Leisure battery draining constantly - a fault we can't find!

[JantheVan]

Hi folks. We're hoping someone out there can help us! Our leisure battery in our Fiat Rapido keeps draining flat. We put a new one in last Friday and even though we've driven it and had it plugged in, by today it's flat again. It's so frustrating! We have disabled the immobiliser and tried to check other components but can't seem to find out why it's going flat. Do any of you have any advice or tips. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[TheBig1]

pull the fuses on the habitation side one at a time and see if any has an effect

If not, check that the radio is not switched on but on mute. On my rapido, I can select the cab radio on the control panel and even if not playing takes some current

if not, check that the split charge relay is not stuck open, connecting the batteries. But I would expect both batteries to flatten

 

[JantheVan]

Great thank you The Big 1. It's so flat at the moment that the control panel won't switch on.

 

[MichaelT]

are you sure its not just that the battery is duff and needs replacing?

 

[B-well]

WARDROBE LIGHT SWITCH ON, TV BOOSTER, all these little things we forget.

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[eddie]

Wireless reversing camera badly fitted! Connected to the leisure battery?

 

[Wilberforceftw]

Tank heater left on?

 

[fesuvious]

Test the battery.
Put on charge. Take voltage reading, then again each hour. All with the battery disconnected.

Voltage should start out at or over 12.6.
Plenty of guides online

 

[Richard n Ann]

Hi folks. We're hoping someone out there can help us! Our leisure battery in our Fiat Rapido keeps draining flat. We put a new one in last Friday and even though we've driven it and had it plugged in, by today it's flat again. It's so frustrating! We have disabled the immobiliser and tried to check other components but can't seem to find out why it's going flat. Do any of you have any advice or tips. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Have you got a multimeter?

 

[busby]

Ask Northern Raider,,he should know BUSBY..

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[JantheVan]

Thanks all. Your comments are greatly appreciated and given us some ideas for more checks. There's definitely something draining it as we had a brand new battery last Friday. So thanks for your help. I'll let you know how we get on tomorrow!

 

[TheBig1]

Thanks all. Your comments are greatly appreciated and given us some ideas for more checks. There's definitely something draining it as we had a brand new battery last Friday. So thanks for your help. I'll let you know how we get on tomorrow!

Thankyou, it can get frustrating when you try and help and get no feedback as to outcome. Plus it helps others with similar faults, even to know they are not alone and there is a solution to their current nightmare

 

[PJGWiltshire]

If you wish to carry out a basic test yourself and you have an AMP metre, do a search on You tube for Perform a Parasitic Draw Test

There are several videos based around the a car battery. The MH leisure battery would be the same principle in that you check the fuses. The videos explain the and demonstrate how to find which 12v circuit is pulling the amps. Once you identify the circuit it will be a case of identifying the appliance.

 

[JantheVan]

Well how silly do we feel! Having tried various tests - the problem was traced to a disconnected battery terminal. We'd had a new battery fitted a few days earlier and the battery was a slightly different shape and size to the previous one so the terminals were only just connected so having driven the van for a few days the terminal had obviously come loose and battery was disconnected. All's ok now. But thanks again for all your help.

 

[chaser]

Well how silly do we feel! Having tried various tests - the problem was traced to a disconnected battery terminal. We'd had a new battery fitted a few days earlier and the battery was a slightly different shape and size to the previous one so the terminals were only just connected so having driven the van for a few days the terminal had obviously come loose and battery was disconnected. All's ok now. But thanks again for all your help.

Still doesn't follow though, if it's unconnected how is it draining?

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[JantheVan]

Oh crikey - maybe it was coincidence? Not sure actually but all seems to be working ok now. We've had quite a few off grid trips in the last couple of weeks and the battery seems to be holding up ok - so far!

 

[jockaneezer]

Still doesn't follow though, if it's unconnected how is it draining?


I wonder if there was a genuine fault with the original battery and although the replacement wasn't drained, but no connection to power the 12 volt system might make you think it had died too ?