Leisure battery drain ?

[Geistguy]

We have a 7 month old Pilote motorhome, it has Pilotes own Xperience tablet control for heating, lighting etc. We have a factory fitted solar panel and 140 ah leisure battery. We returned home from a break and a 180 mile run and the battery was showing 87% full. The van was left outside for two days in dull and rainy conditions. Over these two days the battery dropped to 37%, nothing had been left on ie lights, fridge etc. The weather was so dull I wouldn't have expected much input from the solar panel.

Spoke to the dealer who said the Xperience tablet, even though appearing to be off, uses power for it's memory. I can accept this but is this drain normal ?

I am concerned that when we are "off grid" camping or on winter rallies using battery power I'm going to have to drive around to charge the battery.

Any thoughts or solutions very welcome.

 

[Jaws]

With a 50 point drop over 2 days I would say there is something radically wrong somewhere !

 

[B-well]

Radio, or hidden lighting switch left on somewhere

 

[Vic. Parsons.]

Perhaps an inverter left switched on, that would drain it quickly.

 

[Reallyretired]

That's equal to a continuous 2A drain. Quite a lot for a switched off tablet. I think you must have another drain somewhere. Surely it shouldn't need power to maintain its memory anyway.

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[Geistguy]

No inverter used but thanks.

Radio and 12v van sockets only work when in "Aux" position on Xperience tablet so never left on, again thanks. TV not on standby either.

I assume that alarm is powered from the van battery not the leisure one.

Just put van away and on hook up, showing a good charge rate.

Ive arranged to speak to dealers specialist technician when he's back from a break.

 

[ambulancekidd]

Perhaps an inverter left switched on, that would drain it quickly.

I'd agree with that, the only real answer with an inverter is a battery isolator switch.

 

[Vipar]

I am watching this post with bated breath as I have the same problem not the same MH thought. So bad it has knackerd my batteries.

Please update he or pm the outcome.

 

[Vic. Parsons.]

I'd agree with that, the only real answer with an inverter is a battery isolator switch.

We use a Waeco 500w inverter which has remote switch terminals, so easy to isolate with a toggle switch.

 

[pappajohn]

Ive arranged to speak to dealers specialist technician when he's back from a break.

Strange how they're always 'on a break' or 'on holiday this week' when you need them.
Not just the MH industry either.

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[Geistguy]

In fairness to the dealer they did try to help and suggested the solution may be to turn the Xperience tablet off but this would mean losing the lighting which I'd prefer not to do.

Re the inverter suggestions and at the risk of appearing thick, there wouldn't be a built in inverter ? I don't use an inverter myself.

Thanks to everyone so far and I will post any solution.

 

[PhilandMena]

You say your battery was reading 87% full upon your return. Is it possible that the reading was that of the solar panel (You don't say what size it was ?) and the reading you obtained a few days later was the true state of your 140 Ah battery. Get it on EHU and get your leisure battery topped up. Try not to let it discharge below 50% of its total capacity otherwise you could shorten it's life considerably. I think on the basis of what you have said, more solar could be a way forward.

 

[DL42846]

We have a 7 month old Pilote motorhome, it has Pilotes own Xperience tablet control for heating, lighting etc. We have a factory fitted solar panel and 140 ah leisure battery. We returned home from a break and a 180 mile run and the battery was showing 87% full. The van was left outside for two days in dull and rainy conditions. Over these two days the battery dropped to 37%, nothing had been left on ie lights, fridge etc. The weather was so dull I wouldn't have expected much input from the solar panel.

Spoke to the dealer who said the Xperience tablet, even though appearing to be off, uses power for it's memory. I can accept this but is this drain normal ?

I am concerned that when we are "off grid" camping or on winter rallies using battery power I'm going to have to drive around to charge the battery.

Any thoughts or solutions very welcome.

I would have thought after a 180 mile trip back home your batteries should have been fully charged. Not at 87%. Last August we did a trip to Brest, my wife accidentally moved the switch marked in black which stopped the habitation batteries being charged from the engine. The hab batteries were only being charged by the solar panel. Ours is a Bavaria which is part of Pilote. Might be worth a look.

 

[Geistguy]

Thanks again folks for all suggestions.

For the record the solar panel is rated 120w.

Mikescuba, I shall check that switch today.

Back on hook up the battery has charged back up with no problem.

 

[Neil S]

I would have thought after a 180 mile trip back home your batteries should have been fully charged. Not at 87%. Last August we did a trip to Brest, my wife accidentally moved the switch marked in black which stopped the habitation batteries being charged from the engine. The hab batteries were only being charged by the solar panel. Ours is a Bavaria which is part of Pilote. Might be worth a look.View attachment 343715View attachment 343716

which position should the switch be in D+ Actif Haut or D+Actif bas , I also inadvertently moved mine and wasn't sure

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[Geistguy]

Mikescuba, my set up appears to be different to yours and I think selection is via the Xperience tablet, I have attached photos of relevant parts.
I was surprised to see this morning that the battery was only showing 56% full after 20 hours on hook up, it was 47% pre hook up is this normal ? Again, photos attached.

 

[PhilandMena]

That looks odd! If I am interpreting your control panel correctly. Your battery charge is indicated at 58% and your charger is supplying 14.5 V ( correct !) but only 0.2 Amps !!!!!! That's totally wrong there should be a shed load more Amps going into the battery.

 

[PeteH]

I understand (I may well be wrong) from reading elsewhere that GEL batteries charge up using lower current flows over a longer period?. (and a higher voltage?) Something to do with the fact that the electrolyte is in GEL form?.

 

[DL42846]

I understand (I may well be wrong) from reading elsewhere that GEL batteries charge up using lower current flows over a longer period?. (and a higher voltage?) Something to do with the fact that the electrolyte is in GEL form?.
[/QUOTE I can't remember the exact figures to charge a GEL battery. It's something like 14.4 where as a acid or AGM battery requires something like 14.5. I on the road at the moment, I have the right figures at home from when I switched from acid to GEL. Someone will be along with the right figures I'm sure.

 

[Geistguy]

Hi PeteH, the battery is sealed acid, not gel. The thumbnail shows how I can select different battery types, the ah setting is at 130ah as the battery is actually 135ah not 140ah as I previously stated and there is not a 135ah setting.

I was confused at the input on hook up but not having a great deal of knowledge didn't know if this was normal.

May not be relevant but I have a 500w heater plugged in and I did have some lights on.

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[Jaws]

With those figures it seems to be the battery is duff !

 

[autorouter]

I understand (I may well be wrong) from reading elsewhere that GEL batteries charge up using lower current flows over a longer period?. (and a higher voltage?) Something to do with the fact that the electrolyte is in GEL form?.

Looking at the screen it's on the 'Lead-Acid' setting. Gel batteries use the same current as flooded batteries for the first stage of charging (bulk stage), which should be the full output of the charger, ie 18 amps. This first stage should take the battery to about 80% charged. Gel batteries have an extended second stage (absorption stage), which has a timed section of about 2 hours added on to the flooded battery time.

May not be relevant but I have a 500w heater plugged in

Can you clarify this? Was it a 240V mains heater or a battery-powered heater? Was it running from EHU electricity or from an inverter?

 

[Jaws]

To me, the figures indicate that the charger 'believes' the battery is fully charged and has gone into float mode
If the battery has gone partially open circuit the charger will see it at max voltage and shut down...
There are therefore two possibilities
1) The battery is faulty
2) The charger is faulty

I still opt for #1 as you have solar panels and even on a dull day they would still work somewhat. but if the solar controller is seeing the same and thinks the battery is fully charged it too will shut down to float charge

 

[Geistguy]

Hi Autorouter, 500w and plugged into a 240v socket in the van.

Hi Jaws, thanks for the info, I speak to the techy4guy at the dealers tomorrow and I'll mention your points to him.

 

[autorouter]

To me, the figures indicate that the charger 'believes' the battery is fully charged and has gone into float mode
If the battery has gone partially open circuit the charger will see it at max voltage and shut down...
There are therefore two possibilities
1) The battery is faulty
2) The charger is faulty

I still opt for #1 as you have solar panels and even on a dull day they would still work somewhat. but if the solar controller is seeing the same and thinks the battery is fully charged it too will shut down to float charge

Basically I agree, but it's not actually in float mode. That would show about 13.8V not 14.5V,

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[PhilandMena]

Just an after thought . Has the control panel readouts been calibrated to ensure they are giving a correct reading.

 

[Geistguy]

Hi PhilandMena, good question but I have no idea but would hope so. another query for the dealer.

 

[Geistguy]

I've attached to photos showing the state of the battery, after 24 hours the capacity has only gone up by 1% and this morning showing 0 ah input. Does this point to a duff charger unit ?

Battery now been on mains hopk up for three days and only increased from 37% to 59%.

 

[PhilandMena]

Clearly something wrong with the charger. As I stated before it should be putting in a shed load more Amps than it has. However, it does not necessary mean its kaput, as the voltage has now dropped down to a float charge of 13.6 V and before it was 14. 5 V. You do need to get this checked out though and I suspect it's either been set up wrong from new (only 7 month old camper van) or it is indeed faulty. Either way, if one or other is confirmed by dealer tell him you also want your batteries replaced as their capacity will have been significantly reduced due to the amount of times they have been allowed to discharge to an almost flat state. Best of luck going forward.

 

[PhilandMena]

Whoops double post.

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