Dead starter battery

[bootie3367]

Hello everyone. Due to the nature of my job I have to leave the camper for 4 weeks at a time.
I know I need a new leisure battery and am on the hunt for the right size over here in Spain, however, I bought a new starter last time at home, everything connected up and was doing fine. Went to work.
Came back and the old bus is dead, completely, haven't had a chance to get the battery out yet, doing this very shortly to check and charge up as I need to use the old girl tomorrow.
So would my best bet be to disconnect the starter every time I go away to work?
Is there a way using the existing split charge setup to 'switch off' the power to the leisure side without disconnecting?
I am brand new to this stuff as this is my first camper so, please don't reply 'too technical' or with wiring diagrams.

I did have a quick look on the Wiki but nothing for me there that I could see, I also did a quick search on the forum but most of the answers were all about numbers for when radio memory was taking power etc. etc.

I need a simple solution and realise that disconnecting would be it but if there is anyone out there that has a better, simpler idea I am all ears so to speak.

Cheers

Jon

[kevtherev]

yes the simple answer is to isolate the starter battery with a battery isolator switch.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Car-Battery-Iso ... B003DYQYXC" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

then you can find any drain using a simple meter and the fuse box

[jamesc76]

Being in Spain, I would invest in a good solar panel for the roof, that way all battery's would be tip top!

[CovKid]

Either the battery is no good or its being drained. If the latter, try to trace the source as you won't need an isolator then.

[Oldiebut goodie]

Worth having as an anti-theft if it's being left for a month at a time I would have thought. The solar panel would be worth while though, I've never had a flat battery since fitting my 40W one - it charges the starter and the voltage switching relay passes it on to the leisure.

[bootie3367]

The battery was brand new, reckon it's totally gubbed now though, will stick it on a charger tonight.
Unfortunately I have been busy with me other motor, sorry, it's a Vx Carlton, had to strip it out ready for repairs after a rear ender over here, their insurance company is paying Hopefully I will get the chance to find out about the drain. One question, would the leisure battery take the power from the starter if said leisure battery was a bit suspect? OR would it be something else entirely?

Been thinking about a solar trickle charger and the isolator (cheers for the link) this may be what I need to get me a*** in gear and get things sorted.

Cheers for the replies so far.

Jon

[kevtherev]

if your split charge relay got stuck on then yes it would drain the starter

[California Dreamin]

Often under such conditions high currents melt relay contacts to give permenant contact between the starter and leisure batteries...one then drags the other down...but lets not get ahead of ourselves, check things out first.

Martin

[bootie3367]

Well I will be investigating today, have another good battery to use while I'm trying to revive the other one (fingers crossed)

I'll be reading up on all the split charge stuff over the next few days then as I know nothing about it.

Once again, thanks for the replies, I'll post up as I go through this (probably to ask for help again) with progress reports.

Jon

[ghost123uk]

I'll be reading up on all the split charge stuff over the next few days then as I know nothing about it.

Hi Jon, just a bit of info for you re split chargers.

Basically it is an electrically operated switch (called a relay)

One side of the switch goes to the +ve on your starter battery and the other goes the the +ve on your lesuire battery.

When the engine is not running the switch is off and so the batteries are NOT connected in any way.

When the engine IS running a voltage is sent to this relay that will turn it on, and then the batteries ARE connected and the alternator charges both at the same time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I would get a test meter ("multimeter"), it will help you understand the electrics. They are very cheap, like this = http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DIGITAL-MULTI ... 45f9a82444" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Take a bit of time to learn how to use it (instruction book) and take care when using it on the 10 Amp range as incorrect use here can damage the meter.

[Oldiebut goodie]

and take care when using it on the 10 Amp range as incorrect use here can damage the meter.

You get lots of smoke and glowing wires if you manage to drop a lead on to the other battery terminal whilst one is connected!

[bootie3367]

Well, as I had to use the van for a towing job yesterday, I bunged in another known good battery and just disconnected the leisure batt to use it. No problem, now I have a puncture must have been from where I picked up the trailer.....

Anyhoo, I have a few small jobs on the other car before tracing this battery fault. I'll need to take some pics of the charging set up and leisure relays etc.etc. IN the hope that somebody can point me in the right direction as to where I put the multimeter probes! I will admit to not having any knowledge of these systems, all I have used the multimeter for is for checking voltage and continuity rather than voltage drain or drop or anything else for that matter. I'm a complete and utter novice when it comes to split charging systems.
I'll get some pics today and post up later on.
First gotta find the leak from the tyre too see if it's repairable or if it's new tyre needed (not cheap in Spain!)