New battery (ies?)

[Robert1351]

A recent habitation check indicated that one of the batteries in our recently purchased Burstner Travel Van is weaker than the other. It appears to be original (2012 - Varta) and the Numax must have been added later on.

A new Varta replacement has been supplied but is yet to be fitted. I’m guessing that I should also ditch the ok Numax and get another, matching Varta so that charging is even between the two ongoing?

Said hab check also commented that the battery installation is not to standard UK specification (see photo). Does this matter?

 

[pappajohn]

Looks fine to me.
Some take pos from one battery and neg from the other but to me if there's only two batteries (and no inverter) it's not worth bothering

 

[PhilandMena]

UK standard specification ! I'd love to know who has defined what that is, Certainly not a recognised standards body.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

I have always had mixed make batteries without any issues and of differing ages .
The wiring looks to be in order but your hab check probably refers to the lack of covers on the terminals ,(just the one cover).the batteries don't appear to be strapped down either .

 

[Jev88]

Where do the batteries vent to? Is there a tray to catch spills?

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[Lenny HB]

Where do the batteries vent to? Is there a tray to catch spills?

Specsavers for you, vent tube from battery through a hole in the floor.

 

[Lenny HB]

If you rely on the the batteries for off grid & don't know the age of the Numax I would replace it.

 

[Robert1351]

I have always had mixed make batteries without any issues and of differing ages .
The wiring looks to be in order but your hab check probably refers to the lack of covers on the terminals ,(just the one cover).the batteries don't appear to be strapped down either .

Thanks Jimbohorlicks. That’s the answer that suits my pocket the best! Batteries are clamped at the bottom btw. I’ll have to use a socket extender to release them. Varta gets warm under charging so I guess that’d be something to look out for on the Numax when it begins to pop it’s clogs, then.

 

[Robert1351]

If you rely on the the batteries for off grid & don't know the age of the Numax I would replace it.

Thanks Lenny. That’s what I was thinking, especially for running the fan of the heater when it’s chilly. No solar panel.

 

[Lenny HB]

Thanks Lenny. That’s what I was thinking, especially for running the fan of the heater when it’s chilly. No solar panel.

Running a fan heater from an inverter is battery suicide.

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[Jimbohorlicks]

The ones I have with my current van are a 95 ah that was new with the van in 2017, a used "1 year old" numax 110 amp I bought of a funster 7 years ago and used it in a Sundance with another 2 and a further 110 ah that I transferred from a little Hymer ,to the Sundance, and then to this van . that must be 8 years ago and I can't remember the make .One of the batteries is now pulling the others down so having to sort them out but managed to get one of the half price Lithiums so trying that as a replacement for them. I may keep one charged up as a back up. I have 200w of solar on the roof to an mppt controller with a spare 100w panel I free stand and run thru a pmw controller seperately.

 

[Robert1351]

Running a fan heater from an inverter is battery suicide.

Haha! It would be. I’m used to a caravan with a separate, vented gas fire thingy and I was thinking about the fan in the Truma Combi 4 (E) that isn’t really a Combi E any more. So gas heating with 12v fan assistance.

 

[Robert1351]

To check the health of a battery do I just disconnect the other one, switching off batteries first, then switch on and read the voltage on the control panel?

 

[autorouter]

Said hab check also commented that the battery installation is not to standard UK specification (see photo). Does this matter?

May be referring to the wire colours. Burstner wiring is German (positive black, negative brown), and added battery is British (positive red, negative black). It's obvious now, but if you remove the batteries, then have to reattach the wires there is ample opportunity for errors.

 

[Jev88]

Specsavers for you, vent tube from battery through a hole in the floor.

I saw the one on the right, not on the left?

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[Robert1351]

I think you are right Jev 88. This fits with the Numax being retrofitted. I’ll look into that. Would the hole in the floor accept two vent tubes, I wonder? New territory for me.

 

[Lenny HB]

I think you are right Jev 88. This fits with the Numax being retrofitted. I’ll look into that. Would the hole in the floor accept two vent tubes, I wonder? New territory for me.

You can fit a T or Y and join them.

 

[Jev88]

I think you are right Jev 88. This fits with the Numax being retrofitted. I’ll look into that. Would the hole in the floor accept two vent tubes, I wonder? New territory for me.

As Lenny says. Local aquarium shop will have T pieces for airlines of suitable size.

 

[Robert1351]