Leisure batteries system sending me crazy----HELP PLEASE---- (1 Viewer)

[John Proctor]

The old saying .... climbing the walls ... is an understatement!
2001fiat ducato benimar europe st 6000 ... proper straight Flys through its mot over the 3 years I've had it.... love it to bits... However me and my trusted benimar are about to proper fall out I've looked and tried everything to stop this problem ...
I am reaching out for that one thing I haven't done to fix this problem.
New under bonnet starter battery cranks spot on.
A 110 ah leisure battery under both front seats that charge to 13.6 / 8 when I start the engine, checked by a multimeter and also showing the same on the control panel. All the motorhome Internal lights work and everything else as they should. So here's the problem, when I turn the engine off and test the batteries there sat at 13.6 / 8. Then turning just the habitation lights on the voltage on the control panel drops very quickly and within 4 minutes it's down to 7 and the lights have dimmed before going out. I then check directly to the batteries and they were sat at exactly what the control panel was reading...
I change the battles to two 130ah Gel batteries that I new were ok as I had took them off my garage solar system ... the same is happening with them... good charge .... lights on very quickly down to 7 lights out ...
WHAT ELSE CAN I CHECK I AM GOING OUT OF MY MIND....
HELP PLEASE

 

[DBK]

If you are measuring the voltage at the battery terminals and seeing these voltages with the lights on then I would take the batteries first to a battery shop and get them tested. The symptoms suggest they are dead despite your assurance they were fine before.

 

[Jabstatt]

Please explain what you mean by 13.6/8

Tony

 

[Langtoftlad]

Leisure battery is goosed ie not holding it's charge.
When engine is running, it's your alternator supplying your 12v system

 

[Phill D]

Hi there and welcome.

What happens to the battery voltage if after switching off you allow them to rest for 30 minutes then take the voltage ( no lights on).

Sounds to me as if the batteries are shot. If you drained a serviceable fully charged battery down to 7volts in such a short space of time then you would be pulling a lot of current and fuses would be blowing or wires melting.

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[LithiumConvert]

I've looked and tried everything to stop this problem

Have you tried buying a new battery?

 

[Pausim]

Lead acid batteries can become sulphated. In effect the lead plates get silted up leaving only a small area to do all the work. The small area that is ok will charge up to a full voltage just like a good battery but the capacity is much reduced. What started off as a 110Ah battery might be reduced to say 20Ah.

 

[Just smiffy]

Are you running your fridge on 12v….

 

[bigtwin]

Please explain what you mean by 13.6/8

Tony

The charge voltage is in the range of 13.6V to 13.8V.

Ian

 

[FrankNicklin]

Charge voltage is fine for normal batteries but not GEL, think you need a higher charge voltage, something like 14.4v but charge voltage is meaningless if the battery cannot take the charge for any length of time. If the voltage drops to 7v they are definitely toast. Anything less than 10 volts and they are done for. Also think that GEL batteries are not a good choice for deep discharge. I may be wrong but I understand that AGM batteries are a better choice. The GEL can “burn” on deep discharge. On an old MH the charger will not hold 14.4v for very long, perhaps an hour or so. GEL batteries need a constant 14.4v or thereabouts for about 8 hours.

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[David and Sally]

 

[Jim]

Hi John, you need a new leisure battery. All batteries have a finite life and it sounds like yours have gone to meet their maker.

You have a couple of options; if your battery used to cope with all your leccy requirements, just replace it. If you'd like a bit more power then investigate (Lithium) LiFePO4. Meanwhile, welcome to the fun

 

[FrankNicklin]

Hi John, you need a new leisure battery. All batteries have a finite life and it sounds like yours have gone to meet their maker.

You have a couple of options; if your battery used to cope with all your leccy requirements, just replace it. If you'd like a bit more power then investigate (Lithium) LiFePO4. Meanwhile, welcome to the fun

Will an old MH charger handle LiFePO4 batteries though.

 

[Jim]

Will an old MH charger handle LiFePO4 batteries though.

Maybe, probably not. That's why I said investigate, not fit

 

[GeoffnDee]

As you say the same thing happens when you tried other batteries it could be worth checking the leisure battery terminal connectors are ok
The leisure battery connections at the 12v PSU/fuse box would also be worth checking.

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[dunnah01]

If you have a DC clamp meter or anmeter you could try to measure if there is any significant current flow when everything is turned off and nothing is charging the batteries

 

[John Proctor]

The charge voltage is in the range of 13.6V to 13.8V.

Ian

Hi Ian. Batteries change to 13.6 sometimes when I tested then they were sat at 13.8

 

[John Proctor]

If you have a DC clamp meter or anmeter you could try to measure if there is any significant current flow when everything is turned off and nothing is charging the batteries

Tried it mate .... thought there could be a pull some where

 

[FrankNicklin]

Hi Ian. Batteries change to 13.6 sometimes when I tested then they were sat at 13.8

Thats not enough for GEL batteries, need to be 14.4V for around 8 hours. The standard charger doesn't do that.

 

[John Proctor]

Hi John, you need a new leisure battery. All batteries have a finite life and it sounds like yours have gone to meet their maker.

You have a couple of options; if your battery used to cope with all your leccy requirements, just replace it. If you'd like a bit more power then investigate (Lithium) LiFePO4. Meanwhile, welcome to the fun

Cheers Jim.... I did replace them with two batteries I new were good but it did the same thing drained them

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[John Proctor]

Thats not enough for GEL batteries, need to be 14.4V for around 8 hours. The standard charger doesn't do that.

Is it the batteries or the charge from the engine

 

[FrankNicklin]

Is it the batteries or the charge from the engine

I would assume both at some point. Your alternator will charge the batteries on the road and on EHU your built in charger. I doubt either will handle GEL batteries correctly unless the alternator is putting 14.4V and you are driving for long hours.

 

[John Proctor]

Have you tried buying a new battery?

I've put two batteries that are good and holding there charge but on the van the voltage is showing the same as the other ..dropping within 4 or 5 mins with just the light being used

 

[FrankNicklin]

I've put two batteries that are good and holding there charge but on the van the voltage is showing the same as the other ..dropping within 4 or 5 mins with just the light being used

Do you have any lights that only work on 240V or should only work on 240V as well as some on 12V. Just wondering why the voltage is pulled down so quickly.

 

[John Proctor]

I would assume both at some point. Your alternator will charge the batteries on the road and on EHU your built in charger. I doubt either will handle GEL batteries correctly unless the alternator is putting 14.4V and you are driving for long hours.

Could it be earthing out somewhere and pulling the charge

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[John Proctor]

Do you have any lights that only work on 240V or should only work on 240V as well as some on 12V. Just wondering why the voltage is pulled down so quickly.

All lights are 12 v

 

[John Proctor]

All lights are 12 v

5 mins just going to plug the 240V in and see what happens

 

[FrankNicklin]

5 mins just going to plug the 240V in and see what happens

Check the voltage across the battery when on EHU.

 

[Vaman]

If you ignore the lights and run the remaining 12V items does the battery also drop as quickly. The water pump is a good load for instance. Are you using LED lights?

 

[GeoffnDee]

Have you checked the battery connections on the PSU for tightness ?