Leisure battery use when hooked up

[DaveHobson]

(This is related to another thread in which people were very helpful, but poses a separate question.)
Following noise problems with our onboard leisure battery charger, we’ve temporarily switched it off at the fuse board, thinking that, as long as we are connected to the mains supply, we wouldn’t be using the battery. But the control panel is now reporting that the voltage on the leisure battery is low (11.6v), which suggests that we are using it, despite being hooked up. Could somebody enlighten me? (We’ve now switched the charger back on, and will put up with the noise until the voltage is back up.)

 

[PaulW2]

Your lights, water pump and other ancillaries that use 12v power will continue to draw from the battery.

 

[DavidG58]

Roughly how long did you have the charger off for, if not long you may have identified your problem, your battery sounds like it has failed and then might be causing the charger to over work

 

[PP Bear]

Whatever works when parked on the driveway is 12 volts. This stays the same when on EHU, there’s no system that switches them to the mains power.

EHU will allow you to operate the charger, the fridge on mains, the heating and plug sockets. Some vans have a separate lighting system that will operate on from the EHU, but these wouldn’t work when away from mains power.

 

[OldAgeTravellers]

Basically, everything you use will probably be powered from the leisure battery so it suggests that your leisure battery has had it I am afraid if it will not hold a charge. If it wasn’t before then going that low will reduce whatever life it has left. Basically the only things that will work from the mains is anything plugged into your 13A socket’s. Unless your charger is switched on to keep the suspect battery topped up. There is a possibility that the noise from your charger is due to the battery being end of life and perhaps putting too much strain on it.
Sorry but it is probably a new leisure battery time.

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[Guigsy]

The EHU charger IS the source of 12v power. It charges the battery. If you use 12v power while you're plugged in, then the charger is providing the current and less goes to the battery. If you demand more than the charger supplies (or the charger is off) then there will be draw on the battery.

 

[DaveHobson]

Roughly how long did you have the charger off for, if not long you may have identified your problem, your battery sounds like it has failed and then might be causing the charger to over work

About 3 days.

 

[DaveHobson]

The EHU charger IS the source of 12v power. It charges the battery. If you use 12v power while you're plugged in, then the charger is providing the current and less goes to the battery. If you demand more than the charger supplies (or the charger is off) then there will be draw on the battery.

Ah, I see, that explains it very clearly. Thanks.

 

[DaveHobson]

Your lights, water pump and other ancillaries that use 12v power will continue to draw from the battery.

Thanks.

 

[DaveHobson]

Whatever works when parked on the driveway is 12 volts. This stays the same when on EHU, there’s no system that switches them to the mains power.

EHU will allow you to operate the charger, the fridge on mains, the heating and plug sockets. Some vans have a separate lighting system that will operate on from the EHU, but these wouldn’t work when away

Whatever works when parked on the driveway is 12 volts. This stays the same when on EHU, there’s no system that switches them to the mains power.

EHU will allow you to operate the charger, the fridge on mains, the heating and plug sockets. Some vans have a separate lighting system that will operate on from the EHU, but these wouldn’t work when away from mains power.

I thought the lights etc would be powered from the mains while hooked up. Thanks for clearing that up.

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[DaveHobson]

Basically, everything you use will probably be powered from the leisure battery so it suggests that your leisure battery has had it I am afraid if it will not hold a charge. If it wasn’t before then going that low will reduce whatever life it has left. Basically the only things that will work from the mains is anything plugged into your 13A socket’s. Unless your charger is switched on to keep the suspect battery topped up. There is a possibility that the noise from your charger is due to the battery being end of life and perhaps putting too much strain on it.
Sorry but it is probably a new leisure battery time.

Basically, everything you use will probably be powered from the leisure battery so it suggests that your leisure battery has had it I am afraid if it will not hold a charge. If it wasn’t before then going that low will reduce whatever life it has left. Basically the only things that will work from the mains is anything plugged into your 13A socket’s. Unless your charger is switched on to keep the suspect battery topped up. There is a possibility that the noise from your charger is due to the battery being end of life and perhaps putting too much strain on it.
Sorry but it is probably a new leisure battery time.

Thanks. We had decided to get a new battery on return to the UK, so as long as this one keeps going until then (about 4 weeks), we’ll be ok. Presumably, having the charger on for part of each day will keep it roped up to a serviceable level?

 

[pappajohn]

All 12v services are powered indirectly from the charger via the leisure battery.
Off hookup all 12v services use battery only.
All 230v services are provided by hookup

 

[StillGoing]

Thanks. We had decided to get a new battery on return to the UK, so as long as this one keeps going until then (about 4 weeks), we’ll be ok. Presumably, having the charger on for part of each day will keep it roped up to a serviceable level?

If the battery lasted 3 days it may not need replacing depending on the battery capacity and how much you were using it.

 

[mitzimad]

why are you switching the charger off?

 

[1967bowesj]

why are you switching the charger off?

I the ops opening post, charger was noisy.
Question is why was it noisy, knackered or working to hard to feed 12v due to duff battery?

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[Montezuma]

By Jove, since I joined this jolly crowd, I have learned more about 12 Volt leisure batteries, and their relevant circuitry, than I ever thought possible, but the issue of a noisy battery charger is something I have never come across, and I have charged, and re-charged, many duff 12 volt car batteries over the past 60-odd years.

I am curious, if not at all helpful for Dave.

I am assuming (of course I am), that the principle involved is exactly the same, regardless of whether the battery involved is a deep cycle, AGM battery, or an old fashioned, flooded type, of the sort that would have been found under the bonnet of my long-departed '62 Singer Gazelle ?

Would a really flattened battery cause a battery charger, be it a bog standard type that anybody might keep in his garage, or one that is built into the magic boxes that control the internal, 12 volt electrical, machinations in caravans and motorhomes, to make worrisome noises ?

What sort of noise is it?

I imagine it must be some sort of electrical humming or pulsing sound, I cannot imagine it being otherwise. If it is something other than that, then I suspect there may be more dirty work at the crossroads.

Does the noise decrease as the battery voltage rises, or is it there all the time the charger is running?

As an aside; I ordered my new leisure battery last Saturday. It has not arrived yet. £161 including VAT and delivery.

I'd love to be an electrical expert, but all I can do is ask questions.

However, in my search for knowledge, I am often ridiculed.

 

[DaveHobson]

By Jove, since I joined this jolly crowd, I have learned more about 12 Volt leisure batteries, and their relevant circuitry, than I ever thought possible, but the issue of a noisy battery charger is something I have never come across, and I have charged, and re-charged, many duff 12 volt car batteries over the past 60-odd years.

I am curious, if not at all helpful for Dave.

I am assuming (of course I am), that the principle involved is exactly the same, regardless of whether the battery involved is a deep cycle, AGM battery, or an old fashioned, flooded type, of the sort that would have been found under the bonnet of my long-departed '62 Singer Gazelle ?

Would a really flattened battery cause a battery charger, be it a bog standard type that anybody might keep in his garage, or one that is built into the magic boxes that control the internal, 12 volt electrical, machinations in caravans and motorhomes, to make worrisome noises ?

What sort of noise is it?

I imagine it must be some sort of electrical humming or pulsing sound, I cannot imagine it being otherwise. If it is something other than that, then I suspect there may be more dirty work at the crossroads.

Does the noise decrease as the battery voltage rises, or is it there all the time the charger is running?

As an aside; I ordered my new leisure battery last Saturday. It has not arrived yet. £161 including VAT and delivery.

I'd love to be an electrical expert, but all I can do is ask questions.

However, in my search for knowledge, I am often ridiculed.

No ridicule from this corner! The noise is a rather unpleasant rattly buzz, which starts about 15 mins after switching it on. It then keeps going, occasionally going quieter, or stopping altogether for a couple of minutes, but essentially noisy until switched off. It’s not a noise that we could consider living with!

 

[DaveHobson]

The charger itself is new, having been replaced a few weeks ago because of the same noise coming from the old one. Which made us think, obviously, that it wasn’t the charger making the noise. But it clearly is, which now points to the battery being the culprit, ie for some reason making both chargers make the same noise. Which is why we’re planning to replace the battery, and would do if we could find a retailer here in France (currently near Uzès).

 

[Reallyretired]

No ridicule from this corner! The noise is a rather unpleasant rattly buzz, which starts about 15 mins after switching it on. It then keeps going, occasionally going quieter, or stopping altogether for a couple of minutes, but essentially noisy until switched off. It’s not a noise that we could consider living with!

Duff transformer in the charger I'm afaid. Probably means a new charger unless you or someone you know is up to replacing the transformer. Other possibility is the fan but that shouldn't run all the time and most chargers don't have one.

 

[DaveHobson]

Duff transformer in the charger I'm afaid. Probably means a new charger unless you or someone you know is up to replacing the transformer. Other possibility is the fan but that shouldn't run all the time and most chargers don't have one.

Hmmm, pretty sure ours doesn’t have a fan, because until the old one started being noisy, it was totally silent. All very confusing, given that this charger is (allegedly) new.

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[gus-lopez]

why are you switching the charger off?

My mate has had 3 different Autocruise mhs over the years. All the chargers built in to the fuse control panels,in the high level cupboards have made noise +fan noise as per the OP's. You could not sleep with them on.

I imagine it must be some sort of electrical humming or pulsing sound,

Yes,plus a fan

No ridicule from this corner! The noise is a rather unpleasant rattly buzz, which starts about 15 mins after switching it on. It then keeps going, occasionally going quieter, or stopping altogether for a couple of minutes, but essentially noisy until switched off. It’s not a noise that we could consider living with!

Nor could my friend nor I.
I think they are Sterling control panels/charger?

 

[DaveHobson]

One further development… When our charger is making its noise, the symbol on the control panel which shows that we are hooked up (a little plug icon) flickers on and off. And occasionally it goes off altogether, and the message displays that the mains connection has been lost (with a recurring bleep). So surely this points to a connection problem, either within the charger, or between the mains and the charger?

 

[starquake]

DaveHobson turn off the power, take the lid off your fuseboard, bet the connection (it's like a kettle lead) to the charger is loose. That is VERY common in the Bailey chargers.

And whoever replaced your charger, if they replaced like for like (ie, another NON apuljack charger), it may make the same noise. The apuljack replacement units (trivial to swap in) are far better made. Some Caravan dealers still use OEM part, which just is prone to failure unfroutnatly, so you prob need a warranty claim on it if it's not the above wire being loose.

SHould add if you search bailey charger replacement on youtube you'll see guides to doing it, but it's literally unscrew the fuseboard with the power off and no mains EHU connected and put soem cable ties on to hold the charger mains lead in place.

 

[starquake]

AE276 ULTRA 6-Stage Intelligent Battery Charger | Apuljack Electronics

Truely Intelligent 6-Stage single output charger with a 2 year Warranty - A Direct Drop-In replacement for the PS276 or PS277. Suitable for Caravans or M

www.apuljackelectronics.co.uk

Link to one of the 2 APULJACK units, other one is on page. Theres a video guide to idnetifying which you need and how to install, but the key thing if your current charger isn't knackered is to use the cable tie to hold the mains cable in so it doesn't vibrate out when driving, which I suspect is whats happened to yours given it's intermittant.

If you do order a replacement just make sure the number of leads and model number matches the Apuljack replacement guide. If it's already an apuljack just replace it under warranty, if not, you can try another OEM supply but the reason apuljack got into business (apparently) is the unreliablity of the OEM BCA supply -> it's just known to fail and make noise as you describe...

 

[DaveHobson]

DaveHobson turn off the power, take the lid off your fuseboard, bet the connection (it's like a kettle lead) to the charger is loose. That is VERY common in the Bailey chargers.

And whoever replaced your charger, if they replaced like for like (ie, another NON apuljack charger), it may make the same noise. The apuljack replacement units (trivial to swap in) are far better made. Some Caravan dealers still use OEM part, which just is prone to failure unfroutnatly, so you prob need a warranty claim on it if it's not the above wire being loose.

SHould add if you search bailey charger replacement on youtube you'll see guides to doing it, but it's literally unscrew the fuseboard with the power off and no mains EHU connected and put soem cable ties on to hold the charger mains lead in place.

Thanks. Will try, and report back.