New Leisure Battery

[Mona Owner]

Hi, I am just about to fit a new Leisure Battery and wondered what the best advice is for the following. The MoHo gets used at least once a month and is hooked to the mains for a day before driving away but when not in use, is in storage without EHU or power source.
Is it best to just leave it in the MoHo, or take it out and then charge it every so often at home? TBH getting it out every time I put it away is a bit of a pain as it is sooo heavy and slightly awkward to get at/ lift out.
If I leave it in the MoHo, what is the down side. Oh and I have a solar panel on the roof.

 

[Mona Owner]

Thanks for any advice

 

[GeoffnDee]

If you have a solar panel fitted is that not keeping the batteries charged up as required, as I would expect it to , when in storage ?

 

[Mona Owner]

Sure I hope that it might help, although tbh I don't know how much the panel supplies ( or how to work that out). Do you think it should supply enough?

 

[Lenny HB]

If you are using once a month it will be fine, it's when they are left for long periods you get problems.

I would be more worried about the starter battery as 4 weeks is pushing it a bit and low voltage can take out the airbag ecu.

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[scotzsue]

Wehave a solar panel on the roof keeps vehicle and leisure battery topped up 180W panel previously had,, omn another van, 120W 2 batteries and alarm. Kept all topped up. All depends on your system, do you have a photo of the controller and any idea of the wttage of the solar panel?

 

[Mona Owner]

Wehave a solar panel on the roof keeps vehicle and leisure battery topped up 180W panel previously had,, omn another van, 120W 2 batteries and alarm. Kept all topped up. All depends on your system, do you have a photo of the controller and any idea of the wttage of the solar panel?

Ooer, I don't but the MoHo will be with me on Friday. So what and where am I looking for with the "controller"?

 

[pappajohn]

If your storage area is shaded ..buildings etc....the panel may not be putting much in.
An option would be to remove the neg (earth) lead from the battery or have an isolator switch fitted.
A disconnected battery should hold its charge for months.

 

[GeoffnDee]

If the solar panel is factory fitted I think it will be 100 watt (it should have these details in the Autotrail hand book) . If so ,and as long as the Sargent PSU , which can have the solar controller built in, (depending on model ) is set for its smart charging feature to function it should keep both the starter and leisure battery charge topped up when in storage. Details of this function , if you need them, are in the Resources section shown on the top line.

 

[Mona Owner]

Can you just explain "Details of this function , if you need them, are in the Resources section shown on the top line." Please. There is no mention of the solar panel operation in the manual other than it being shown in the electric circuit diagrams.

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[TDub49]

Lots of well meant and sound advice on here but honestly, if your batteries are in good nick (i.e quite new, which your leisure battery is) and there isn't anything putting a significant drain on them and you are taking the moho out for a run at least once a month, you shouldn't have a problem.

 

[GeoffnDee]

Can you just explain "Details of this function , if you need them, are in the Resources section shown on the top line." Please. There is no mention of the solar panel operation in the manual other than it being shown in the electric circuit diagrams.

If you look on the blue line at the top on this page Resources is to the right of Subscriptions and the information is in Manuals for Motorhome stuff section within it , under the title Autotrail EC400-450-500 smart charging and put on by Diabalo (The smart charge function may not be in use if the solar panel is not factory fitted)

 

[Mona Owner]

If you look on the blue line at the top on this page Resources is to the right of Subscriptions and the information is in Manuals for Motorhome stuff section within it , under the title Autotrail EC400-450-500 smart charging and put on by Diabalo (The smart charge function may not be in use if the solar panel is not factory fitted)

Wow, all this time I have been a member and didn't know about this treasure trove of info.
Many thanks.