Bourton leisure battery advice please.

Hi folks, 
In Spain and my leisure battery is loosing charge via the amp reading. Sunny all day yesterday with solar ok but a reading down to 9.2!
Is the battery under the passenger seat, how long should they last, the van is just two years old. Finally if I have to change it can I uprate it from 105 to get better performance?
Cheers.
Alan

Claytaa wrote:my leisure battery is loosing charge via the amp reading. Sunny all day yesterday with solar ok but a reading down to 9.2!

Not sure what make/model of power control system you have, but in general on the Sargent systems the current/battery load readings don't mean much unless you have recalibrated it recently - they are very much prone to drifting over time and becoming inaccurate.

However, if by "down to 9.2" you mean that the battery voltage is down to 9.2 volts then there is something seriously wrong, and you should stop using it immediately (because it is virtually flat!). Generally the voltage readings stay accurate on Sargent controllers, and AFAIK there is no way to recalibrate that side of the system.

In Spain and my leisure battery is loosing charge via the amp reading.


Then something is discharging it, ie. turned ON or gauge is faulty but see below the gauge may be affected by the low voltage reading.


Sunny all day yesterday with solar ok but a reading down to 9.2!


If this volts and not amps, it suggests that one of the cells has failed, in effect you have a 10volt battery


How long should they last, the van is just two years old.

How long is a piece of string, so many factors come into play, has it (rhetorical) always been fully charged after use, has it ever been left in a discharged state, has it never been taken to less than 50% SOC

Finally if I have to change it can I uprate it from 105 to get better performance?


Qualified yes, if it fits physically, you can fit any size amp.hrs you like but you will also need the ability to recharge in a reasonable time.

I do not want to be alarmist but if that is the voltage and you have not used an enormous amount of energy overnight.

Disconnect the battery.

It may even be prudent to remove the battery from the 'home.

If you have an independent voltmeter or a multimeter then checking the battery voltage after it is disconnected will confirm if it that voltage is correct.

If the battery is warm to touch (more than ambient temperature) has swollen sides or leaking.

Remove it immediateley

Always do the easiest thing first! I have had to recalibrate the EC480 panel a couple of times for various odd readings; it appears to step through pretty much everything and is a quick and simple procedure. At one point I was convinced the whole electrical system was up the chute.

If the reading is still out, then is the time for more fault-finding.

Hi there Claytaa how is the fault finding going? 
Presume a) you are not on ehu? b) if the voltage was 'actually' that low things such as water pump would be running very slowly?

Jaytee wrote:Hi there Claytaa how is the fault finding going? 
Presume a) you are not on ehu? b) if the voltage was 'actually' that low things such as water pump would be running very slowly?

My thoughts exactly. That's why I suspect the reading.

Thanks for all the advice folks. We were near a beach area for five or six days and the solar panel was covered in thick dust, gave that a good clean to hopefully improve the input. And yes when the voltage dropped we suddenly noticed that the water pump wes running slowly. Got on hook up for a day and since appears to be ok. Fingers crossed.

It's an 80 is that big enough for five days Jaytee?

Claytaa wrote:It's an 80 is that big enough for five days Jaytee?

Yep should be fine especially in the sunshine. Just be economically aware of power usage. Hope it was just a glitch and all will fine from now on. Let us know.

Claytaa wrote:It's an 80 is that big enough for five days Jaytee?

The answer is:

If what you use is less than that the panel can supply, yes.

'Twas a stupid question then Keith!

Claytaa wrote:'Twas a stupid question then Keith!

No, not at all, you are just asking questions that you don't know the answer to, something we all do and then rely on others experiences. No such thing as a stupid question

Claytaa wrote:'Twas a stupid question then Keith!

No such thing as a stupid question.

If we do not know or unsure it is always better to ask and then know, that is  is the way we learn.

I only know the answer because I had the need to know about batteries and charging as that is what makes it possible to live the life I am now.

Unfortunately that is about to change but on the bright side, there is the possibility that I will become a motor-home owner but not full time



ps. that is why I joined, to ask and find out, the intricacy of motor-home ownership.