leisure battery charging

[ninja.turtle007]

just put on a new battery on the leisure side. Plug in the eletric hook up and put a volt meter accross the terminals and I,m getting 15.7v. This seems way too high for charging a battery and I think it might damage the battery.

I changed the battery because the last one was leaking at the top.

Advice please as I can't afford to replace the BBB unless I really have to.

Thanks

Tom

[Cafnod]

Hi Tom
I assume you have a zig unit or other dedicated means of charging the leisure battery whilst on hookup?
This is the culprit and has become unservicable. It may be what killed the last battery by boiling it to death.
I suggest if you can that you switch off the charger or disconnect it when using hookup. If you give some more details of the system you have I can be a bit more helpful, PM me or ring me (On the members help list) and we can probably sort it.
BTW Lidls had some very good battery chargers recently, multistage for £12.99
Richard

[ninja.turtle007]

Thanks for the response, much appreciated.

The chargeing unit it the original one found in Wesfalia's. Does this help?

[gti mad man]

blimey tolworth suprised you dont know simon spannerboy

[Cafnod]

Hi
I dont know anything about the charger that you have other than that it is cooking batteries, I suspect due to a faulty voltage regulator. Nor do I know if it is feasible to repair it. I strongly suggest you disconnect it. If it does need replacing there are a lot of good chargers around as technology has moved on if you do need one I can honestly reccomend a CTEK, they cost about £50 for the size you would probably want. If you are on a budget lidl had some pretty good ones recently, some of the members including me have fitted one.
I have had a CTEK on my boat for years and it has kept a pair of 110ah starter leisures nicely topped up. This is a friend of mines company;
http://www.marcleleisure.co.uk/store/ad ... er&x=0&y=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Those are some of the chargers he does, he can get others.

[kevtherev]

Alternator voltage regulator/rectifier for your van costs £15

takes 10 mins to fit

[Cafnod]

Hi Kev
He said it was reading 15 + volts on hookup. dont think its a alternator problem, but the chargers regulator.

[kevtherev]

Hi Kev
He said it was reading 15 + volts on hookup. dont think its a alternator problem, but the chargers regulator.

ah yes

senior moment

carry on

[ninja.turtle007]

Hi

Thanks for all the advice.

Right I managed to get a Tronic battery charger from lidl, what a bargain and the last one they had! Can permantly connect this to the battery?

I now know the battery had been over charging, thanks. A couple of weeks ago I cleaned the leisure battery of the leaking fluid. I have not used the hook up but the battery had leaked more fluid. I also have a solar panal on the roof which is aroung 800mm2 but does have a regulator and the most I have seen it produce is 14v. The alternator when testing on the starting battery from memory doesn't go above 14v also.

My feeling from the advie you guys have given is to take out the older charging unit and install the new one. This should solve the problem?

Also something I'm unsure of is if the battery is charging whilst we are in the van is this safe? I have heard a couple of different ideas on this. Some say it is fine as the expelled gas will vent through the holes in the bottom of the battery box. Also I have heard this is not true as the gas produced is Hydrogen which I know is lighter than air.

We have both a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm.

I really appreciate all advice.

Tom

[CovKid]

Can stink I know that. Although I have slept in a bedroom with a battery charging overnight and lived to tell the tale. Gave me a sore throat though!

[Cafnod]

Hi
I would make sure the vent pipe from the battery goes through a well fitting grommet out of the battery compartment. Even if a gas is lighter than air if it is ducted through a hole it will travel that way. Most if not all batteries sold now have a single vent point. Therefore if taken out by tube no probs.
Yes replace the charger you have now. The tronic one can be hardwired easily.
My narrowboat has had the batteries plugged in for about three and a half years now, batteries vented, no probs whatsoever, CTEK charger and 2 X 110ah cabin batts, switchable to extra 2 X 110's for 1800 watt inverter when cruising. Also charged by twin alternator propulsion engine and vetus 4kw diesel genset with large 12vdc alternator.
Have had all kinds of charging over the years including wind gens, solar etc with no probs.
Had current van on hookup for @ 48 hours at campsite and overnight at Ricknang's without issue, battery charger left on.
The only time there is a danger is if a battery that is gassing, ie recently charged or charging has the gas fumes unvented and a source of ignition. That is why I am stressing the venting.
HTH

[kevtherev]

Hi

Thanks for all the advice.

Right I managed to get a Tronic battery charger from lidl, what a bargain and the last one they had! Can permantly connect this to the battery?

yes

[nesty]

I was dumping my old Leisure Battery at the dump the other day. My Lidi charger could not relive my old Leisure.

One the battery dumping tray at the dump there was a Elecsol 110amp Leisure battery. I would of loved to of swiped it & seen if my Lidi charger could of saved that! They are £105 new! Though too many council staff around!

[andisnewsyncro]

too many council staff around!

It never hurts to ask them wether you can have stuff or not, often works at out tip

[ghost123uk]

I "got" a deep discharge capable "traction" battery (the type used in electric wheelchairs) from the tip. ( no council staff saw me get it )

Though I don't use it as my main leisure battery on the van, it comes in useful for lots of things (incl running some of the electronics & laptop I use with my model aeroplanes)

It is in tip top condition

In these days of re-cycling (and re-use is the best form of re-cycling) I can never understand why the guys at the council tip are usually so anal at letting folks have stuff that is going into a skip !!

Ooops, a bit off topic there -