Draining charge in battery

[kevnlyn]

I been experiencing a problem with my vehicle battery in my motorhome, recently been to a Ford dealer under the warranty to check out why the vehicle battery doesn’t seem to be holding the charge. The Ford technician who carried out the checks discovered the problem was with the aftermarket alarm system which was fitted by the motorhome dealer when I purchased the motorhome in May of this year, is causing the battery to not hold the charge. Does anybody have an idea what the cause of the problem may be, before I go back to the dealer to rectify.

 

[Diabalo]

How long are you expecting it to hold a charge? I have solar keeping batteries topped up but without I think the battery would only last 2 to 3 weeks. All motorhomes have a parasitic drain.

 

[kevnlyn]

I been experiencing a problem with my vehicle battery in my motorhome, recently been to a Ford dealer under the warranty to check out why the vehicle battery doesn’t seem to be holding the charge. The Ford technician who carried out the checks discovered the problem was with the aftermarket alarm system which was fitted by the motorhome dealer when I purchased the motorhome in May of this year, is causing the battery to not hold the charge. Does anybody have an idea what the cause of the problem may be, before I go back to the dealer to rectify.

My battery lasted about 2 weeks, then it was dead as a dodo !!, thought it would longer then that.

 

[Diabalo]

Do you have solar panels fitted

 

[kevnlyn]

Do you have solar panels fitted

Sorry for the delay in answering, yes its has a solar panel fitted

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[headlight]

Sorry for the delay in answering, yes its has a solar panel fitted

Does your solar charge both the leisure and starter battery or just the leisure battery ?

 

[kevnlyn]

Does your solar charge both the leisure and starter battery or just the leisure battery ?

There is a switch close to the control panel with 3 options, leisure battery, solar off, and vehicle battery, I’ve tried opting for the vehicle battery battery option, initially the reading on the control panel for the vehicle started creeping up, but weather changed . I will monitor over the weekend ( weather permitting ).
I am newbie to m/h,
When I enquired with the dealer what this switch is for, he didnt appear to know what the function of this switch was, I’d appreciate any info of what exactly this switch does !!

 

[Diabalo]

kevnlyn A picture of your panel may help, I'm sure someone on here will have the same setup and be able to advise.

 

[headlight]

There is a switch close to the control panel with 3 options, leisure battery, solar off, and vehicle battery, I’ve tried opting for the vehicle battery battery option, initially the reading on the control panel for the vehicle started creeping up, but weather changed . I will monitor over the weekend ( weather permitting ).
I am newbie to m/h,
When I enquired with the dealer what this switch is for, he didnt appear to know what the function of this switch was, I’d appreciate any info of what exactly this switch does !!

If you only have the option to charge one battery at a time rather than both at the same time then a Vanbitz Battery Master would probably work for you.
You would set your switch to leisure battery so the solar charges that then the Battery Master would trickle charge the starter battery from the leisure battery when it senses that the starter battery is iirc 0.5v lower than the hab battery.
Installation is only 2 wires and they're not expensive at about £55.

 

[GeoffnDee]

What make and model of Motorhome do you have , as you say it was checked at a Ford Dealer ?

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[kevnlyn]

What make and model of Motorhome do you have , as you say it was checked at a Ford Dealer ?

It’s a Autotrail F68,on a Ford base layer

 

[GeoffnDee]

I expect that your PSU/ Habitation Control panel are Sargent supplied items (EC176 / EC362) without built in solar charging control and the solar has been fitted with its own separate control panel for setting to which of the batteries is to be charged from solar , and , as headlight has suggested , it would be worth checking if a Vanbitz battery master can be fitted to your model of Motorhome to save having to remember to change the control settings when parked up long term as both batteries can be charged from the solar system with this fitted.
( P.S. Your funster details show your Motorhome as being a Bailey Autograph (Peugeot based) which uses a different make of electrical system and controls)

 

[kevnlyn]

I expect that your PSU/ Habitation Control panel are Sargent supplied items (EC176 / EC362) without built in solar charging control and the solar has been fitted with its own separate control panel for setting to which of the batteries is to be charged from solar , and , as headlight has suggested , it would be worth checking if a Vanbitz battery master can be fitted to your model of Motorhome to save having to remember to change the control settings when parked up long term as both batteries can be charged from the solar system with this fitted.
( P.S. Your funster details show your Motorhome as being a Bailey Autograph (Peugeot based) which uses a different make of electrical system and controls)

Thanks for the advice GeoffnDee, I’ll make some enquires on a battery master, I’ve changed my m/h to a Autotrail , tried to change my details on my profile, couldn’t do it .so waiting on advice from Mhf on how to do it.

 

[Elsie2010]

My battery lasted about 2 weeks, then it was dead as a dodo !!, thought it would longer then that.

Our old MH without an alarm would only last 2 weeks without a charge or a run

 

[headlight]

Thanks for the advice GeoffnDee, I’ll make some enquires on a battery master, I’ve changed my m/h to a Autotrail , tried to change my details on my profile, couldn’t do it .so waiting on advice from Mhf on how to do it.

If you look in the classifieds section in fun shop you can buy the Battery Master.

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[kevnlyn]

If you look in the classifieds section in fun shop you can buy the Battery Master.

Thanks Headlight, I will look in the classifieds

 

[GeoffnDee]

Thanks for the advice GeoffnDee, I’ll make some enquires on a battery master, I’ve changed my m/h to a Autotrail , tried to change my details on my profile, couldn’t do it .so waiting on advice from Mhf on how to do it.

kevnlyn ,If you go to your user name at the top of this page and then go to your account details section I think you may be able to change the information about things there.

 

[kevnlyn]

kevnlyn ,If you go to your user name at the top of this page and then go to your account details section I think you may be able to change the information about things there.

Finally discovered how to change my profile details, thanks GeoffnDee,