New battery died!

[kev54]

Hi pals. I’d be grateful to gather some opinions and advice.
Base vehicle is Fiat Ducato 2013 Reg, 2287cc, 130MTJ Diesel. Elderly main battery replaced in early October by dealership (Bosch L5013), driven for a week, then parked at storage. Arrived at storage after 4 weeks to run the vehicle - and found the battery dead! Got a jump start and took it to the dealership (45 miles). Their diagnostic can’t find anything wrong with it to be able to return it to the supplier. They have swapped it for me ‘for peace of mind’.
They tell me that ‘modern batteries’ can’t cope with 3 or 4 weeks of inactivity and recommend weekly running to keep it going. Really? Opinions please.
I have a 45 mile round trip to the storage facility - no there aren’t any closer to me in Kent and I have no ability to park nearby.
So the option offered is a 100w solar panel and switchable regulator. Not very cheap, but very galling as we had a 75w panel for the leisure battery only installed when we bought the vehicle 3 years ago - not considered powerful enough for trickling to both batteries.
Obviously I’ll still have to run the engine, but I would hope every 4 weeks would do - as I did with the old battery. Comments and advice welcomed from the fonts of experience here.

 

[10tenmen]

Hi pals. I’d be grateful to gather some opinions and advice.
Base vehicle is Fiat Ducato 2013 Reg, 2287cc, 130MTJ Diesel. Elderly main battery replaced in early October by dealership (Bosch L5013), driven for a week, then parked at storage. Arrived at storage after 4 weeks to run the vehicle - and found the battery dead! Got a jump start and took it to the dealership (45 miles). Their diagnostic can’t find anything wrong with it to be able to return it to the supplier. They have swapped it for me ‘for peace of mind’.
They tell me that ‘modern batteries’ can’t cope with 3 or 4 weeks of inactivity and recommend weekly running to keep it going. Really? Opinions please.
I have a 45 mile round trip to the storage facility - no there aren’t any closer to me in Kent and I have no ability to park nearby.
So the option offered is a 100w solar panel and switchable regulator. Not very cheap, but very galling as we had a 75w panel for the leisure battery only installed when we bought the vehicle 3 years ago - not considered powerful enough for trickling to both batteries.
Obviously I’ll still have to run the engine, but I would hope every 4 weeks would do - as I did with the old battery. Comments and advice welcomed from the fonts of experience here.

If you fit the van bitz battery master it will take a small charge from the leisure to keep the cab battery charged. A very simple solution

 

[kev54]

If you fit the van bitz battery master it will take a small charge from the leisure to keep the cab battery charged. A very simple solution

Thanks 10tenmen a switch regulator is the plan but I’m being told that the 75watt solar panel I have wouldn’t be powerful enough

 

[Gromett]

I would fit a disconnect for the leisure battery so that all the solar goes to the starter battery?

 

[Pausim]

When in storage for prolonged periods I put a solar panel on the dash to keep the engine battery topped up. Too many small drains on the engine battery to leave it for more than a couple of weeks without a bit of help.

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[10tenmen]

Thanks 10tenmen a switch regulator is the plan but I’m being told that the 75watt solar panel I have wouldn’t be powerful enough

Do you have any idea what the leisure battery charge level is at present.

 

[GeoffnDee]

kev54 Your 75w panel should be able to produce up to 6.25amps (max) which should be enough for a Vanbitz battery master to keep your starter battery charge topped up from your leisure battery (which probably has little or no drain when parked up) , it is easy to fit and a much cheaper option to fitting another solar panel and a duel controller.
If required Vanbitz should be able to confirm if this is correct. 01823 321992

 

[Ingwe]

I’m surprised that the 75w solar panel isn’t enough to keep your leisure battery topped up. If it was fully charged before stopping, what drain is there on the leisure battery?
If you had a Battery Master fitted, then the cab battery would receive a charge from the leisure battery when there is a small voltage difference between the two batteries. So if the leisure battery was kept topped up, so would the cab battery.

 

[Richard n Ann]

My optimate 2 maintainer is on the engine battery and charges at 0.8amps which is 9.6w it easily keeps the battery charged so a 75w panel will be fine with a dual controller or battery master fitted.
So long as you're not parked in shade of course.

My next course of action would be to power everything down for an hour and measure any battery drain. It should be so low a clamp meter will have trouble displaying a reading.

By the way these are very handy:

UNI-T DIGITAL UT210E 100Amp 600V AC DC CLAMP METER Multimeter True RMS VFC diode | eBay

1 Cloth Bag. 1 Gift Box.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Lenny HB]

They tell me that ‘modern batteries’ can’t cope with 3 or 4 weeks of inactivity and recommend weekly running to keep it going. Really? Opinions please.

3 Weeks max on a Ducato.

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[cyberyacht]

My 3x100W panels aren't sufficient to keep up with parasitic drains this time up the year unless there is wall to wall sunshine all day ( very rare in winter). Unless a 75W panel is angled to the sun, it will produce naff all this time of year.

 

[Richard n Ann]

When our van was new in 2014 it didn't have solar. We parked up for 3 weeks in Benidorm, then had to move the van briefly so engine start, then we were parked for another week. All was OK with the battery. I never set the alarm which helped.
First sign of battery charge problems and I would strongly suggest checking the drain because they are OK when new.

 

[Barriesimpson]

As you all know, I am still new to truck driving (moho ) but what I do know is that a healthy battery should be good for 3 months without using it, unless something is draining it. The normal alarm and immobiliser should not cause excessive drain. My Jaguar will sit quite happily for over two months and then start on the key without any problem. So I suggest you have a rogue drain on your battery. I was told the other day that many of the radio heads we all install for the GPS etc. can cause excessive drain on the vehicle battery, might be something you'd want to look at. Do you switch off the leisure system when storing the vehicle? I do, albeit the van is only resting for up to 2 weeks at most.

 

[Jev88]

200 watts of solar via a quality Victron controller keeps my 300ah of batteries alive through the winter.

 

[Lenny HB]

As you all know, I am still new to truck driving (moho ) but what I do know is that a healthy battery should be good for 3 months without using it, unless something is draining it. The normal alarm and immobiliser should not cause excessive drain. My Jaguar will sit quite happily for over two months and then start on the key without any problem. So I suggest you have a rogue drain on your battery. I was told the other day that many of the radio heads we all install for the GPS etc. can cause excessive drain on the vehicle battery, might be something you'd want to look at. Do you switch off the leisure system when storing the vehicle? I do, albeit the van is only resting for up to 2 weeks at most.

A Ducato is not a car as I said about 3 weeks max.

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[Jake Royd]

Just considered a similar problem on my own thread.
As far as I am aware, all Ducatos suffer a high residual drain on the cab battery when at rest. 2-3 weeks or so suggested above seems about right.
I have a dual PWM controller on mine with a 200W solar panel.
With this I have no problem summer or winter.
My issue was I've just covered up the panel with a roof cover for the winter.

 

[Barriesimpson]

A Ducato is not a car as I said about 3 weeks max.

It shouldn't be any different. What changes?

 

[Johnen]

I don’t know what is different, but there is a difference, my cars will happily start after a months break. My van(a Sevel built van)! citroen relay needs topped up every two weeks in winter

 

[AdrianChen]

It shouldn't be any different. What changes?

I don't think its just Ducato's - Our Merc based Sprinter gobbled up the battery when in storage - I was told the telemetrics, required for the Mercedes.me app, plus the electric handbrake safety stuff required to ensure its still on (which seemed a bit odd, although there was a story about a van in the US that rolled away, which I didn't verify), Alarm and tracker all took their share, apparently Merc offer an auxiliary battery to help, but I didn't have that on my van.

Our older RR would last weeks - Our newer BM less so, the current van without telemetrics, seems OK, but our start battery isn't perfect I don't think.....

 

[ChrisL]

My 3x100W panels aren't sufficient to keep up with parasitic drains this time up the year unless there is wall to wall sunshine all day ( very rare in winter). Unless a 75W panel is angled to the sun, it will produce naff all this time of year.

Really, even with everything switched off? That surprises me.

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[headlight]

Really, even with everything switched off? That surprises me.

I'm a bit surprised as well.
I previously had a single 115 watt panel 100AH starter battery and 2 x 100AH lead acid leisure batteries.
The single 115 watt panel kept the leisure batteries fully charged over winter and the Battery Master kept the starter battery fully charged and that's in not sunny South Wales.
I've now got 2 x 115 watt panels, 230AH LifePo4 leisure battery and 100AH lead acid starter battery.
Again kept fully charged over winter when the van might not be started for 4 weeks.

 

[Mikeamapola]

It shouldn't be any different. What changes?

I'm thinking that the difference now-a-days is that there are multiple drains on a battery regardless of whether it is a car or camper.
When I lived in Spain I would return to UK for 3 months leaving my Ford Mondeo under a car port. On my return it would start on first turn of the key. Now the situation is reversed, the Fiat Ducato camper sits for a time unused. But this starts straightaway with no problem.
When leaving either vehicle I make sure the batteries are fully charged and the earth terminal isolated (removable screw thingy)

 

[scotzsue]

On our last 2 vans, both with battery master, one with tracker we could leave for long periods using 80, 120 or 180 W solar
PROVIDING we removed the front of our radio, wonder how many which don't last for longer have in built radio/satnav which may cause a continuous drain. would be tempted to try to put a switch so feed does not get to the radio.

 

[therealvicz]

Hi pals. I’d be grateful to gather some opinions and advice.
Base vehicle is Fiat Ducato 2013 Reg, 2287cc, 130MTJ Diesel. Elderly main battery replaced in early October by dealership (Bosch L5013), driven for a week, then parked at storage. Arrived at storage after 4 weeks to run the vehicle - and found the battery dead! Got a jump start and took it to the dealership (45 miles). Their diagnostic can’t find anything wrong with it to be able to return it to the supplier. They have swapped it for me ‘for peace of mind’.
They tell me that ‘modern batteries’ can’t cope with 3 or 4 weeks of inactivity and recommend weekly running to keep it going. Really? Opinions please.
I have a 45 mile round trip to the storage facility - no there aren’t any closer to me in Kent and I have no ability to park nearby.
So the option offered is a 100w solar panel and switchable regulator. Not very cheap, but very galling as we had a 75w panel for the leisure battery only installed when we bought the vehicle 3 years ago - not considered powerful enough for trickling to both batteries.
Obviously I’ll still have to run the engine, but I would hope every 4 weeks would do - as I did with the old battery. Comments and advice welcomed from the fonts of experience here.

I see the Bosch L5013 is advertised as a leisure battery, is this what you wanted? it sounds like you want a heavy duty van battery, something like this https://www.battery2u.co.uk/bosch-car-battery-s4029/ or even higher aH rating if you can afford it.

 

[ronboyracer]

I see the Bosch L5013 is advertised as a leisure battery, is this what you wanted? it sounds like you want a heavy duty van battery, something like this https://www.battery2u.co.uk/bosch-car-battery-s4029/ or even higher aH rating if you can afford it.

Solar panel and battery master is great, while the sun.is shining, dull days still needs electric hook up, now and again to be sure

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[cyberyacht]

Really, even with everything switched off? That surprises me.

Main hab electrics switched off at the master switch. Just Growler alarm and tracker running. Just another aspect of SAD syndrome.

 

[headlight]

Solar panel and battery master is great, while the sun.is shining, dull days still needs electric hook up, now and again to be sure

Solar and Battery Master have kept my starter battery charged the past 3 winters.

 

[1090alex]

Hi pals. I’d be grateful to gather some opinions and advice.
Base vehicle is Fiat Ducato 2013 Reg, 2287cc, 130MTJ Diesel. Elderly main battery replaced in early October by dealership (Bosch L5013), driven for a week, then parked at storage. Arrived at storage after 4 weeks to run the vehicle - and found the battery dead! Got a jump start and took it to the dealership (45 miles). Their diagnostic can’t find anything wrong with it to be able to return it to the supplier. They have swapped it for me ‘for peace of mind’.
They tell me that ‘modern batteries’ can’t cope with 3 or 4 weeks of inactivity and recommend weekly running to keep it going. Really? Opinions please.
I have a 45 mile round trip to the storage facility - no there aren’t any closer to me in Kent and I have no ability to park nearby.
So the option offered is a 100w solar panel and switchable regulator. Not very cheap, but very galling as we had a 75w panel for the leisure battery only installed when we bought the vehicle 3 years ago - not considered powerful enough for trickling to both batteries.
Obviously I’ll still have to run the engine, but I would hope every 4 weeks would do - as I did with the old battery. Comments and advice welcomed from the fonts of experience here.

In my business I had a lot of brand new and up to six months old VW Transporter vans through my hands.
Some could sit for around 4 to six weeks and the battery was still able to crank the engine.
However the majority would have flat batteries within a few weeks.
It could be lower quality of what would appear to be premium brand batteries combined with the draw on the battery even when everything thing is switched off. I'd say that some premium brands are less premium than you'd think.
We ended up disconnecting a lead from the battery while the vehicles sat on the forecourt.

 

[chrometeeth]

I am surprised that many vans appear not to charge both batteries from solar panels. We were away for two months, January and February, this year in Australia and new Zealand, and when we got home both leisure batteries and vehicle battery were in a good state, on our 2015 autotrail. Both being charged, as needed, from one 100w solar panel, in winter.

 

[headlight]

I am surprised that many vans appear not to charge both batteries from solar panels. We were away for two months, January and February, this year in Australia and new Zealand, and when we got home both leisure batteries and vehicle battery were in a good state, on our 2015 autotrail. Both being charged, as needed, from one 100w solar panel, in winter.

A lot of solar controllers will only charge one battery, hence people fitting things like the Vanbitz Battery Master or Ablemail to keep their starter battery charged.

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