Leisure battery voltage and capacity

[Dave A A]

Hi all, sorry might be a dumb question.... Our leisure battery is at 12.7 volts, we are on site with ehu. No probs and all running fine.
But, on our control panel it also has a capacity reading which is 6% and red.
What does this mean ?
Cheers!

 

[Lenny HB]

At a guess Control panel is out of calibration.

 

[autorouter]

If it stays like that for more than an hour, then there's a fault somewhere. For example the data cable between the fusebox and the display panel might have worked loose. If you have a multimeter you could check the leisure battery voltage directly at the battery terminals.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Capacity isn't the same as state of charge. Perhaps the microchip in the monitor is trying to tell you something

 

[mitzimad]

12.7 while on hook up sounds like the charger isnt running

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[Dave A A]

Cheers all... Just been for a little runout from campsite 20ish k down to lands end and now the panel reads 13.7v and 15% capacity ??

 

[Richard n Ann]

Cheers all... Just been for a little runout from campsite 20ish k down to lands end and now the panel reads 13.7v and 15% capacity ??

Check your mains charger

 

[autorouter]

When you are back on EHU, the voltage should be between 13.6V and 14.8V. If it isn't then you have a problem with the mains charger. To start with, is it switched on, and is the fuse OK?

 

[Dave A A]

When you are back on EHU, the voltage should be between 13.6V and 14.8V. If it isn't then you have a problem with the mains charger. To start with, is it switched on, and is the fuse OK?

Cheers, I'll check again when we get back to the site and plug in. System was on and all working well, the control panel showed the sign to say plugged in/charging. I'll see..odd as been ok but due a hab check next week so I'll get them to check it out.as long as lasts next 3 days in Cornwall!

 

[Dave A A]

Plugged back in, 14.2 v and capacity rising steadily currently at 25%.
Will keep an eye and ask at the hab check.
Still don't fully understand what the capacity reading on the panel is really telling me tbh !

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[pappajohn]

Plugged back in, 14.2 v and capacity rising steadily currently at 25%.
Will keep an eye and ask at the hab check.
Still don't fully understand what the capacity reading on the panel is really telling me tbh !

It's telling you the battery is 25% charged.
The 14.2v is showing the charge voltage, not the actual battery voltage.
At 6% and now 25% I'd say your battery has been completely discharged and may well be damaged beyond practical use......ie: it won't hold a charge for long.

 

[autorouter]

Keep an eye on the voltage. When it gets near 100% the voltage should drop from the 'absorption voltage' which in your case is 14.2V down to the 'float voltage' of about 13.4 to 13.6V.

If the battery was down at 6% for more than a day or two it may be degraded, as pappajohn says. If you find that it doesn't last very long when not on hookup, that's what the problem is.

It's a bit late to tell you now, but it's recommended that lead-acid batteries are always charged to 100% for periods of non-use or storage. During use it's recommended not to discharge them much below 50%, and charge them up again as soon as possible.

 

[Dave A A]

Thank you, odd as it's been plugged in at home and the capacity has always been 100% or thereabouts so am confused how it's got so discharged and damaged. Also have a solar panel and that has trickled into the battery when unplugged at home.

 

[Dave A A]

Keep an eye on the voltage. When it gets near 100% the voltage should drop from the 'absorption voltage' which in your case is 14.2V down to the 'float voltage' of about 13.4 to 13.6V.

If the battery was down at 6% for more than a day or two it may be degraded, as pappajohn says. If you find that it doesn't last very long when not on hookup, that's what the problem is.

It's a bit late to tell you now, but it's recommended that lead-acid batteries are always charged to 100% for periods of non-use or storage. During use it's recommended not to discharge them much below 50%, and charge them up again as soon as possible.

Would you recommend keeping the van plugged in during winter ? I thought it wasn't supposed to be constantly on charge ? Thanks again

 

[pappajohn]

Would you recommend keeping the van plugged in during winter ? I thought it wasn't supposed to be constantly on charge ? Thanks again

If the vans charger is a modern smart charger it's not a problem as the charger will enter float/maintenance charge of around 13.6v.
If its the older anologue charger it will kill the battery as they provide a constant charge rate without reducing to float voltage.