Leisure battery location

[lukebolger]

I've been having trouble with my power. My 400w inverter to charge my laptop (60w) has not been getting enough power to charge for very long.

I got a new leasure battery today (Exide er650) and have driven four hours - so I assume it will have charged up.
But with two lights on, the inverter - if I switch one more light on the inverter goes throws up a red light.

I am now begining to wonder if it's the cold.

On my Laika the leisure battery is outside underneath the vehicle in a locked cabinet.

Would it be possible to insulate it or should I bring it inside and put it under the underseat storage?

Cheers

Luke

 

[autorouter]

Make sure you set switches on the NE287 correctly for the battery type. You'll want the 'Pb Flooded' charging profile, which is S1 & S2 ON, S3 OFF.

 

[lukebolger]

Hey guys!

Took a reading this morning off the band new leisure battery. it's at 12.68v.

My solar panel is putting out 12.86v which evidently isn't enough to keep it topped up.

I don't think the alternator kicks out much charge to top it up either.

So I've ordered the new charger and am now trying to find the old one to replace with the new one. The manual says it should be inside the kitchen cabinet. Which it isn't.

I'm wondering if there isn't one at all? But to counter that, when on hookup the battery charger light comes on and goes off when it thinks it's put enough charge into the battery.

I've emailed Laika and asked if they can tell me where I'll find the charger so I don't go ripping up cabinets unnecessarily.

Any thoughts appreciated

 

[lukebolger]

Make sure you set switches on the NE287 correctly for the battery type. You'll want the 'Pb Flooded' charging profile, which is S1 & S2 ON, S3 OFF.

Thanks so much!

 

[Lenny HB]

Did you take a reading on the battery before connecting it?
If not take a reading with the solar disconnected and then with it connected. There won't be much of a charge at this time of year from solar but over the course of a sunny day you should see the battery voltage rise.

Also if you have changed the battery you need to disconnect the input to the solar regulator then connect the battery then reconnect the solar panels. This is because a lot of solar regulators use the battery voltage to set the charge voltage (12 or 24v)

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[lukebolger]

Did you take a reading on the battery before connecting it?
If not take a reading with the solar disconnected and then with it connected. There won't be much of a charge at this time of year from solar but over the course of a sunny day you should see the battery voltage rise.

Also if you have changed the battery you need to disconnect the input to the solar regulator then connect the battery then reconnect the solar panels. This is because a lot of solar regulators use the battery voltage to set the charge voltage (12 or 24v)

I just took a reading off out inverter terminals which are connected to the 12v TV socket, as the inverter is plugged in, it keeps dropping out on charging our MacBook, and the voltage is dropping to as low as 10.3v, then back up to 12.6 etc.

So I think it may not be a battery issue at all but some dodgy wiring from this 12v socket.

Going to try wire the inverter in directly off the battery

 

[Lenny HB]

Charging the laptp should only take 4 or 5 amps so the voltage should only drop about 0.2v.

 

[autorouter]

I just took a reading off out inverter terminals which are connected to the 12v TV socket, as the inverter is plugged in, it keeps dropping out on charging our MacBook, and the voltage is dropping to as low as 10.3v, then back up to 12.6 etc.

So I think it may not be a battery issue at all but some dodgy wiring from this 12v socket.

One place to look is the connections on the socket, it should be possible to dismantle it enough to see if they are making firm solid contact.