Leisure battery? Vs electricity

sweet caroline

sweet caroline

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Hi guys. Slept on my daughters drive last night to TEST OUT RENEE!

Plugged into electricity, but nothing wirked heater, plugs etc.

My son inlaw said that even plugged in overnight my leisure battery was onky showing 9.5%, which won't be enough to heat up boiler,plugs etc???

I just presumed if yr plugged in,then electrical stuff works?

So instead if going to my holiday site, im now stuck in a cold garage awaiting a fitting if a leisure battery.

But still unsure ,why the above won't work on ehu?

All part of the Adventure, I keep on telling myself,hahs
 
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Sounds like charger / controller not turned on.

Where is 9.5% figure from?
Get a simple multimeter and measure battery DC. Rough guide 12.8 is full and 12.2 as low as you want to go.

Did your lights , water pump etc work as they all use the battery.
 
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Things like the lights and water pump work on 12 volts. So these should work when you're unplugged.

When you're on EHU, then the heating should be available (assuming you have a heater with an electric mode). As should the mains socket.

In addition, there should be a mains charger that provides provides power to the 12v supply to the battery. And even if the battery is dead, the charger should still provide enough power to supply the 12v devices.
 
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Hookup has nothing to do with battery power other than charge the battery.
My money is on the 230v mainswitch has either tripped or been turned off.
You heater etc is powered by 230v mains not 12v battery.
Your battwry is discharged because your 230v has tripped.
Look around for a mains fusebox similar to at home only smaller..
If all the switches are UP (on) then the hookup lead is faulty.
 
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Did previous owner give you a hand over?
Did you record it?

You would probably benefit from another MH user talking you through things if not.

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It would be worth saying what moho you have, rather than the base vehicle.
 
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Jev88 said:
Sounds like charger / controller not turned on.

Where is 9.5% figure from?
Get a simple multimeter and measure battery DC. Rough guide 12.8 is full and 12.2 as low as you want to go.

Did your lights , water pump etc work as they all use the battery.
Click to expand...
After a drive, in the opposite direction ofmy site here in the fenlands, I was told by the engineer at Marquess garage, that there is a small switch for the batteries under the passenger seat ! IT WAS TURNED OFF! So an overnight charge on the drive, made no difference to the output, as the batteries were off !

A nice 120 pound lighter in the pocket, with no need for a leisure battery! I is the electronic gage that give off the readings in the van by the way, and it was under 9.5. but all up and running now thank you for your help. sadly the television stopped working in the storm last night, but thankfully brought my laptop with me ! RESULT.
I bou
Jev88 said:
Did previous owner give you a hand over?
Did you record it?

You would probably benefit from another MH user talking you through things if not.
Click to expand...
 
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Thanks, guys for all your help and advise on my Bentley, no not a lot of hand over, as it was a private sale, but basically the batteries were not being charged as the OFF switch tucked under the passenger seat, had been turned off, and the broker of the owner did not tell any of this to me, when I bought it on Saturday. I am a member of the Bentley club too, so they are kind like yourselves with information. thx
 
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I replied to this thread earlier today but I can't see my thread, however when I look on 'my threads replied' I can see it!!!! Have I been blocked or something???
 
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Captain Yoghurtpot said:
Glad you seem to be sorted sweet caroline after your previous encounter with a motorhome.
If I may ask, but what is a Bentley motorhome please?
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Hi there Captain Yogurtpot !

Yes ! absolutely different purchase, and a very different van, as it is a lot newer ! All the paperwork has come with it, so it's been serviced since it was born in 2011. Plus a full service that I had done and a habitation check too !

So having a great time, at an adult site in the Norfolk fens ! managed with the video help of my son-in-law and daughter, to get the heating sorted and the boiler for a shower etc, it all looks very complicated at present, but I am sure the more I take her away , the better it will be.

Driving it is a DREAM, the Automatic gearbox is smooth with no rattles in the habitation area!

I am very pleased with it, and I hope to go away again on the 2nd Sept, to Wells Next to Sea, which is not too far away from me !
thank you for your support too !
 
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sweet caroline said:
After a drive, in the opposite direction ofmy site here in the fenlands, I was told by the engineer at Marquess garage, that there is a small switch for the batteries under the passenger seat ! IT WAS TURNED OFF! So an overnight charge on the drive, made no difference to the output, as the batteries were off !

A nice 120 pound lighter in the pocket, with no need for a leisure battery! I is the electronic gage that give off the readings in the van by the way, and it was under 9.5. but all up and running now thank you for your help. sadly the television stopped working in the storm last night, but thankfully brought my laptop with me ! RESULT.
I bou
Click to expand...
yes i should have, but sadly they just wanted the money and off I went

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Captain Yoghurtpot said:
Glad you seem to be sorted sweet caroline after your previous encounter with a motorhome.
If I may ask, but what is a Bentley motorhome please?
Click to expand...
Well they are a very RARE BREED! 2 brothers, named Bentley, started to make the Motorhomes, after realising that the company they worked for, were NOT putting the CRAFTMANSHIP and Quality in the Motorhome industry. So with their Names, they produced the Bentley Motorhome. Problem, they did the quality and the craftmanship, but doing that, they then went BUST, and sold out to a large motorhome company, that they left !

So they are now out of production, I think there are about 150 left in the country, so I am a Proud owner of a very RARE BREED called the BENTLEY COBBALT. Hope that answers your question, lovely van which is Automatic, and a dream to drive, and purrs like a cat at 60 on the motorway ! With Aircon ,and all the extras too ! Very Happy, if somewhat a little anxious, when thing start going wrong, which I hope the has stopped now ! hahah
 
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I think you need to know a bit more how motorhome electrics work.

There is a leisure battery, which provides for all the basic essential motorhome functions. The lights, water pump, and controls for the gas heating and gas hot water heater all work from the battery. The 3-way fridge can work from gas, 12V DC and 240V AC, with a control board powered from the leisure battery.

So you can park in the middle of a field, with no mains hookup, and still have lights, stay warm, have a hot shower and have a chilled beer, with no mains hookup supply at all. Everything works from the 12V battery. Heating and cooling power is provided by gas, controlled by 12V electric circuits working from the leiaure battery. No mains hookup required at all.

If there is a mains hookup, the key thing is the mains charger, which charges up the leisure battery and keeps it topped up. Everything still works from the 12V leisure battery just the same.

However in addition there are a few extras. The mains sockets will work once the mains hookup is plugged in. The fridge will switch over to use the 240V mains supply instead of running on gas. Maybe there is a microwave, that will work once the mains hookup is plugged in. And perhaps a coffee machine or hairdryer similarly.

So the first thing you need to do is make sure all the basic motorhome items are working from the battery, without any mains hookup. Then plug the hookup in, and check the battery is charging properly. Then check that the sockets and mains appliances work OK with the hookup supply.
 
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autorouter said:
So you can park in the middle of a field, with no mains hookup, and still have lights, stay warm, have a hot shower and have a chilled beer, with no mains hookup supply at all. Everything works from the 12V battery. Heating and cooling power is provided by gas, controlled by 12V electric circuits working from the leiaure battery. No mains hookup required at all.
Click to expand...
Just make sure you have the means to replace all the energy this takes from your leisure battery.
Usually by either a long drive, solar panel(s) or plugging into the mains every couple of days.

At the risk of information overload - it is also not recommended to deplete your leisure battery by more than 50%

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autorouter said:
I think you need to know a bit more how motorhome electrics work.

There is a leisure battery, which provides for all the basic essential motorhome functions. The lights, water pump, and controls for the gas heating and gas hot water heater all work from the battery. The 3-way fridge can work from gas, 12V DC and 240V AC, with a control board powered from the leisure battery.

So you can park in the middle of a field, with no mains hookup, and still have lights, stay warm, have a hot shower and have a chilled beer, with no mains hookup supply at all. Everything works from the 12V battery. Heating and cooling power is provided by gas, controlled by 12V electric circuits working from the leiaure battery. No mains hookup required at all.

If there is a mains hookup, the key thing is the mains charger, which charges up the leisure battery and keeps it topped up. Everything still works from the 12V leisure battery just the same.

However in addition there are a few extras. The mains sockets will work once the mains hookup is plugged in. The fridge will switch over to use the 240V mains supply instead of running on gas. Maybe there is a microwave, that will work once the mains hookup is plugged in. And perhaps a coffee machine or hairdryer similarly.

So the first thing you need to do is make sure all the basic motorhome items are working from the battery, without any mains hookup. Then plug the hookup in, and check the battery is charging properly. Then check that the sockets and mains appliances work OK with the hookup supply.
Click to expand...
Hi there !

Gosh ! like you said, alot to learn, so above, is a GREAT write up for me to go back too ! Thank you so much. My son in law is an engineer, and it was him that said, that the batteries weren't charging, and that I need a new leisure battery ! mmmmm, What neither of us didn't know, was the MAGIC BUTTON under the passenger seat needs to BE ON!!!!, Neither of us, knew where that was ? And it is so small and put in the most discreet place, neither of us could see it.
So all the items above, you recommend, is up and running, and I am very happy with my purchase thank you honey ! But appreciate your time in putting pen to paper and caring ! thank you so much cx
 
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Well done Caroline on your purchase, really pleased it all worked out for you. I am sure once you have sorted all the "workings" out you will have lots of fun and enjoyment.
Hope the weather is kind to you if you get to Wells -on-sea.

Best wishes,

Mark.
 
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NorfolkRed said:
Well done Caroline on your purchase, really pleased it all worked out for you. I am sure once you have sorted all the "workings" out you will have lots of fun and enjoyment.
Hope the weather is kind to you if you get to Wells -on-sea.

Best wishes,

Mark.
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Hi there Mark,

Thats very kind of you to wish me luck, little did I know, that my first trip to a beautiful site in Doddington, was something that luck, was needed ! hahah
Il post the circumstances on here, But if you go the the Bentley Forum, you will actually see the video ! hahah
 
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Langtoftlad said:
Just make sure you have the means to replace all the energy this takes from your leisure battery.
Usually by either a long drive, solar panel(s) or plugging into the mains every couple of days.

At the risk of information overload - it is also not recommended to deplete your leisure battery by more than 50%
Click to expand...
Thank you for the above, i appreicate your kind information, and yes so much to remember!. But first you will see what actually happened on my very first trip with her, Something, No other site had ever seen, or some caravanners said, EVER!!!! mmmmmm more to come hahah But if you go onto the Bentley forum, you will see exactly what happened to me
 
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sweet caroline said:
Thank you for the above, i appreicate your kind information, and yes so much to remember!. But first you will see what actually happened on my very first trip with her, Something, No other site had ever seen, or some caravanners said, EVER!!!! mmmmmm more to come hahah But if you go onto the Bentley forum, you will see exactly what happened to me
Click to expand...

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Hi to Everyone, who have wished me well on my maiden voyage with my Bentley Cobbalt, a Van that I love and feels like she has been with me for years now , and feel happy to drive her.

Firstly, I took advise on other campers, and did a super Adult Site in Doddington, with fellow campers being extremely generous with their time for a NEWBIE Motorhomer, and a lady of advanced age too ! hahah

Anyway, I plugged in fathamed out all the circuits from Gas to Electric to both, or just Electrics, omg! so difficult , but I got there with the help from youtube videos and my son in law who is an Engineer !

So last night, when I was going through the ropes, of rubbish out, loo tank to be emptied , windows all closed etc etc, So that on departure, all I needed to do was unplug both water and the electrics ! EAsy , well until I stepped outside the van, to take the rubbish at 8pm, (in my pjs, too, I might add), the wind slammed the habitation door shut! Then this large clunking, OMG!!!! The van decided to Centrally Lock me out of the flipping van !!!!

As I stood there, with my rubbish in hand, PJs on , I walked around the van, with my heart in my mouth, to see if any windows were open, any doors, but I knew, I had already done the internal checks, and bugger me, the BENTLEY VANS, I have now found out, through the forums, it is peculiar to these makes!!!

So as I walked round and round, looking like a DEMENTED OAP, NOTHING was open, leaving me cold, in my summer pjs, with my LIFE stuck inside, including my phone, with all the numbers and APPS I needed to call,if things went wrong!

Long story cut short, a couple of lovely gentlemen came over with screwdrivers ,Not a Chance there, their wives bring me a jumper and coat, as sun was now going down, and everyone scratching their heads. !

I found one locker, that I had not locked !!!! now these lockers are No Bigger that about 3ft wide and maybe 2ft high, Not the Garage Locker, the small side locker Guys, So I looked at the guys, and said, look if you lift me into the lock face up, gently push my legs slowly, a bit like a Sardine being stuffed into its tin, without the OIL! OMG, what a sight !!!

So I wiggled or contortunated my body as stiff as I could make it, and placed myself like a Corpse in a confin, whilst they held my legs and pushed me slowly into the locker!
As my head came out of the porthole under the sofa the other side, I realised that my Bosoms could not get through, without me painfully flattened them, to get through ! hahah
The was a lot of hilarity at the other end of my body, with people saying that if this hit Youtube, it would go viral !! Thankfully no one had a phone, they were more concerned about me getting my body stuck in the locker, with my miscellaneous legs, kicking outside the locker, Never to be seen ever again !

Well, I am sure you are all wondering after the chapter above, did I actually manage it ?


HURRAY, I got into my van, with enormous relief, hysterical laughter, and a few bruises on unmentional parts of my body today !!!!

Aparently , the locking system, is peculiar to this van, and others that have experienced it, had to break in !! Well, there was no way I was going to do that on my maiden journey with her ! hahah

So today en route home, I got another set of the keys, and will now hide them on the outside on RENEE, so if the wind decided to do this again, I will at least be able to get into my van with some dignity! hahah

A Couple of the guys stated, I think Caroline you are the only woman on this site, and we include our wives, that could have possibly squeezed themselves into that very small external locker.

Where the is a WILL there is a WAY! is my motto ! But I must admit, it has made me laugh n and I hope it will do the same for my fellow campers that have been so lovely giving me incredible advise about the workings of my new van "RENEE", Thanks Guys x
 
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OWW! Yes !!! The question that alot of family and friends have asked since I returned, whether It has put me off !!

NO IT HASNT !!! Ppl on the site, were so helpful and sweet, and very kind, that the situation become an Instant Hit with everyone knowing about it! hahah

All wished me well, on my return voyage home too ! WHAT STARS!
 
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Great tale, what a shame no-one filmed it!
My son has the same self-locking system on his Chausson. Luckily he was clothed and had left the loo window unlocked.
Window (2).jpg



Feet (3).jpg
 
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