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Post by loub on Oct 13, 2019 18:33:52 GMT 10
Hi All.Have had the van stored in our garage for 9 mths,put it on 240 volts for week here and there during this time.Yesterday while the van was not plugged into mains i checked the van and all the 12 volt lights ect did not work.
Even the solar regulator gauge was dead.Plugged it into mains and came back an hour later and every thing appeared ok.Checked the battery charger and it was only on float charge and the solar gauge was showing the batteries holding 14volts and every thing worked.I turned the power of this afternoon to see and everything is dead again.Would this be caused by the two batterys being dead or the battery charger not charging properly.
The sure power charger is ten years old but the two batteries are 4 to 5 years old and wired in parallel and have not been used that much but have been on the charge system a lot.The van also has an internal 12 volt fuse board for all the 12volt circuits it appears to be ok,Not sure which way to go with this as has not been used because of ill health and i was going to see if i could still handle the van and if not will sell it,but still need to find out what is going on. Yours Loub,any suggestions to attack this problem or should i call in an auto electrician.
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Post by notathome on Oct 13, 2019 19:15:42 GMT 10
Hi Loub
I suggest you disconnect the batteries from all charging systems and test each batteries standing voltage, and record it.
Then charge each battery separately using a good quality battery charger, over night, or until the battery is fully charged.
Disconnect the charger and let the battery stand for at least an hour and test and record the voltage. Repeat charging and testing on the other battery.
Retest the standing voltage on each battery after 4 hours and record.
Report the results back here for discussion.
If you are going to use your van charger then by charging the batteries individually will soon tell you if the charger is faulty eg battery doesn’t charge.
If the batteries individually charge and do not hold around 12.8’ish rested voltage, over 4, or so hours it indicates that they is probably an issue with the batteries.
Failing this, your next best option is to engage an auto electrician to test your charger and batteries, which of course will be $$$’s
Good luck
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Post by dieseltojo on Oct 14, 2019 8:28:28 GMT 10
Hi loub, I have a quality 3 or4 stage charger of some thing like 30 amps which maintains the batteries two of 100 amp units. It also is called a maintenance battery that desulphates the batteries over time. So it deliberately uses some power and then restores it to keep the batteries working.
At least that is what I believe to be the case. My batteries are now around ten years old and still working ok, but i know they are getting tired.I need new ones if I did lots of telly with a separate dvd recorder.
If you put you batteries on such a charger it might do the trick. as notathome suggests.
Anyway I like the system as it has never failed me. I reckon simple charging just isn't as effective as a maintenance charge.
But once again I fly by the seat of my pants.  |
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Post by Frank and Brenda on Oct 14, 2019 8:34:32 GMT 10
Allan's got it
Everything working when the power is on, could just be the chargers voltage
PS just check the battery voltage when you disconnect the batteries before you put the charger on, if it's 12.6-8 then the problem lies elsewhere if they are flat, that'll be the problem
PS I too have a similar charger as Paul
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Post by legendts on Oct 14, 2019 13:26:28 GMT 10
X 3 same as Paul and Frank. My batteries are also going on for eight years old and so far still good.
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Post by loub on Oct 14, 2019 13:34:55 GMT 10
All good help will be check the batterys then pulling them out and charging them,will report my findings Ta
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Post by loub on Oct 14, 2019 14:41:25 GMT 10
Have just opened the battery boxes on both batteries and one was hot the other warm and the hot one has distorted and the warm one not as much,from a lay mens point ,they are cooked.No need to test them,i will let them cool down and replace them,They where not good quality.
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Post by notathome on Oct 14, 2019 15:28:45 GMT 10
Have just opened the battery boxes on both batteries and one was hot the other warm and the hot one has distorted and the warm one not as much,from a lay mens point ,they are cooked.No need to test them,i will let them cool down and replace them,They where not good quality. Loub Bugger mate, once they are distorted they need to go to the recyclers  What setting did you have the charger set to |
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Post by loub on Oct 14, 2019 16:14:29 GMT 10
The charger is set on gel which bulk charges at 14.2_14.6 current limited,then 14.2 for absortion for gel type then final float charge at 13.8 constant charging.I had 2 x 100 amp hr batteries in parallel.The charger is current limited and is only a 10 amp charger,i think the batteries where nearing the end of life and since the van was on 240 quiet often and no drawn down was happening, they have sulfered up and cooked themselve.Will remove tommorrow and take to a battery place for testing.
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Post by Frank and Brenda on Oct 14, 2019 19:52:59 GMT 10
Peter my batteries are only cheapies and are 5yo, in the other van Were 6yo and still going strong
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Post by loub on Oct 15, 2019 12:03:17 GMT 10
Sounds good frank,i think i cooked them,to often on charge with no use,i have a new one coming today ,i am only going to put 1 x 125 amp in,the chap said he will test the charger for me to make sure its working ok
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Post by loub on Oct 15, 2019 20:17:48 GMT 10
Put in a 125 amp battery,checked the charger,all is well again
Ta everone
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Post by notathome on Oct 15, 2019 20:23:54 GMT 10
Put in a 125 amp battery,checked the charger,all is well again Ta everone Great news Loub, enjoy |
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