Condensation on leisure battery box

by superkendo Thu Dec 02, 2021 8:06 pm

Have been leaving our Fairford on a timer controlled EHU for the last few months a couple of hours a night, due to the vehicle battery giving a warning, yesterday noticed condensation around the leisure battery's protective box, not dripping just damp to the touch. Any ideas why ? Am concerned there is a problem with the battery, overheating whilst on charge? Thanks Chris

by IanH Thu Dec 02, 2021 9:46 pm

At a guess, the battery in its box, and to some extent, also the box will be warmer than the ambient it around it whilst charging.
When not charging this will cool and the moisture around it will condense onto the box.
Best option if really worried, and, frankly I wouldn't be is to remove it from the vehicle and charge it at home till full, then leave for an hour and measure its voltage. Record this. Then wait another 24 hrs and measure it again. It should be circa within 1v of the previous day.

Whatever it is infinitely better for lead acid batteries to be kept 100% full, which yours probably is.

There are many others on here more knowledgeable than me, one or more will be along soon!!

by superkendo Fri Dec 03, 2021 12:03 am

Thanks Ian, as I understand it you cant charge it ''too much'' as the AS electronics stops this but was worried it was a fault in the 'insides' of the battery. Have reduced the time it is on charge each day to see if this makes a difference, will invest in a voltmeter and a 7 day plug timer so I can limit the charging to a couple of times a week, and hope that the vehicle battery stays in a healthy state with the reduced timed charging.

by Roopert Fri Dec 03, 2021 12:29 am

As already said - it's probably because the battery is a large thermal store. During the night its temperature will drop to ambient (i.e. very cold) and then it takes a long time during the day to warm up again. While it is still colder than its surroundings, water vapour in the air will tend to condense on it, and the box around it.

by superkendo Fri Dec 03, 2021 2:11 am

Thanks Roopert, don't know whether you can answer this for me as well, if I am on EHU and the EC500 charging green light is on, but the panel above the sliding door the EC480 is off, are both L & V batteries getting charged over a two hour period say. The van is parked against a north facing wall and gets little or no direct sunlight on the solar panel, so I have taken to leaving the EHU on for a 3 to 4 hours each night just to make sure the vehicle gets a boost each day, as I take it the the leisure gets charged to capacity first. Sorry reading so many threads I am confusing myself on charging etc.

by AutoSleepy_Don Fri Dec 03, 2021 5:24 am

I suggest charging for a period longer than 2 hours as the EC500 smart charging works in 4 hour cycles (or 8 depending on your point of view). That's assuming you have smart charging enabled.
I charge for 24 hours every week because that is easiest to program in my timer. hugegrins

It doesn't need charging every week.

The below document from Sargent shows the vehicle battery is charged only when it's voltage drops below 12.4V.

HTH allthumbz

Condensation on leisure battery box Screen16

by superkendo Sat Dec 04, 2021 8:26 pm

Smart charging is enabled Don, as we get very little direct sun on solar panel thanks for your help, we are hopefully taking it for a run out this morning will see if there is any problem with the LB when we stop for a cuppa.

by IanH Sat Dec 04, 2021 9:03 pm

Suggest minimum of 40 miles run, both for the battery and, most importantly the engine.Need to get everything fully hot.

by Caraman Mon Dec 06, 2021 11:28 am

superkendo wrote:Thanks Roopert, don't know whether you can answer this for me as well, if I am on EHU and the EC500 charging green light is on, but the panel above the sliding door the EC480 is off, are both L & V batteries getting charged over a two hour period say. The van is parked against a north facing wall and gets little or no direct sunlight on the solar panel, so I have taken to leaving the EHU on for a 3 to 4 hours each night just to make sure the vehicle gets a boost each day, as I take it the the leisure gets charged to capacity first. Sorry reading so many threads I am confusing myself on charging etc.

If the EC500 (or EC700) is shutdown and the green charging light/switch is on, the PX300 charges the LB only when the van is connected to an EHU. Any solar charge will also go to the LB only. As the LB will be under no appreciable load with the EC500 shutdown, the reduced solar charge might still be enough to keep it topped up assuming it was fully charged to start with. If the solar charge isn't enough, the LB should be fine without charge for up to 3 months. The VB should also be fine without charge for up to 3 months if it is isolated using the red button on the ignition which shuts down the vehicle electrics.

by superkendo Tue Dec 07, 2021 2:58 am

Thanks caraman didn't realise the charger worked independently of the ec500, have always left it (ec500) on so it charges both batteries via the smart charging system. I have found that altering the vehicle battery to be the active battery on the ec480 panel has meant it gets most or all of the ehu charge each night and the leisure gets whatever solar amps we get (0.1) during the day at the moment. Thanks again.

by Caraman Tue Dec 07, 2021 4:49 am

superkendo wrote:Thanks caraman didn't realise the charger worked independently of the ec500, have always left it (ec500) on so it charges both batteries via the smart charging system. I have found that altering the vehicle battery to be the active battery on the ec480 panel has meant it gets most or all of the ehu charge each night and the leisure gets whatever solar amps we get (0.1) during the day at the moment. Thanks again.

I keep my van at home with constant access to an EHU that I only use occasionally. When my EC700 is shutdown the solar charge goes to the VB so I don't need to isolate it and if I did it would stop my aftermarket vehicle alarm from working. The LB is not charged for most of the time but I can keep an eye on its voltage and if it drops below 12.8V turn the PX300 on for a few hours but not the EC700. In my opinion, if the van is out of use, there is no point having the EC500 or EC700 turned on.

Condensation on leisure battery box

Condensation on leisure battery box

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