Battery charging help

[markysparky81]

Hi there suffered with this prob for a while now and need help.
got an 81 westy 19td aaz had van nearly 2 years ran perfect until recently, noticed eber stoped firing up unless on hookup, did this previous after vehicle had lay couple of weeks started engine and umph eber starts ok. Thought i may have duff leisure battry replaced with new one and had the other tested all ok, must stress at this point vehicle has two leisure batts under front seets and start batt in engine bay. got the meter out other day with engine stopped leisure batts read 12.55v and start batt reads 12.60v start vehicle up check alternator (70 amp) reads 14.57v at the connector the thin blue wire attaches to, then checks other end of blue wire at the splitt relay and also reads 14.57v, check leisure batts 12.55v on both then check start batt reads 13.39v. Conclusion leisure batts not getting enough charge soon as i fire eber up lights on fridge pannel turn amber then red. Things ive already tried, replaced one leisure batt and had the other load tested ok, start batt ok, cleaned all conectors to the splitt relay wern't realy dirty, checked the earth from the splitt relay to car body good condition, adjusted alternator belt, purchased another splitt relay still the same scratched me chin and a***, pulled me hair out and rough camped with no eber sorry this has been a long post just want me van like what it used to be

[PoloSi]

Have you checked the voltage regulator on the alternator?

Simon

[Oldiebut goodie]

Have you checked the voltage regulator on the alternator?

Simon

Why?
"start vehicle up check alternator (70 amp) reads 14.57v at the connector the thin blue wire attaches to, then checks other end of blue wire at the splitt relay and also reads 14.57v, check leisure batts 12.55v on both then check start batt reads 13.39v. Conclusion leisure batts not getting enough charge"

Dodgy wiring between starter battery-relay-leisure battery? Fuse blown in same? Can you hear the relay click? voltage 14.57 on thick wire to relay? and so on down the wire to leisure battery.

[tonytech]

13.39V at th starter battery is low if it is in the engine compartment.
14.57 on the thin blue wire is irrelevent. What is the output of the alternator on the thick red wire?
Disconnect your Leisure batteries, What is the Voltage at the starter batery now?
As PoloSi Check the regulator on the alternator. Its output may be down.
T

[markysparky81]

Hi guys thanx for speedy response just had another look at van what ive done so far dissconnected thick brown wire from alternator to + on start battry started engine put meter on brown wire meter reads 19.14v. connected wire back to battry dissconnected leisure batts from split relay then started van and put meter on start batt reads 14.05v got in van held relay swith in hand turned off engine and felt relay click. had a look at leisure batt wiring looks ok no evidence of inline fuse, could these be wired through main fuseboard under steering bearing in mind its a left hand drive and on the same side as relay? iny more info lads mutch appreciated

[Oldiebut goodie]

Isn't the relay near to the starter battery? Odd if it has been placed in the dash area - why run hefty cable up there from the engine bay to go back to the leisure batteries.
Did you check the voltage at the relay input,output (30 and 87)and leisure battery connection with the engine running and the leisure batteries disconnected? You are looking to have the same voltage as at the starter battery.
Are your leads from starter battery to the leisures of sufficient size? You will get a significant voltage drop on that length if they are not hefty enough, with two leisure batteries wanting to draw appx. 100A if flat (depending on the size of them) you will need 120A cable as a minimum.(and relay to suit) - I run a 180A relay and 140A cable to service two 120Ah leisure batteries, just to give you an idea of the scale of the components involved in optimizing your charging.

[markysparky81]

Hi cheers for advice not had time tonight to try suggestions will look tomorrow though. the battry set up is starter in engine bay wired with thick brown cable from alternator. thin blue wire from alternator runs behind drivers seat attached to relay numbered 30,87,85,86 from relay two battrys 60ah under each front seat theres also a thin white wire on the same connector as thin blue alternator to terminal 86. 87 terminal thick red wire going back to start battry. 30 two thick red wires presume to leisure batt