Leisure battery voltage - HELP PLEASE?

Hi, please can you help me understand whether we have a problem.

This is our second big trip in our Malvern, first one was in the spring in mostly good temperatures, but this one is starting off in winter.  We have just spent our first night in France parked with no electrics, and when I checked the batteries this morning the leisure battery voltage was showing in the red (might have been 8, was well below 11).  I turned everything off and ran the engine for a bit and it went back into the green, now back at amber but still above 12V.  Amp hours were green 84% all along.

Should I be worried that the leisure battery voltage went so low?

Others will be along who know more about the workings of batteries. In the meantime, without electric in winter our battery for one night would be fine, that is using lights, heating (all night if needed), pump for washing etc. Were you using any additional equipment such as a 12v TV? If not it should have been ok and voltage remained over 12v.

Best get to hookup to properly charge. Did you charge up before you left? Sorry if it’s silly to ask.......just being sure.
From experience of letting battery charge drop too low.....it’s not good especially below 11. You run the risk of permanent damage to the cells meaning it may not properly fully charge, and when it does it may not hold its charge.

This happened on our first coachbuilt van. It was an expensive lesson as we had to ultimately get a new leisure battery .

I know it’s maybe not what you intend, but get to a site and hookup as soon as you can. After being on hookup for a while, and fully charged, it will be easier to see just how long it’s going to hold its charge.
I’m afraid 8 has been way too low, but someone with more expertise will be along soon.

Good luck, let us know how it goes

Also you might want to consider a solar panel if you don’t have one already , or a second battery.....obviously when you come home

Hi - thanks.

We weren’t using anything out of the ordinary, no TV, charging iPads was probably as bad as it got. We did have the heating on all night (gas) at 10 degrees.

We have been on hook-up all winter after problems with the tracker running down the vehicle battery last year.  I’d been more worried about that!   Also on hook-up at a campsite the night before.

The van is now just over 4 years old but lay unused for about a year before we bought it.  That could have caused problems I suppose.

Where we are just now is a bit tricky to find campsites open, and the aires that are meant to have facilities don’t always (like the one we’re at just now).  Will need to see where we can go.

I'm no electrician, but I'm sure something is wrong, and from what you say it sounds as if your battery is at death's door. 12 months without use before you got it would not have done it any good.

Assuming you drove for a few hours before reaching the aire, your battery should have been well topped up, and good for at least two or perhaps three days of careful use off hook-up.

Peter Brown or Mojo (plus others ) are the men to ask about these things, and they are around now so I expect they will see your post. I'll take the liberty of altering your title a bit to attract more attention.

Good luck. If it's just dead battery it won't be a big problem.

Bad news. Out leisure battery failed at 18 months old. Bought van brand new and kept it charged via EHU and 120w panel. Fingers crossed new one ok.

My guess is like your one, it may have been left in a discharged state while at the A/S factory during conversion etc.

Just give it a damn good charge and then see if it holds it's charge.

Not good news while away from home.
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Richard

morning, while I don't have an AS (there will be owners along shortly) I'm assuming you drove a fair distance to get to the aire you are on?
in that case, assuming two hours or more driving, the split charger should have got the leisure batteries up to full charge.
I don't know anything about the AS 'measuring' instrumentation you refer to but anything below 12v is not good.
you say Amphours were 84%....again, Im not familiar with your instrumentation, but (if accurate and reads 'capacity') this could be about right....full minus some lights and the heating fan.
if you have a voltmeter and are familiar with it, you can start the van and then put the meter across the leisure battery terminals and this should show a raised charge going into the leisure battery...could be over 14v...
this will tell you whether the split charger from you alternator is charging the leisure battery.
if the reading is around (say) 12.5v then this is around the level the battery 'should' approximately be after your night on the aire (12.6/12.7 is full)....however, a level like that with the engine running would show there is no charge getting to the leisure battery..
what's odd is that 84% seems perfectly logical for a slightly used battery overnight, yet the other readings 8 and below 11 signify a flat (and possibly knackered) battery.
it may just be that the calibration of the panel showing these really low readings is wrong?...and that your battery is fine. we need to find out which it is.
after you've reached your next stop, the leisure battery should be at a level above 12.6/12.7 from the alternator.....let it rest for an hour (coffee?) and then put a voltmeter across the terminals .....they should be back at 12.6/12.7....ie, still full and if so, we can say that the split charge is working and that the battery is holding charge.
check the panel reading to see if it is the same.....if not then the panel reading is likely to be incorrect.
if the battery is falling below 12.5/12.4 (or lower) it's discharging too quickly and is likely past it.
good luck, enjoy...

Hi  If it was me i would be off sharpish and find another site with power. It will take a long drive to charge that flat battery  anyway.
Then you may need to purchase a new battery.
Staying there waiting is a waste of time.

Micky

OK no more overnight heating!  Probably time for a new battery

Peter Brown wrote:I'm assuming yours is the newer Malvern with the combi heater.  If you had the heating on all night, the fan will have been running so with your other current draw and probably tired batteries, the discharge is as expected.  Wrap up warm and turn the combi off when in bed.

The capacity indication is a calculation from several variables and is totally unreliable.

Seeing previous post - it takes at least 10 hours to charge a fully discharged lead acid battery that is in good condition.  Not knowing the starting point and condition for your battery, I can't estimate what level of charge you started the evening with.


if your battery is more than 3 years old, I suggest you replace it and if you want to use heating, get on hook up.

Hi Peter

Guidance sought here as well please.

The OP had been on hook up the night before, so with some driving to reach the aire his battery should have been topped up.

Assuming frugal use of the power as he described, i.e. no telly and not much else apart from the heater fan, how long would you expect a battery to last before the charge drops too low for its health?

We've never spent more than two consecutive days off hook up in cold weather, but it would be good to have expert advice about the use of the heater fan - possibly all day and all night if it's very cold.

Thanks

agree with Dave, if the battery had been on EHU it wouldn't need much driving to keep it fully charged..
similarly, having the gas heating on all night set to 10 deg wouldn't use much fan as 10 deg inside a van is blooming cold, nothing like the effort required to keep the van at say 16.
following the van being kept charged by solar only, I drove two hours to my destination and I spent an overnighter (non EHU) last week and it was cold outside and ran the heating on gas at 15 deg....effect on leisure battery, pretty much nil.
Peter says the battey condition 'reading' is unreliable...why should the other readings of battety voltage be any more accurate.
the leisure battery may well be knackered ( yet it ran the heating fan all night) but I'd want to check it with a bit more accuracy before giving up on it....
who's to say there isn't some other issue which a new battery might also succumb to?
firstly, I'd like to ensure the vehicle is charging it when driving and secondly whether it can hold a charge on its own for an hour or two.
not all three year old batteries are ready for the scrap heap. my own leisure batteries are now four years old and still delivering a good service.

When you suspect you battery's are  dyeing you are usually right .

...but I'd like to check first before purchasing a new one...

if the battery was really at 8 volts would it be capable of powering the controlpanel, lights or heating fan?

yes, the OP can get to a site with hookup and then get the battery checked properly.....and replaced if required..

There is but it costs £10 to join?

PLOUGHLIN wrote:There is but it costs £10 to join?

Put me down for a quid.

Always willing to donate to a worthy cause! 

Peter, where have I criticised anything on this thread...you yourself suggested the information the OP quoted was unreliable, not me. 
your informed guess may well be the correct assumption, but wouldn't you want to conduct a few tests on a battery itself before consigning it to the tip...
wouldn't you want to know the vehicle electrics were doing their job re charging on the run....?

having a Carthago or an AS has no real bearing on the OP's situation.
one of his instruments says the battery is flat, the other doesn't.
the battery seemed to get through the night providing heat fan and lighting (and perhaps water pump) yet due to one of these control panel readings, the OP has concluded his battery is possibly knackered. again, this may well be the case, I've not said that it isn't.
my point is that, if there is any doubt, conduct a couple of simple tests....at least use a voltmeter to get accurate readings...
I'm really sorry you are so anti another viewpoint.
I am always polite and try to give a view not tainted by the constraints of the particluar way AS does things....

BTW, I am a paid up member of that 'other' forum.
A Merry Chrismas to you, even the 'witty' ones above...

Peter Brown wrote:I'm sure like several other members, I joined and continue to participate in this forum with a desire to help other owners who have less experience with Auto-Sleeper motorhomes.

I give the best advice I can based on the information originally posted.  In most cases it is necessary to make an 'informed guess' as to the actual scenario.  In this case I'm guessing that the leisure battery is only holding a small percentage of its original capacity.

I enjoy the occasional technical debate (usually instigated as a bit of fun) with some knowledgeable forum members but am frustrated by the frequent input from someone who has no experience of Auto-sleepers or the apparatus installed in them and who often criticises the design of the vehicle.  This must make it very difficult for the person who asked the question to resolve their problem.

Surely there must be a Carthago forum where Bolero Boy can express his opinions without muddying the waters here?

Can he be removed? He states he never wants or intends to buy an A/S!

Are there not other members who own brands other than AS?
However, I'm sure 'he' can be removed.
Season's greetings.

bolero boy wrote:Are there not other members who own brands other than AS?
However, I'm sure 'he' can be removed.
Season's greetings.

There are, as you well know, other members who own other brands. The difference is that they have owned AS's prior to changing and can therefore still give valuable advice. Unfortunately nobody can join Carthago's forum unless you own one (you have to give details on registration). We have never stipulated such a rule. And you are right of course - 'he can be removed' , it just takes the press of a button.

Well we are not having much luck finding any electricity or even water! Off to try again..,

Doonhamer5 wrote:Well we are not having much luck finding any electricity or even water! Off to try again..,

For water, look for a cemetery, always a good source in UK.

We’re off the N12 between Rouen & Le Mans, been told all campsites are closed and all aires have facilities turned off for winter