Check your batteries ASAP

[HUSKY 499]

I had to replace the engine battery on our 21 plate Citroen Relay based WildAx at the beginning of December since the original had gone completely flat. I drove it about 20 miles on 12th December when I took it to the supplying dealer for a couple of small warranty jobs to be completed. While it was there I asked them to check that there was nothing untoward on the hab side that could be drawing on the engine battery. They assured me that there wasn’t and confirmed that the split charger from the solar panel was operating correctly. Today I went to get the van and discovered the engine battery completely flat again. As in it will not unlock with they key, no dash lights, nothing!

The AA should replace the 4 week old battery under its warranty but clearly something must be drawing unexpectedly. Any ideas on what to check?

Any input from the collective will be welcomed and appreciated.

Hi Woody
If your handy with a multi meter I found this on the web , I have used this method on motorcycles.

 

[wildax_woody]

Hi Woody
If your handy with a multi meter I found this on the web , I have used this method on motorcycles.

Hi Husky - many thanks. Looks helpful. I will give it a try tomorrow. David

 

[Marauder]

Hi Paul & Yvette - your setup sounds interesting and helpful. Could you share the details of the Victron system that you have installed? Many thanks.

.
Me too pls !
_

 

[ljbarber]

I had to smile at the first 6 or so replies to the post, each one outdoing the next. how very human.

 

[Bessy765]

A couple of taps on my phone and my Victron VRM presents me with cab & hab battery info plus our tank levels and temperatures from the comfort of my armchair.

The only way I can check my Victron set up is to have a mifi with a cheap annual sim in it ours is in my garage at the bottom of the garden 40 mtr away? Currently in an aire near Calais for tomorrow’s ferry

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[nabsim]

My 4Kw produced a measly 20W yesterday.

That’s not good. The 300W flat on my van roof produced 40w yesterday and that’s on the north west coast of Scotland lol

 

[headlight]

Last winter a 100 watt Victron solar set up and Battery Master kept my 2 x 100ah lead acid leisure and starter battery topped up over winter in South Wales.
This winter I have increased to 200 watts of solar so fully expect my batteries to be kept topped up.

 

[wiff2110]

The battery master is an advance Battery Balancer which will allow 1.1 amp to flow from the Hab battery when it has reached full charge to the Engine Batter, the trickle charger is charging the Hab battery. That's how it works.

Sorry but I just don’t see the logic in what you are doing. You are in fact charging the engine battery from 2 separate sources, in my mind that arrangement is not necessary.

 

[Lenny HB]

Sorry but I just don’t see the logic in what you are doing. You are in fact charging the engine battery from 2 separate sources, in my mind that arrangement is not necessary.

Satandard arrangement in a Motorhome, it enables you to keep the starter battery topped up when not on EHU.

 

[Lenny HB]

Never plug our van in at home, 234ah of Gel batteries and 300 watts of solar, batteries are always at 100%.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[GeoffnDee]

Sorry but I just don’t see the logic in what you are doing. You are in fact charging the engine battery from 2 separate sources, in my mind that arrangement is not necessary.

I think it is the hab battery (post 23) that is being charged by the trickle charger , not, the cab battery (as first stated in post 20)

 

[wiff2110]

I think it is the hab battery (post 23) that is being charged by the trickle charger , not, the cab battery (as first stated in post 20)

Now that would make more sense, trickle charge the hab battery which in turn will charge the engine battery via the battery master.

 

[robnchris]

Sorry but I just don’t see the logic in what you are doing. You are in fact charging the engine battery from 2 separate sources, in my mind that arrangement is not necessary.

Which two sources are you referring to, please forget the error in my first post which should have read Hab battery. Thus we only have the one source the Trickle Charger as explained in my second post.

 

[Marauder]

.
I drove Adria yesterday (10th Jan) for first time in well over a month. Before starting engine, Hab batt (100ah) was showing full SOC (all blocks on display lit up ), and Cab Batt showing 13v (only one block unlit).
.
So, considering dismal weather recently (near Worksop) and van has only 100w on roof (controller is PWM), I'm very pleased.
.
The BatteryMaster must be doing its job, although the cupboard-bottom board covering the battery compartment has the PWM installed above it which has prevented me getting the board out to have a closer look at the HabBatt & setup.
.
Considering fitting a 2nd 100ah Hab Batt, but wondering if that would result in the 100w solar being insufficient to keep 200ah fully charged. I dont want to return to having to drive it every week to keep them charged !
_

 

[Folkranger]

Never plug our van in at home, 234ah of Gel batteries and 300 watts of solar, batteries are always at 100%.

Yes Lenny, but you're never at home for long.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Folkranger]

Having had the old air bag ECU fault on a previous van I take more care now over winter. I don't want EHU on 100% as this could damage the lithium battery so I have the EHU on a timer which gives 15 minutes a day. My 100w solar panel wouldn't do the job in the type of weather we're having this winter.

 

[Lenny HB]

Yes Lenny, but you're never at home for long.

Home most of summer & winter as we go away later now, only do two 6-7 week trips and sometimes a 3 week one then just a couple rallies and a festival.
So van is often sitting around for a couple of months or more, I do take for a run every 4 or 5 weeks.
Took it for a run 3 weeks ago, not plugged in and both batteries at 100%. Will be using it this weekend first time since 26th Oct.

 

[headlight]

.
I drove Adria yesterday (10th Jan) for first time in well over a month. Before starting engine, Hab batt (100ah) was showing full SOC (all blocks on display lit up ), and Cab Batt showing 13v (only one block unlit).
.
So, considering dismal weather recently (near Worksop) and van has only 100w on roof (controller is PWM), I'm very pleased.
.
The BatteryMaster must be doing its job, although the cupboard-bottom board covering the battery compartment has the PWM installed above it which has prevented me getting the board out to have a closer look at the HabBatt & setup.
.
Considering fitting a 2nd 100ah Hab Batt, but wondering if that would result in the 100w solar being insufficient to keep 200ah fully charged. I dont want to return to having to drive it every week to keep them charged !
_

I ran 2 x 100AH leisure batteries, a single 100 watt panel and battery master for 18 months with no issues, hab batteries and starter battery always fully charged throughout winter.

 

[Marauder]

a single 100 watt panel and battery master for 18 months

Thanks
was it PWM or MPPT controller ?

 

[headlight]

Thanks
was it PWM or MPPT controller ?

MPPT controller.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[AdrianChen]

First time this year the leisure batts have gone below 1°c - Brrrr, but at 85% so fine. Van interior was -2.8°c so I hope I got the drain-down right!

 

[cyberyacht]

My van was -3c this morning. I've been running a fan heater to warm things up so I can switch the solar panels on.

 

[MichaelT]

My van was -3c this morning. I've been running a fan heater to warm things up so I can switch the solar panels on.

-6 in ours