy's weekend" - which to him means eating curry and riding bikes, at 8 years old beer has yet to feature!

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

 

[Feltwell]

The last batteries I bought were on the advice of aandncaravans.

I have had them 4.5 years and only on Saturday showed a slight issue when I had the blow heater on and the pump running. They recovered as soon as one was turned off but I thinks that’s possibly the start of them going. We are heavy users off grid, all tear round use too. So quite happy!

Will go with their recommendations again but we need a sealed battery!!

Mine are his current recommendation which is Yuasa L36-EFB ("Enhanced Flooded Batteries" - a new type out apparently) - though he does recommend others as well.

What I can't quite fathom though is Yuasa say they are sealed maintenance free, but they come with a breather connection?? Do sealed batteries still have breathers??

https://www.yuasa.co.uk/l26-91.html

 

[NickandClair]

Mine are his current recommendation which is Yuasa L36-EFB ("Enhanced Flooded Batteries" - a new type out apparently) - though he does recommend others as well.

What I can't quite fathom though is Yuasa say they are sealed maintenance free, but they come with a breather connection?? Do sealed batteries still have breathers??

https://www.yuasa.co.uk/l26-91.html

If you also look at the intended purpose, it worries me that it says "Minimal Off-Grid Use" considering more and more people want the freedom to be "Off-Grid"!!.

 

[Feltwell]

I know what you mean - it seems to be part of this NCC labelling scheme, which splits the batteries into Class A, B or C.

https://www.thencc.org.uk/our_schemes/ncc_verified_leisure_battery_scheme.aspx

The ones I've just bought are Class B - but Class A is described as "batteries with a higher storage capacity for people who frequently use their touring caravan or motorhome away from an electrical hook-up". Well, doesn't that also rather depend on how many batteries you have? Class A seems to include a lot of AGM / Gel batteries, which have started getting a bad press. It's a minefield!

Still, they're connected and now the lights work again, always a bonus. Don't think I'll lose any sleep worrying about it somehow!

My last batteries weren't even leisure ones - they were Varta Silver, the Powerframe type, which A and N recommended at the time. I think they lasted OK really. We aren't heavy users of power but we also don't usually bother with hookup, so they get some strain put on them.