No reading for leisure battery on meter

[Barrypug]

Having just switched from a caravan to MH not used to the 2 batteries showing on the meter. When the engine battery is selected it gives 3/4 reading and the 12v lighting etc works but when leisure battery is selected theres no reading . When the test switch is used it shows 1/4 power on the leisure battery . I put the old leisure battery on while waiting for 4 month old 230AH battery to be picked up and tested as it doesnt charge any more than 4 volts even though its been hooked up for about 2 months.

 

[peterc10]

4 volts means it is fubar and almost certainly will not recover. Time for a new battery I suspect. .

 

[autorouter]

it doesnt charge any more than 4 volts even though its been hooked up for about 2 months.

Are you saying that the MH has been hooked up to mains for 2 months but the leisure battery does not go above 4 volts? That sounds like the mains charger is not charging the battery. I would expect that if the charger is working normally, the voltage will be about 13 volts while hooked up. If the battery is fubar then it will drop very rapidly when hookup is removed.

I would make sure the charger is working before buying a new battery, otherwise you could end up with a new battery that is completely flat, which will not be good for it. It could be a fuse or bad connection.

 

[Barrypug]

thanks for that . When I first checked it it was only reading 1.9 volts so I removed and trickle charged it on the bench for 24 hours and it stopped at 4 volts.

 

[Stealaway]

I've never seen such low voltage. What voltage reading do get when it's connected to the charger?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[autorouter]

230Ah is very big for a 12 volt battery. Is it definitely 12 volts? I have heard of 230Ah 6 volt batteries, used in pairs, which are more user-friendly in size and weight.

 

[PhilandMena]

Some good advice here. You need to establish what has/is going wrong before splashing the cash or your going to end up in the same predicament again. Make sure your charger is working and is idealy a smart charger, is man enough for the battery bank it's charging and is set to the correct type of battery i.e. lead acid if that is what you have fitted. Out of interest, how old is the motorhome,the charger and the Leisure battery?

 

[pappajohn]

I would make sure the charger is working before buying a new battery,

Sorry but......after 2 months at 4v that battery is dead, it will never recover, it's is nothing but a plastic container for dead electrolyte.
It needs a new battery whether the charge is working now or not.

 

[Barrypug]

the motorhome is 2002, I dont know about the charger and the leisure battery is 4 months old

 

[Barrypug]

yes it definitely is 12 volt 230 AH advertised for a boat or caravan

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Barrypug]

it only showed 4 volts when on the charger

 

[PhilandMena]

Thanks for that! I would suggest on the basis of the information you have provided that the leisure battery is well and truly dead. However, the reason why it is dead is another matter. It would be worth putting a volt meter on the battery with the on board charger switched on just to confirm the charger is working. You should be getting around 14.4 V going in. If your not, it may indicate a problem with your charger. Also, look up the charger details and see if it's an intelligent charger. Chances are it's not and you may want to consider replacing with a modern charger that can charge whatever total AH your battery bank is. Keep it simple, stock with lead acid if your charger is charging both sets of batteries
Best of luck

 

[Barrypug]

thats great I will check it out in the morning