Battery problem

[Don Hooley]

sat in my motorhome autocruise Augusta. Just driven from England to Ireland. There was a clunk type noise in my van and everything went off. No lights etc. Batteries are only 2 year old 2x 115 amp. Only had telly on nothing else. Battery showing 11.9. Started the engine and everything came back on. Any ideas. Over here for 2.5 weeks.

 

[scotjimland]

sounds like duff batteries but further testing required to establish ..

If possible get them fully charged on an EHU for at least 24 hours , then test again.

 

[funflair]

Age of batteries is no indicator of condition, what type are they? if flooded lead acid do they need topping up?, 11.9 volts is not good and would cause your system to shut down, is it possible that you have a big load switched on that you have forgotten about otherwise my guess is the batteries or at least one is/are goosed.

The fact that you started the engine and everything cam back on would suggest to me that the alternator and charging side to the habitation batteries is OK.

Martin

 

[Don Hooley]

Thanks just going to Halfords to have them checked. Green light showing on both batteries, can see water but not sure if topped up enough. Hope Halfords can help.

 

[Augusta08]

I don't know the year of your Augusta but twin batteries so it maybe about the same as mine. Two thoughts spring to mind, there's a in-line fuse for each battery in the underfloor battery box, make sure both are ok, or you'll only be charging/using one battery. Second batteries supplied by Autocruise were sealed gel types as they live on their sides. So if you've replaced them with wet types, they maybe do't enjoy being on their sides????

HTH

Gerry

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[Don Hooley]

My Augusta is 2007. Removed both Gel batteries when I bought it and replaced with new batteries under seat by heater. They are not on their sides. Halfords reckon the batteries are on but short of water. They suggested I top them up and by the time I get to me new venye(60 miles) they should have charged up. Have done that and I am on my way. The proof will be when we wild camp tonight. Thanks for your reply.

 

[funflair]

My Augusta is 2007. Removed both Gel batteries when I bought it and replaced with new batteries under seat by heater. They are not on their sides. Halfords reckon the batteries are on but short of water. They suggested I top them up and by the time I get to me new venye(60 miles) they should have charged up. Have done that and I am on my way. The proof will be when we wild camp tonight. Thanks for your reply.

Under seat by heater sounds like a sure way to dry the batteries out, are they vented to outside? you had Gel batteries under the seat originally because these are OK in habitation areas as they don't gas or not to the same extent as flooded lead acid, good luck

Martin

 

[Lenny HB]

The Halfords test will have been a CCA starter battery test, totally meaningless for leisure battery. Sorry to say I don't expect them to last the night.
As from what you say you have flooded cell batteries under the seats I hope they have been vented to the outside world, otherwise if they are using water due to gassing they may go bang.

 

[Augusta08]

Under seat by heater sounds like a sure way to dry the batteries out, are they vented to outside? you had Gel batteries under the seat originally because these are OK in habitation areas as they don't gas or not to the same extent as flooded lead acid, good luck

Martin

Martin,

You're not wrong there. The original Autocruise Augusta (which is what he's got) had two Gel batteries held in a GRP underfloor box. It's a very neat solution providing ample power in a cool safe environment. My first lot lasted 8 years and I'm a heavy user with a lot of off site camping.

What Don has done is move these to wet cell technology under the bench seat where the Alde heater is operating. Bad move! Bad decision. The Autocruise charger under the passenger seat is set for Gel battery charging. It won't charge the wet cell batteries properly and they are in a poorly vented hot place.

No wonder he's got problems.

Gerry

 

[DavidG58]

Above sounds to have nailed it especially the charging setting

My only other input is to say that we have twice now suffered one battery out of 2 failing which renders both effectively useless until the bad one is identified and disconnected

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[mitzimad]

i was going to say look at charger settings

 

[Lenny HB]

What Don has done is move these to wet cell technology under the bench seat where the Alde heater is operating. Bad move! Bad decision. The Autocruise charger under the passenger seat is set for Gel battery charging. It won't charge the wet cell batteries properly and they are in a poorly vented hot place.

No wonder he's got problems.

Gerry

If the charger is set to Gel with flooded cells, it is dangerous as it can cook the batteries, some the lastest batteries like the Varta LDF range are OK with Gel settings but most will be overcharged and will gas off and soon evaporate off most of the water with the possibility of explosion.

 

[Don Hooley]

Thanks everyone for your replies. The batteries are vented to the outside as I had them fitted by an auto electrician who increase the size of the cables as he felt the they were not thick enough. I take your point about them being I the wrong place I should have known better( so should the electrician) I will haven moved on my return to UK. I do no know about the charging system from Gel to wet batteries. Is it something I could do myself? I was aware I could not mix Gel and wet. I only had two 90amp g and with the amount of rallying and wild camping I did not feel I had enough battery power. After topppng them up st Halfords and driving 70 miles to my new venue they have been showing 12.9 most of the day and 12.7 when I eventually got up this morning.

 

[Lenny HB]

Sounds like you may have got away will it but sounds like they are being overcharged and gassing off. You don't say what the charger is but if it is an Elektroblock there will be a small slide switch on the front to change between Gel & Flooded.
I think you made the wrong decision getting rid of the Gel as an 80a/h Gel will give useable power of 64 a/h as you can run them down to 20% DOD and still get a long life where a 110a/h flooded cell will give you 55a/h of useable power. Gels also have a very long life.

 

[funflair]

Thanks everyone for your replies. The batteries are vented to the outside as I had them fitted by an auto electrician who increase the size of the cables as he felt the they were not thick enough. I take your point about them being I the wrong place I should have known better( so should the electrician) I will haven moved on my return to UK. I do no know about the charging system from Gel to wet batteries. Is it something I could do myself? I was aware I could not mix Gel and wet. I only had two 90amp g and with the amount of rallying and wild camping I did not feel I had enough battery power. After topppng them up st Halfords and driving 70 miles to my new venue they have been showing 12.9 most of the day and 12.7 when I eventually got up this morning.

If you know where your battery charger is there should be a setting for type of battery,

Martin

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[funflair]

Sounds like you may have got away will it but sounds like they are being overcharged and gassing off. You don't say what the charger is but if it is an Elektroblock there will be a small slide switch on the front to change between Gel & Flooded.
I think you made the wrong decision getting rid of the Gel as an 80a/h Gel will give useable power of 64 a/h as you can run them down to 20% DOD and still get a long life where a 110a/h flooded cell will give you 55a/h of useable power. Gels also have a very long life.

I agree about the Gel Lenny but he has 2x115ah flooded so does have more capacity than 1x80ah even a good one.

Martin

 

[Lenny HB]

I agree about the Gel Lenny but he has 2x115ah flooded so does have more capacity than 1x80ah even a good one.

Martin

Just comparing Gels to Flooded and showing how people don't realise how good Cells are.
He changed 2 Gels for 2 flooded because he didn't think he had enough capacity he would have been better off sticking with the Gels.

 

[mitzimad]

dont know if you have solar but that too will need to be set for the correct charging regime

 

[Don Hooley]

That’s what I like about this forum always positive feedback. I change the Gels because they where the orignal batteries and coming up ten year old. I will take all your advice and do some research on my return. Thanks

 

[funflair]

Just comparing Gels to Flooded and showing how people don't realise how good Cells are.
He changed 2 Gels for 2 flooded because he didn't think he had enough capacity he would have been better off sticking with the Gels.

Oops thought he only had 1 Gel, two 80ah Gel's for two flooded lead acid 115ah you are right,



again.


Martin

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