Battery expired?

[JJBspringfield]

I have a solar panel, battery always appears to be charged during day.
How do I know if my battery is at tits end of life?

 

[Figaro]

 

[Stealaway]

Usually the battery will go flatter sooner.
How old is the battery?

 

[cmcardle75]

I have a solar panel, battery always appears to be charged during day.
How do I know if my battery is at tits end of life?

Because it goes flat before it should, taking into account how much you take out of it, and for how long.

 

[Lenny HB]

Do a discharge test on it.

First charge the battery fully and leave it to settle for an hour then:-
Disconnect all charging methods.

For example if it's a 100a/h battery load it with a 5 amp load and run for 5 hours, this will represent a 25% discharge. (adjust load/time to suit the size of the battery)
Disconnect the load and leave to stand for at least 30 min then measure the voltage.
Repeat the test and you will have discharged the battery to 50%.
You can repeat again then it will be 75% discharged.

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[JJBspringfield]

Usually the battery will go flatter sooner.
How old is the battery?

Bought MH second hand (now 10 years old) 4 years ago.

 

[DumfriesDik]

Hello and welcome. On our second hand motorhome one of the leisure batteries started to cook. I could smell it outside of the van. It was very hot. Decided it was time replace both. Costly, but cheaper than seeing it go up in flames. If I was you, I would replace.

 

[Figaro]

Do you know what type of battery it is ?
Lead acid usually wouldn't last 10 years so I suspect it might be a gel which will likely now be reaching the end of it's life.
Do as Lenny HB describes to be sure but it's likely to need replacement

 

[chaser]

Do a discharge test on it.

First charge the battery fully and leave it to settle for an hour then:-
Disconnect all charging methods.

For example if it's a 100a/h battery load it with a 5 amp load and run for 5 hours, this will represent a 25% discharge. (adjust load/time to suit the size of the battery)
Disconnect the load and leave to stand for at least 30 min then measure the voltage.
Repeat the test and you will have discharged the battery to 50%.
You can repeat again then it will be 75% discharged.

View attachment 652899

Just something that has always puzzeled me about these figures, is how is it that a battery that is said to be flat at 11.8 will still start a motor?

 

[Lenny HB]

Just something that has always puzzeled me about these figures, is how is it that a battery that is said to be flat at 11.8 will still start a motor?

Normally it won't unless a small petrol engine.

Often a battery will be knackered for leisure use in that it is no good for low discharge use but is still cabable producing high short term for engine starting.

In my last van I had two of those crap AGM batteries they failed after 18 months. On a 5 to 10 amp discharge one would last 10 ah and the other 11 ah, but on a CCA (starter battery test) test they passed at 80% so they wouldn't change them under warrentee.

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[Stealaway]

Bought MH second hand (now 10 years old) 4 years ago.

You've done well with that, you cant be an heavy user - it owes thee nowt.

Invest in a new 'quality battery' from a well known manufacturer. Don't buy any battery with just a fancy sticker.

A selection here

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