What's 'normal' voltage for vehicle battery?

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IannF

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Bailey Adamo 69-4
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Apologies for naive question from a complete newcomer. Have looked for answers in other posts but none quite match. Bought a new Ford-based Bailey Adamo in October so used little, given awful weather, before winter storage. Fitted with Sentinel Ultimate tracker the app gives me info on the vehicle battery voltage and this seems to run down rapidly. I don't know what 'normal' or 'good' voltage would be but after a 35 mile drive (on dual carriageways so mostly around 60mph) it usually settles at 12.2v. Just a few days later this will be down below 12v. We've been taking the van out for the same run around every five or six days with the same result. Today it was down to 11.7v before the run out. The solar panel trickle charges only the leisure battery. Noted advice about fitting a battery master. I couldn't possibly install one myself and the dealer won't; says it a Ford problem. Shortly we need to be away from home for two weeks+ so won't be able to continue with runs out. How low does the voltage need to go before the engine won't start at all?
 
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Jev88 said:
You mention there is no way you could fit a battery master?
In case you haven't seen one it is a box with just 2 wires. Two of them directly to your positive on your battery terminals.
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Isn't there a common earth ( negative) as well?
 
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How are you actually measuring the voltage? Are you using a voltmeter on the battery?
 
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With baileys there is an alternative option on some. On our Alliance 66-2 Bailey -> it came with only wires runnning to the leisure battery from the solar charger, but had a spare "way" on the solar charger designed to charge the cab battery. The previous owner of our van thankfully spotted this and ran cables from there to the van battery, so even with our tracker/alarm in use the solar keeps it topped up without EHU in storage. We can get EHU in our storage too, but havn't needed it to date this year.
 
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Out of interest, does the Ford have a battery isolation thumb push on the ignition barrel?

1704966398287.png


Our Pug base Moho has, I use it to disconnect the battery (need to reset date and time, etc of course whihc is a minor problem compared to a flat battery) and the "only" drain is the very minimal tracker as it is correctly hard wired directly to the cab battery. I go off for a good 40-minute run up and down the A1 near storage, keeping revs above 2.5k, every month too.

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IannF said:
I want to say thanks to this forum. This was my first post and I'm sure it was a question many experienced members will have seen asked many times before. Nevertheless I thought the sheer number of people replying with helpful suggestions was especially encouraging and I've certainly learned a lot. In summary I take away from this the two part message; learn how to better organise EHU in the winter months; get a Battery Master fitted! Both now in hand. My thanks to all who responded(y)
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for future reference the search engine on here works really well top right on blue banner at top.often you will find a question has been asked before i try to remember to search before i ask a question

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I have the same problem with my Malibu based on a Fiat. When I have it on EHU it settles around 13.3v according to the Phantom tracker, after disconnecting on the 6th Jan it dropped down to 12.2v after a 90 minute drive on the 7th it went up to 13.1 and today is at 12.4 at it’s lowest a couple of weeks ago it was saying it was only 25% charged. I had a problem with EHU charging and the alternator when I first got the van which were both sorted under warranty but I do wander if the battery was damaged so it is no longer holding its charge properly. I have a 100W solar panel. I intend to contact Vanbitz to have a lithium leisure battery and battery master fitted. The local Fiat professional garage told me they get a large number of vans in with starter battery problems due to the drain from trackers.
 
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Lenny HB said:
That is not a Batterymaster however still doesn't make sense without an earth connection,
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Seems according to the pic and installation instructions on the net that it does only have 2 connections from each battery positive. It must measure the potential difference of each positive without using the common negative as a reference. It says only works when the leisure battery is being charged.
 
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Adrian140974 said:
We bought a £30 10w solar trickle charger that you just plug into the cab dc socket, works a treat
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Does that work during the winter?

I have a similar 10w in the dash, facing south, and from October onwards it has no effect.
 
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CAB96 said:
Does that work during the winter?

I have a similar 10w in the dash, facing south, and from October onwards it has no effect.
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It appears to be working for last couple of weeks, not dropped below 12.4v

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Andacami said:
Out of interest, does the Ford have a battery isolation thumb push on the ignition barrel?

View attachment 853346

Our Pug base Moho has, I use it to disconnect the battery (need to reset date and time, etc of course whihc is a minor problem compared to a flat battery) and the "only" drain is the very minimal tracker as it is correctly hard wired directly to the cab battery. I go off for a good 40-minute run up and down the A1 near storage, keeping revs above 2.5k, every month too.
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I didn't think that was anything to do with isolation of battery - it was more turning the key BACK one extra notch and leaving "parking lights" on (i.e. your sidelights) without the key being in the ignition barrel.
 
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Parking lights on the Ducato require pressing the black button and turning the key to park.

Screenshot 2024-01-16 at 11.15.36.png
 
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pappajohn said:
It is on the advert wording Lenny
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I dont see how this works without an earth. This is a cheaply manufactuered device with some resistors to limit current flow and diode protection again reverse charging.

93310-560890b062d018b3428985db9e000f57.jpg


Don't see how it can control discharge from the leisure battery. The real Battery Master is from VanBitz.

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CAB96 said:
Does that work during the winter?

I have a similar 10w in the dash, facing south, and from October onwards it has no effect.
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You probably know that if the trickle charger is via a cigarette lighter socket then the socket needs to be one that is live with the ignition off.

My 10w trickle charger seems to keep the battery charged during the winter months. It is wired direct to the battery as my cigarette lighter is only live with the ignition on.
 
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Thornebt said:
You probably know that if the trickle charger is via a cigarette lighter socket then the socket needs to be one that is live with the ignition off.

My 10w trickle charger seems to keep the battery charged during the winter months. It is wired direct to the battery as my cigarette lighter is only live with the ignition on.
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There does seem to be a split between those who find 10 or 20w adequate during the winter, and those that don't.

I know on mine it isn't enough; it may delay it but won't prevent discharging.

Luckily I have easy access to EHU on my drive.
 
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