Leisure battery charging

Post by **Cate** » 13 Feb 2006, 19:00

How long should it take to trickle charge a leisure battery, from empty to full?

Dad has a problem with his lectrics, always got a duff leisure batt, goodness knows what he does to it!

Post by **Dud** » 13 Feb 2006, 19:11

Depends on size of alternator and battery. I try hard to never run mine down low, though after a couple of nights of the lights on, perhaps a few tunes on the radio, and the water pump doing its stuff, it will normally be full after 20-30mins driving. This might give you some idea.

Post by **Cate** » 13 Feb 2006, 19:15

Thankd Dud.
This is on mains electric charger, been on a couple of days now, i think its knackered to be honest.

Post by **redstar** » 13 Feb 2006, 19:43

its a more than fair chance it is kn@ckered...
i would think on a trickle, bout 10 hrs........
dont you have a split charge going on miss??

Post by **Cate** » 13 Feb 2006, 19:51

Thanks, we think the split charging system is all to pot, so have to get that sorted as its just doesn't seem to be charging.

Post by **Martin** » 13 Feb 2006, 20:09

cate, simple test if the split charge is working.
remove the neg lead from leisure battery
start engine see if any of the leisure equipment works with the engine running.
to test leisure battery
use a battery hydrometer to test the charge in each cell of the battery.

Post by **Cate** » 13 Feb 2006, 20:13

Will try tomorrow, haven't got a hydrometer, but know a man who has. ..

Thanks Martin.

Post by **tonytech** » 13 Feb 2006, 21:09

What is the Amp Hour rating of the battery?
Basic mains charger will charge at 3A - 5A.

10 hours at 5A will charge a completely flat 50 Ahr battery.
Crappy cheap chargers take longer to charge a battery and may damage a healthy battery by over charging it.

Your battery should never be competely flat so 2 days (48hrs) should charge any battery (assuming the charger is working)

T

Post by **T2Andy** » 14 Feb 2006, 16:45

I have a 85amp Leisure Battery that I use in the Awning.

It can take up to 3 days to fully charge, with my automatic (not cheap) charger.

May also be wrong on this, but doesn't the charge rate (amps) get lower as the battery gets charged?

Post by **irishkeet** » 15 Feb 2006, 08:54

Hi Cate

Can you let me know how you get on with finding a battery
I saw this on ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 4612579288
I think the dimensions are too big for under the seat of a T25 (which is what Im after)
I noticed that Costco aslo do a small 85amp leisure so Im going to check out the dimensions

Ill try an overnight charge on mine before I buy a new one

all the best
irishkeet

Post by **redstar** » 15 Feb 2006, 11:41

re testing the split charge thingy..
I dont think the advise is quite right ref to taking off the neg/earth..
the objects that you run off your leisure battery are tied down to earth anyway... so it wouldn't make any difference (cause you are still making a circuit)
the easiest way to do it, is still with a volt/multi meter on the output from the relay... this should be reading about 13v (ish)... the only warning with these relays is USE FUSES on the cross connector between the two cells....
pain in the bum (when the battery level is too low) as the fuses chance blowing... but better than a load of burning vw eh?

Post by **Mocki** » 15 Feb 2006, 11:47

removing the Neg will show if the split charger is working, as the battery is disconnected......
not everyone has a voltmeter...

Post by **Cate** » 15 Feb 2006, 11:48

The battery is charging nicely now that the connections are more secure, Doh! The split charging knitting has been checked out by a leccy god and he said it had been fooled about with, so thats put right now, hopefully that should be the end of the troubles? We'll see, many thanks folks, much appreciated.

Post by **purplechugster** » 15 Feb 2006, 13:00

I love a happy ending