Motorhome not charging when on hookup

[DaveKerry]

Hi
I have a PIlote Explorature G781, it has a slow drain on the engine battery, so I have a battery master fitted but the drain is still apparent, so I bought a Ablemail 12-2 with bluetooth and over the last three weeks I watched the engine battery discharge from 12.8v to 12.1v. When it reached 12.1v I fitted the EHU cable expecting it voltage to increase, but it hasn't. Hookup is working.
I had the 12-2 with the green LED on constantly by making the charge time longer ie 15seconds on and 1 second off, I set the 12-2 to leisure battery threshold to 13.06v and engine battery threshold to 12.8v.
What I'm having trouble understanding is what is stopping the charge from going to the engine battery. The leisure battery which is lithium has been at a constant 14+volts all the time.
Something to consider is the positive fitting on the engine battery post when it's fully tight, the whole fitting is can turn, could this be part of the problem.
Thanks for taking the time to read this long post.
Dave

 

[pappajohn]

Replace the battery clamp for starters.
If it's soldered to the cable try slackening the bolt then gently prise the clamp apart until you can get a thin metal rod, like a nail, in the gap between post and clamp then retighten.
Eliminating the obvious will go a long way to solving the problem.

 

[whisky walker]

If you have a drain on your battery the best start is to try and find the cause. Best way I've found is get your self a wee tester that plugs into each fuse with everything switched off it will show if there is a current being drawn on that circuit and then you can go from there. Bit worrying about the actual post turning that is not normal and I would change that soonest, one it definitely

shouldn't turn and it could cause a serious short and possibly a fire.

 

[DaveKerry]

If you have a drain on your battery the best start is to try and find the cause. Best way I've found is get your self a wee tester that plugs into each fuse with everything switched off it will show if there is a current being drawn on that circuit and then you can go from there. Bit worrying about the actual post turning that is not normal and I would change that soonest, one it definitelyView attachment 1023477 shouldn't turn and it could cause a serious short and possibly a fire.

Thanks I'll look for one. Do you know what they are called.

 

[whisky walker]

Thanks I'll look for one. Do you know what they are called.

Automotive Current Tester Circuit Meter Standard ATO ATC Blade Fuse Car Vehicle​

A look on ebay should sort you one out around about £10

Cheers

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[DaveKerry]

Automotive Current Tester Circuit Meter Standard ATO ATC Blade Fuse Car Vehicle​

A look on ebay should sort you one out around about £10

Cheers

Thanks mate my bad I meant the fitting for the battery.

 

[DaveKerry]

Replace the battery clamp for starters.
If it's soldered to the cable try slackening the bolt then gently prise the clamp apart until you can get a thin metal rod, like a nail, in the gap between post and clamp then retighten.
Eliminating the obvious will go a long way to solving the problem.

I'm going to try that thanks pappa.

 

[whisky walker]

Thanks mate my bad I meant the fitting for the battery.

No worries, it just worried me if it was the terminal. Mind you I had a new battery fitted a while back from a well know car store and it turned out to have a short on the plates causing a slow drain. Spent days looking for it and testing with the tester but eventually it was a dud battery. Another thing to check is make sure the battery is connected to a good clean earth and no rust around the body of the chassis.
Best of luck

 

[GeoffnDee]

Are there fuses near/at the starter battery positive terminal , if so , it would be worth checking they are ok

 

[Jev88]

If you havent got that widget above - a multimeter will show live fuses when engine ignition off. Did it on the wifes car last week to locate a faulty Bluetooth pcb that was staying live and draining battery within 48 hours - a quick check on another car the same showed no voltage on the four fuses i found.

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[DaveKerry]

Are there fuses near/at the starter battery positive terminal , if so , it would be worth checking they are ok

Yeah there's 5 or 6 fuses and all are good, thanks for the help.

 

[DaveKerry]

If you havent got that widget above - a multimeter will show live fuses when engine ignition off. Did it on the wifes car last week to locate a faulty Bluetooth pcb that was staying live and draining battery within 48 hours - a quick check on another car the same showed no voltage on the four fuses i found.

Thanks tomorrow I'll try all the fuses I can find.