Possible dying leisure batteries

[Snowdrop157]

Good evening everyone.
Complete newbies here.
Just been away in our new secondhand purchase, autotrail Cheyenne 696.
Only away for one night to try things out.
Think we might have duff leisure batteries.
They didn't last 24hours and that was after charging from the mains and the drive.
There are currently 2 sfl130 batteries on it.
Does anyone have any recommendations for replacements?

This will no doubt be the first of many many questions

 

[tonyandcarol]

Hi
Should be loads of help on here. But it does sound like the batteries are worn out. Do you have any solar on the van roof to keep the batteries charged if not just fitting g 2 new lead acid batteries will help but you need to keep them topped up regularly.

 

[StillGoing]

Welcome!

If you haven’t got a multimeter then it is worth getting one. Screwfix has one for £10.

What were you running off the batteries? Were you running anything off an inverter?

 

[f6c]

Welcome aboard

 

[Badknee]

I’ve just replaced our lead acids @6 yrs old. They do have a finite lifespan.

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[Snowdrop157]

Welcome!

If you haven’t got a multimeter then it is worth getting one. Screwfix has one for £10.

What were you running off the batteries? Were you running anything off an inverter?

Hi,
Thanks for the quick response
I have a multimeter and will be testing across the terminals, hopefully in the next couple of days.
We didn't run too much I don't think. Internal lights are led, TV, water pump for tap, and my significant other had a shower.
I did try the roof fan for a couple of minutes but not long term.
The over door readout says condition is fair but I'm not convinced

 

[StillGoing]

Hi,
Thanks for the quick response
I have a multimeter and will be testing across the terminals, hopefully in the next couple of days.
We didn't run too much I don't think. Internal lights are led, TV, water pump for tap, and my significant other had a shower.
I did try the roof fan for a couple of minutes but not long term.
The over door readout says condition is fair but I'm not convinced

It doesn’t sound like a big load on the batteries. Worth checking the voltage across the terminals with the mains on (to check the charger output) and then with the mains off (and no 12V loads) after 30 minutes. If it’s still ok then leave it overnight with no load on the batteries and check it again.

 

[Snowdrop157]

I didn't think it was a major load, considering some or the MH's I've seen looking like Blackpool illuminations.
I've never had leisure batteries, so do I do each one individually or do I do across both at once?
Is the charger unit the Sargent ec325?

 

[DavidG58]

When we bought our MH 10 years ago we thought the batteries were dead, changed them both and found one had died the other was good and is still running an electric fence for my friends chickens

Move on 5 years we were wiser, similar result , but disconnected both found the duff battery and removed, a year later we put 2 new batteries in

I suspect you may have similar scenario, worth disconnecting both and checking voltage , we had 13.2 and 8.4V when checked, one good battery may give you a few months service

 

[Snowdrop157]

When we bought our MH 10 years ago we thought the batteries were dead, changed them both and found one had died the other was good and is still running an electric fence for my friends chickens

Move on 5 years we were wiser, similar result , but disconnected both found the duff battery and removed, a year later we put 2 new batteries in

I suspect you may have similar scenario, worth disconnecting both and checking voltage , we had 13.2 and 8.4V when checked, one good battery may give you a few months service

Thanks. I will be testing them in the next couple of days. I know it's been stood for a while on ehu and I've no idea how old the batteries are so I'm considering just swapping the pair, I've seen some sfl130's for about £100 each and this seems reasonable.

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[DavidG58]

Thanks. I will be testing them in the next couple of days. I know it's been stood for a while on ehu and I've no idea how old the batteries are so I'm considering just swapping the pair, I've seen some sfl130's for about £100 each and this seems reasonable.

You need to disconnect the batteries from each other and any charge source to check

 

[Snowdrop157]

Thanks again. Got to hope the weather stays dryish over the next couple of days then I can get in there

 

[autorouter]

I'm considering just swapping the pair, I've seen some sfl130's for about £100 each and this seems reasonable.

Check out Tayna Batteries

SFL130 Solarflex Industrial Solar Battery 12V 80Ah 100Ah 130Ah

SFL130 Solarflex Industrial Solar Battery Range The SFL130 has been designed from a high CCA rating starter battery which gives it the ability to cope with a high current load. This battery has three capacity ratings to illustrate how it performs under differing current loads: • The C5 rating...

www.tayna.co.uk

I've never had leisure batteries, so do I do each one individually or do I do across both at once

If they are both connected 'in parallel' ie both positives linked together, and both negatives linked together, then the voltage will be the same across both pairs of terminals. However as suggested by DavidG58 it would be a good idea to undo the links and measure them separately, one of them may have a failed cell and could be dragging the other down.

 

[Cush]

Just checking, not meaning to patronise, was the charger switched on? They can sometimes get knocked.

 

[Tombola]

And don't forget the readout will read lower if in use at the time of checking. Check again an hour or so with no load ..ideally with a voltmeter

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[GeoffnDee]

I didn't think it was a major load, considering some or the MH's I've seen looking like Blackpool illuminations.
I've never had leisure batteries, so do I do each one individually or do I do across both at once?
Is the charger unit the Sargent ec325?

The Sargent EC325 PSU has the battery charger within it , if you do not have a manual for it , and want one , www.sargentltd.co.uk has a support section where it can be found and downloaded.
There is also useful information about the EC325 PSU and its operation to be found at www.aandncaravanservices.co.uk (Sargent section )

 

[Snowdrop157]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions, I finally got a chance to test the batteries.
After disconnecting the ehu, which has been on constantly for two days, the batteries are reading 12v and 10.3v
I'm assuming this is too low.
Just for the record they are fitted in series, not parallel

 

[Springy]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions, I finally got a chance to test the batteries.
After disconnecting the ehu, which has been on constantly for two days, the batteries are reading 12v and 10.3v
I'm assuming this is too low.
Just for the record they are fitted in series, not parallel

10.3 is definitely a goner, 12v borderline. I would certainly replace both anyway as they are probably of similar age.

Neil.

 

[Neckender]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions, I finally got a chance to test the batteries.
After disconnecting the ehu, which has been on constantly for two days, the batteries are reading 12v and 10.3v
I'm assuming this is too low.
Just for the record they are fitted in series, not parallel

Are you sure in series as that would be 24 volt, fitted in parallel 12 volt.

John.

 

[Tombola]

the 12v one could be being dragged down by the 10v one
charge and test on its own

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[autorouter]

Just for the record they are fitted in series, not parallel

This is extremely unusual for an ordinary motorhome. It is possible that an enthusiastic previous owner has converted it to 24V, but it would be very unlikely. It's just as likely that the leisure batteries are two 6-volt deep-cycle batteries in series to make 12V total. But then your voltage readings wouldn't correspond with this. Something doesn't add up. Do you have a picture of your setup, and the make/model number of your batteries?

Edit: Sorry just remembered they are SFL130 12V batteries, so not 6V at all. I'd be very surprised if they were in series rather than parallel. Series is positive feed to Battery1 positive, negative feed to Battery2 negative, and one single link between Battery1 negative and Battery2 positive.
Parallel is positive feed to Battery1 positive, negative feed to Battery2 negative, and two links: Battery1 positive to Battery2 positive, and Battery1 negative to Battery2 negative.

If your batteries are 12V and 10.3V, this is very likely to be a 'shorted cell' failure, which can be a sudden rather than a gradual failure. A standard '12V' battery has 6 cells of 2.1V each, giving 6 x 2.1 = 12.6V when fully charged. If one cell is not working then the voltage drops to 5 x 2.1 = 10.5V. And if connected with a standard charger it will struggle to charge them, so 10.3V and 12V is not unexpected.

 

[Stealaway]

The default condition of unknown batteries is knackered
Buy a pair of 130ah Hankook batteries from Tayna Batteries and all your problems will be solved

 

[Snowdrop157]

This is extremely unusual for an ordinary motorhome. It is possible that an enthusiastic previous owner has converted it to 24V, but it would be very unlikely. It's just as likely that the leisure batteries are two 6-volt deep-cycle batteries in series to make 12V total. But then your voltage readings wouldn't correspond with this. Something doesn't add up. Do you have a picture of your setup, and the make/model number of your batteries?

Edit: Sorry just remembered they are SFL130 12V batteries, so not 6V at all. I'd be very surprised if they were in series rather than parallel. Series is positive feed to Battery1 positive, negative feed to Battery2 negative, and one single link between Battery1 negative and Battery2 positive.
Parallel is positive feed to Battery1 positive, negative feed to Battery2 negative, and two links: Battery1 positive to Battery2 positive, and Battery1 negative to Battery2 negative.

If your batteries are 12V and 10.3V, this is very likely to be a 'shorted cell' failure, which can be a sudden rather than a gradual failure. A standard '12V' battery has 6 cells of 2.1V each, giving 6 x 2.1 = 12.6V when fully charged. If one cell is not working then the voltage drops to 5 x 2.1 = 10.5V. And if connected with a standard charger it will struggle to charge them, so 10.3V and 12V is not unexpected.

Thanks autorouter, I feel extremely daft now, as I have made my first of no doubt many errors. The batteries are parallel not series .
I think I'm going to replace the pair and start fresh so hopefully we'll have power for longer than 12 hours.
I was going to order a couple of the same type and see.

 

[ambulancekidd]

 

[autorouter]

Thanks autorouter, I feel extremely daft now, as I have made my first of no doubt many errors. The batteries are parallel not series .
I think I'm going to replace the pair and start fresh so hopefully we'll have power for longer than 12 hours.
I was going to order a couple of the same type and see.

Don't worry, we all make mistakes. I've driven off with the hookup cable still attached. Three times, so far. Keep an eye on the new batteries, to make sure it's not a charging problem that ruined the old ones. And the key to long battery life is to make sure they are charged right up to 100% at least once a month. That gets rid of any residual sulfation that can otherwise build up, gradually eating away at the battery capacity.

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