Vehicle battery problem (1 Viewer)

[The rehctub]

I have autosleeper Cotswold
We are parked on site with electric hookup in spain for last 5 weeks yesterday couldn't start van as battery was flat I'm confused as to why or what I'm doing wrong or not doing right
Sensible answer will be appreciated
Comical ones accepted

 

[RowleyBirkinQC]

Can't speak from experience of your van, does your charger have a battery select switch (habitation / vehicle) denoting which battery gets charged? Could you have been inadvertently using the vehicle battery as a habitation power source? Some form of constant drain? Do you have a battery master or similar to keep vehicle battery topped up when leisure batteries are fully charged? How old is the vehicle battery, could it be nearing end of expected life? Do you need to turn the van charger on in addition to being on electric hookup?

Unlike I, I'm sure someone who knows what they are talking about will provide guidance soon. Good luck!

 

[Pia]

...someone will pop along shortly to give you an answer....I've been thinking we must replace our starter battery before we leave for Spain in a couple of weeks....it doesn't seem to be quite as healthy as the habitation one and seems to have a lower charge read out...we've had our MH only for a month and next week we'll try wild camping to try it all out...hope you get the answer to your query here before long.

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[Odd job]

If you have been parked for 5weeks without starting the engine, the starter battery will have discharged. You need to put the battery switch to vehicle to charge the starting battery once a week

 

[GeriatricWanderer]

Hang in there for a while. Most of the Battery Brains here are still soundo but once they've woken and had their first cuppa, and pills, they'll spot your post and inundate you with so much advice it'll keep you busy all day.
Stand by with screwdriver, multi meter and notepad.

 

[sally47]

Can only reply from my past experience I now have a battery master but previously my battery kept dying ( only year old) so thought must be a drain heard on here radios are often the culprit so took fuse out hey presto when I had van serviced he told me it was a drain easiest thing now when not in use press button to release front of radio never had problem since but of course yours could be different hope you get sorted

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[RowleyBirkinQC]

The Autotrail we used to have had a reversing camera with a power switch in the cupboard with the Sargent charger and entertainment system gubbins. If we forgot to turn that camera off it would drain the battery.

 

[Larby]

Do you have control panel set to smart charge or leisure only?
Panel can be set to charge either or both batteries, on mine I can choose which battery to charge or use.
If you can, set panel to charge vehicle battery.

 

[andy63]

I have autosleeper Cotswold
We are parked on site with electric hookup in spain for last 5 weeks yesterday couldn't start van as battery was flat I'm confused as to why or what I'm doing wrong or not doing right
Sensible answer will be appreciated
Comical ones accepted

It sounds like you have no facility to charge the start battery when on hook up ,or if you have it was never selected...
Someone has already mentioned a battery master type device which will provide a small charge current (usually 2 to 4 amps) to your start battery once the leisure batteries are up to voltage...
That seems like a good option for you to prevent same thing happening..
Andy

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[Neckender]

You will have a Sargent controller on your A/S Cotswold, go on the Sargent website and put your controller in and get the instructions, and it will tell you how to set up your charging system.
Mine is an EC480 if yours is the same I can tell you how to set it up, there is no need for a battery master on your van as you can set the controller to Vehicle, Leisure or Smart charge which charges what ever batteries need first.

John.

Ps found link Link Removed