Leisure AND Main Battery drained - Exciting update

Post by **paulheywood** » 03 Oct 2006, 21:05

Hi there... just thought I'd treat the van to a run out but it lazily turned over a few times without starting so I thought I'd jump her off the car... The strange thing was that as I went to get the jump leads out of the van I noticed that the internal lights weren't working either.

If I have a drain on the main battery would this also affect the leisure ? I've been up and down a junction on the motorway and all is now well (including the internal lights, but I realise that I'll kill the batterries with much more of this caper...

Cheers for all the help as always...

Post by **lhd** » 03 Oct 2006, 22:04

It's not a westy by any chance, as the interior lights work off the main battery and not the leisure.......
lhd.............................

Post by **timthetrader** » 04 Oct 2006, 04:48

is it ok to jump the main battery from the leisure battery?

Post by **jed the spread** » 04 Oct 2006, 06:31

no it will bugger the lesure one up as it is made to give off power slowly and a car one fast.

jed

Post by **paulheywood** » 04 Oct 2006, 09:37

From what I've read on this forum it's best not to jump the engine off the leisure - Bad news.

But my original question is that the leisure seemed drained as well - thanks for the response lhd - It's not a Westie (it's an Autosleeper) but I didn't check any of the other leisure electrics (such as water pump I guess). Maybe the internal lights (not in the cab) run off the main battery. I'll disconnect the main and check them.

Post by **t1m-m** » 05 Oct 2006, 16:46

hello,

If one of your batteries is shot it will pull the other one down once the split charge relay engages (i.e.once the altenator starts charging and joins them in paralell). Disconnect them charge them both seperately with a battery charger and see which one (if either) holds its charge. carfull if you connect one back up that yo insulate the ends of the others battery leads!!

Post by **"WEAZLECHIN"** » 05 Oct 2006, 17:08

could your split charge relay be stuck in the closed position(overheated) or something ? try a new one anyway, for the sake of £2.50

Post by **Jonni** » 07 Oct 2006, 09:04

Hi,

Have you checked the earth strap? I have an autosleeper and had a split charger fitted a few months ago. I had exactly the same problem, both batteries drained, couldn't start the engine. Whilst taking out hte main battery for recharging (It's a brand new battery so I know it couldn't be knackered) I noticed that the earth strap was loose. When I re-installed the main battery I tightened up the earth strap and haven't had a problem since.

Post by **DiscoDave** » 07 Oct 2006, 09:44

have you got a split caharge system?? if bnot the batteries will discahnarge each other! same if the relay is goosed!

Post by **paulheywood** » 10 Oct 2006, 07:45

Thanks for the responses... and apologies for my ignorance.

I believe I have a split charge system - in that having gone out for about 40mins after getting the problem both batterys seemed fine. If I've two batteries doesn't that mean it's split charged ?

I'll check the earth strap tonight thanks Jonnie... Any chance that it's my new stereo [cough ] that I fitted that's draining them ?

Post by **Mocki** » 10 Oct 2006, 07:50

a streo will only bedraining one of them, unless you did a bad mistook when installing it..........

check for drainage by removing all fuses, remove earth connection to battery ( one battery at a time) and connecting a headlight bulb between the earth connection and the battery neg pole, the bulb shouldnt light......then refit fuses one at a time if there is drain, the bulb will light, dim = light drain
bright = heavey drain....

or you could use a amp meter.........

Post by **tonytech** » 10 Oct 2006, 08:32

If you have two batteies you can simply connect them together (+ve to +ve and-ve to -ve) to give one large battery

or a much better idea.

Connect the -ve terminals of both batteries together through the bodywork.
Connect one batery to the van electrics in the normal way.
Connect the second battery +ve to the first battery +ve through a relay ( an electrical switch)
So that the batteries are only connected together when the engine is running.

You can now connect camping lights, radio, TV, and other electrical equipment to the second battery without draining the main 'starting the van' battery.

T

Post by **paulheywood** » 10 Oct 2006, 11:11

Just read the wiki on Split charging... nice and simple.

I'm going to have a look tonight and see if I can see the relay (or lack of one) between the batterys. So, if it was a split charge set up there should have been no way that the leisure should have died.

More fun tonight I guess with a volt meter and a torch...

Thanks as ever.

Post by **paulheywood** » 10 Oct 2006, 20:21

Well... sort of exciting.

Even though the main battery has been disconnected for a week the leisure battery had drained... So I guess that implies that it's not a split charger ?

Also using a test lamp I noticed the stereo was putting a really slight (faint glow) drain on the main battery - checked the installation instructions and there's a slight change to the wiring for vans without accessory positions... so I've changed that and that's reduced the glow even more.

Will this faint glow be enough to drain a battery ? I'm guessing the stereo needs some small current to keep settings etc.

Thanks for all the help...

Post by **ghost123uk** » 11 Oct 2006, 09:43

Depends on the rating of your "test lamp"

If it is a small bulb then it is probably normal, as you say, the stero does use a sniff of power to keep settings. BUT if it is a headlight bulb (or even a 21Watt type ( indicator / Brake lights )) - then summat is not right.

If you have a test meter ( like those lil yellow jobbies you see in B&Q / Maplins etc ) an actual reading in milliamps would be more help.

Note that any 12Volt battery in decent nick would be able to power a small bulb or a stereo switched on, at low volume, for at least a week continuously before it starts to run down.

I would take the lesuire battery off the van and charge it overnight, leave it for a couple of hours and then take a voltage reading and note it down, it should be about 12.8 Volts.

Take another voltage reading the next day and if it is less than 12.4 Volts the battery has had it.

btw the voltage reading also involves those lil yellow test meters, they are dead handy and nowadays only cost about a tenner.

CAUTION - Re these meters - When set to measure current ( "AMPS" or "MILLIAMPS" ) take care not to connect across the battery, or the meter will blow it's fuse or go up in smoke. AND when set to any "MILLIAMP" range any load more than a tiny bulb will do the same.