Warm leisure battery (1 Viewer)

[David and Sally]

Hi all,

Away in Cornwall with Kev and Ju . Kev’s leisure battery is warm to the touch. Not hot, just warm. Lead acid type. Four years old.
He has 100 W solar and is on ehu. Sun has been shining all day.
As a comparison our AGM is cool. We too have solar and ehu.

We have disconnected the ehu as a precaution. No known issues with the charger. Reading 13.8 v on the panel.

Is it fooked? I will search but maybe a quick answer will point us in the right direction.

Thanks

 

[Podney]

Yes.
Is that quick enough!?

 

[tonyidle]

Another Yes. Please don't reconnect to the charger.

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[David and Sally]

Thanks lads.

When we locate a new one I think the procedure is……..ehu disconnected, already done…… disconnect solar positive to controller.

change battery …….reconnect positive solar, reconnect ehu.

Thanks again.

 

[David and Sally]

Yes.
Is that quick enough!?

Could have been slightly faster

 

[Podney]

My (limited) understanding of batteries is that if they if they are getting warm they are buggered. My leisure battery is now 4 years old but is apparently still in fine health according to my man wot knows about such things.

But I’m now at the point where I am looking at possible replacement options ……..just in case.

After all……If you fail to plan,you Plan to fail!!!

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[pappajohn]

Yes.
Is that quick enough!?

8 minutes later! ... Must try harder (as my school reports alway said)

 

[Podney]

8 minutes later! ... Must try harder (as my school reports alway said)

I’ve tried harder but the duchess says that’s long enough nowadays.

 

[dash300]

8 minutes later! ... Must try harder (as my school reports alway said)

School report from Head Mistresses wife who took us for Nature Study claimed I 'remained dormant for long periods'. Nothings changed!

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[autorouter]

When we locate a new one I think the procedure is……..ehu disconnected, already done…… disconnect solar positive to controller.

change battery …….reconnect positive solar, reconnect ehu.

Not convinced by that. The procedure for the solar bit is disconnect panels, disconnect battery, change battery, reconnect battery, reconnect panels. Hope that's what you meant.

 

[David and Sally]

Not convinced by that. The procedure for the solar bit is disconnect panels, disconnect battery, change battery, reconnect battery, reconnect panels. Hope that's what you meant.

It was thanks.

Plan is now…monitor it, call Vanbitz Monday as we are there Friday anyway and ask them to check and do whatever.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[XxAnthxX]

We have disconnected the ehu as a precaution. No known issues with the charger. Reading 13.8 v on the panel.

Why not leave the EHU connected so you still have 240v in the van and just turn the battery charger off?

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[David and Sally]

Why not leave the EHU connected so you still have 240v in the van and just turn the battery charger off?

I have passed on your suggestion. He has just gone fishing for an hour and will probably do that on his return.

Thanks

 

[Pausim]

Might be worth checking that the battery failure was not caused by over voltage charging before installing the new one. A failed solar regulator and a lot of sun might cook a battery. Probably just battery failure but I like to look for causes before learning the hard way that something else contributed to the problem.

 

[David and Sally]

Might be worth checking that the battery failure was not caused by over voltage charging before installing the new one. A failed solar regulator and a lot of sun might cook a battery. Probably just battery failure but I like to look for causes before learning the hard way that something else contributed to the problem.

One reason why he wants Vanbitz to check it all out. Hope they can fit him in Friday pm

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[Just smiffy]

Where are you in Cornwall ? I have an old but serviceable agm leisure battery that he can have to get by and I could pop it over….

 

[David and Sally]

Where are you in Cornwall ? I have an old but serviceable agm leisure battery that he can have to get by and I could pop it over….
That is an amazing offer. We are at Porth. But charging regimes? Actually changing it?

Kev is quite cautious but if a complete solution appeared he may accept. Reason I am doing this is because I have an iPad and laptop here together with a WiFi dongle.
I’ll get back to you Just smiffy. Again, very generous offer. Absolute thanks.

 

[Just smiffy]

Where are you in Cornwall ? I have an old but serviceable agm leisure battery that he can have to get by and I could pop it over….
That is an amazing offer. We are at Porth. But charging regimes? Actually changing it?

Kev is quite cautious but if a complete solution appeared he may accept. Reason I am doing this is because I have an iPad and laptop here together with a WiFi dongle.
I’ll get back to you Just smiffy. Again, very generous offer. Absolute thanks.

No problem, porth is only 30mins from me and it should only be a matter of changing charger to gel from lead (depends on charger model)..

give me a buzz if he needs it … I’m in all week. I’ll pm you my number if he takes it up…

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[David and Sally]

No problem, porth is only 30mins from me and it should only be a matter of changing charger to gel from lead (depends on charger model)..

give me a buzz if he needs it … I’m in all week. I’ll pm you my number if he takes it up…

Magic offer. Many, many thanks.

 

[David and Sally]

Traveled from Newquay to Taunton. About three hours. Battery quite warm..

Vanbitz not in a position to help.

We have two hours to home tomorrow.

So,

Disconnect battery completely? Will that damage the alternator?

Disconnect solar only?

Kev is not using ehu tonight as he has switched the charger off.

We only need the safest way to get home as it is in for service and hab check on Tuesday.

TIA

 

[125BEER]

Did you warm your pasties on said battery

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[Richard n Ann]

Traveled from Newquay to Taunton. About three hours. Battery quite warm..

Vanbitz not in a position to help.

We have two hours to home tomorrow.

So,

Disconnect battery completely? Will that damage the alternator?

Disconnect solar only?

Kev is not using ehu tonight as he has switched the charger off.

We only need the safest way to get home as it is in for service and hab check on Tuesday.

TIA

Yes that's what I did when we had the same problem in 2019.
I later bought some cable and wired the leisure battery +connector to the starter battery so we could use the lights and water pump on the way home

 

[David and Sally]

Thanks for that. Just to check. Completely disconnect the leisure battery?

 

[125BEER]

Hope you get sorted

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[Richard n Ann]

Thanks for that. Just to check. Completely disconnect the leisure battery?

You can leave the negative on. Doesn't make any difference

 

[David and Sally]

Thanks. What we are concerned about is that the alternator will want to deliver charge and will get damaged if there is no battery to charge.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Thanks. What we are concerned about is that the alternator will want to deliver charge and will get damaged if there is no battery to charge.

No it doesn't care, it will just chill out

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[David and Sally]

You lot are MAGIC

 

[David and Sally]

Update. Kev and Ju had a service done by Edwards Motorhomes - excellent crowd

Battery had swollen a bit but all charging regimes were tested and aok Just a knackered battery…….and wallet
Thanks for the input everyone.

 

[Kev and Ju]

Hi All,
Firstly many many thanks to David (of David and Sally) for posting the thread on my behalf whilst we were away in Cornwall and responding to replies whilst I was dousing my leisure battery in cold water.
As above, the system has been thoroughly checked and there appear to be no issues with the charging circuitry. However, it appears that the problem may have been down to me not topping up my 4 year old leisure battery with distilled water, which was basically because the battery was out of sight and therefore out of mind. When I eventually got around to checking it I was surprised to see that it was dry and 'old school' with cells that needed topping up. I thought that these batteries had been obsolete for years. Obviously not. My new battery is however sealed for life with no maintenance required so all good from here on in.
Many thanks for all your input and assistance on this

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