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UK Caravanning (uk.rec.caravanning) A forum for the discussion of caravanning undertaken by residents of the United Kingdom, whether in the UK or abroad. It encourages the interchange of views on the merits of models of caravan, makes of tow car, accessories, caravan sites, caravan clubs, and other related topics. The term caravan is to include trailer vans, motor caravans and trailer tents. |
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Greetings all
Can anybody help me to explain why my 12V leisure battery (3months old) has discharged itself over the course of a week whilst not being used ? OK, so its still connected in the van, but the 12V isolator switch (in the van) is off and all items within the van that could use 12V are also off. To me there are 2 options....first is a faulty battery and the second is perhaps an earth leakage in the wiring before the isolator....or a 3rd option....that something in the van by-passes the isolator and draws constant power ? Hope someone can help before I go mad trying to check it all out..... Cheers Steve |
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"Steve B" wrote in message
... Greetings all Can anybody help me to explain why my 12V leisure battery (3months old) has discharged itself over the course of a week whilst not being used ? OK, so its still connected in the van, but the 12V isolator switch (in the van) is off and all items within the van that could use 12V are also off. To me there are 2 options....first is a faulty battery and the second is perhaps an earth leakage in the wiring before the isolator....or a 3rd option....that something in the van by-passes the isolator and draws constant power ? Hope someone can help before I go mad trying to check it all out..... Cheers Steve Your 3 options cover the possibilities. Why not charge the battery and then isolate by removing one terminal. Leave and check after a few days. If it's still full then it's not the battery. You can (I think I got this from uk.rec.waterways - always talking about batteries...) test each cell by using a meter, just dip the probes into the electrolyte of adjacent cells to get a reading of the cell - they should all be the same - about 2.2V when charged, if one is very low then the battery is faulty. -- Ron Jones Don't repeat history, see unreported near misses in chemical lab/plant at http://www.crhf.org.uk |
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In message , Steve B
writes Greetings all Can anybody help me to explain why my 12V leisure battery (3months old) has discharged itself over the course of a week whilst not being used ? OK, so its still connected in the van, but the 12V isolator switch (in the van) is off and all items within the van that could use 12V are also off. To me there are 2 options....first is a faulty battery and the second is perhaps an earth leakage in the wiring before the isolator....or a 3rd option....that something in the van by-passes the isolator and draws constant power ? Hope someone can help before I go mad trying to check it all out..... Cheers Steve Recharge it, and leave it for a week totally disconnected at its terminals then check it, or if you have access to an ammeter, connect that in at the battery positive terminal and see if you get a reading. That will tell you there is something drawing current. Your option 3 is a very possible cause esp if a new accessory has been added e.g. radio. -- hugh Reply to address is valid |
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On Fri, 15 Aug 2003 19:28:11 +0100, "Steve B"
wrote: | Greetings all | | Can anybody help me to explain why my 12V leisure battery (3months old) has | discharged itself over the course of a week whilst not being used ? | | OK, so its still connected in the van, but the 12V isolator switch (in the | van) is off and all items within the van that could use 12V are also off. | | To me there are 2 options....first is a faulty battery and the second is | perhaps an earth leakage in the wiring before the isolator....or a 3rd | option....that something in the van by-passes the isolator and draws | constant power ? | | Hope someone can help before I go mad trying to check it all out..... Take it out, and charge it up on the bench. Leave for a week If it still goes down take it back, its the battery. Dave F |
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I had a similar problem with my last caravan, an Avondale. The battery just
would not retain its charge when connected to the caravan. Avondale even took the 'van back to their works to try and rectify the fault but to no avail. I think the term they used was that there was a leak (open circuit?) to earth. "Steve B" wrote in message ... Greetings all Can anybody help me to explain why my 12V leisure battery (3months old) has discharged itself over the course of a week whilst not being used ? OK, so its still connected in the van, but the 12V isolator switch (in the van) is off and all items within the van that could use 12V are also off. To me there are 2 options....first is a faulty battery and the second is perhaps an earth leakage in the wiring before the isolator....or a 3rd option....that something in the van by-passes the isolator and draws constant power ? Hope someone can help before I go mad trying to check it all out..... Cheers Steve |
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Thanks for all the help so far.
Well the battery has been on slow charge for about 20 hours now, and the little LED's on my charger say that it's fully juiced. (how sad is it to go and check that out first thing in the morning whilst waiting for the kettle to boil !!). I've dropped my meter across the terminals and it's pulling 11.4V (which to me says its OK, so possible there is something in the van causing the problemo). Thanks again all - will no doubt be back later when it drains in 10 minutes ! Out of interest, are car/leisure batteries like NiCAD in the sense that they can develop a "memory" of charge and never charge past that point ? Steve |
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On Sat, 16 Aug 2003 08:29:57 +0100, ray fisher
wrote: | In article , Steve B | writes | Thanks for all the help so far. | | Well the battery has been on slow charge for about 20 hours now, and the | little LED's on my charger say that it's fully juiced. (how sad is it to go | and check that out first thing in the morning whilst waiting for the kettle | to boil !!). I've dropped my meter across the terminals and it's pulling | 11.4V (which to me says its OK, so possible there is something in the van | causing the problemo). | | 11.4volts means knackered :-( It could just be that the charger is knackered Try charging it with a a different charger for at least a day. If the battery still shows 11.4 V open circuit it is knackered. Dave F |
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writes
| | Thanks for all the help so far. | | | | Well the battery has been on slow charge for about 20 hours now, and the | | little LED's on my charger say that it's fully juiced. (how sad is it to go | | and check that out first thing in the morning whilst waiting for the kettle | | to boil !!). I've dropped my meter across the terminals and it's pulling | | 11.4V (which to me says its OK, so possible there is something in the van | | causing the problemo). | | I don't know what you mean by 'pulling', but measuring 11.4v across the battery terminals would mean the battery is absolutely flat (faulty charger/ faulty battery) or has at least one faulty cell. On charge the voltage should rise, depending upon the charger it should rise to between 13.8 and 14.2. Once fully charged and allowed to stand for a few hours, it should measure 12.5v. -- Regards, Harry (M1BYT)... Remove the 'NOSPAM' in my email address to reply. Free Amateur Radio Courses:- http://www.ukradioamateur.org |
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In article , Harry
Bloomfield writes writes | | Thanks for all the help so far. | | | | Well the battery has been on slow charge for about 20 hours now, and the | | little LED's on my charger say that it's fully juiced. (how sad is it to go | | and check that out first thing in the morning whilst waiting for the kettle | | to boil !!). I've dropped my meter across the terminals and it's pulling | | 11.4V (which to me says its OK, so possible there is something in the van | | causing the problemo). | | I don't know what you mean by 'pulling', but measuring 11.4v across the battery terminals would mean the battery is absolutely flat (faulty charger/ faulty battery) or has at least one faulty cell. On charge the voltage should rise, depending upon the charger it should rise to between 13.8 and 14.2. Once fully charged and allowed to stand for a few hours, it should measure 12.5v. Actually it should measure 12.7v fully charged - 12.5v is half charge, (measurements being taken at least 3hrs after charger is switched off). -- ray fisher |
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