battery discharging

Post by **ermie571** » 24 Nov 2006, 22:16

Good evening,

how do I find out what is discharging the battery if the van isn't used for a couple of days.

Happened first a couple of weeks ago....sluggish turn over, no fire. Had been stood 2 days. Whipped battery out, removed battery from other van, started first time. Recharged battery, replaced in other van. No probs with that battery since then. Used scoobs every day, then week last wed parked her up. Returned to her Friday night....dash lights but no starter. Bumped ok. Drove 3 miles for gas. Stopped in car park....no start.

AA gave her a tow to bump it, drove home fine. Left parked up a week. Tried her tonite, headlights really dim, indicators won't run. no wipers.

So, what is flattening the battery and why didn't the three mile run put enough back to start her?? No red lights on dash......

I hope to change the battery over again tomorrow - will see if I can test the charge coming to the battery - what voltage should be accross the battery with the engine running? Think I have read 13/14 V but couldn't swear to it. I habve a multi-meter....where do I start looking for battery drain?? Or do I just remove the terminals when she is not going to be used every day....

The only things I know that run all the time are the radio that uses a continuous live for memory, and the clock in the pod. Can disconnect the radio, which fuse will cut the clock? (will it take anything else out??)

sorry for all the questions.....

Emma

Post by **R0B** » 24 Nov 2006, 22:32

the voltage with the engine running should be at least 14v...it could be your battery is knacked.take it off. charge it for 24hrs.test voltage.leave it stood for another 24hrs test it again.if voltage has dropped your battery isnt holding a charge and needs replacing.....

Post by **kevtherev** » 24 Nov 2006, 22:32

The cold weather tends to kill off the weaker batteries

A battery is a can full of chemicals that produce electrons The chemical reactions inside of batteries take place more slowly when the battery is cold, so the battery produces fewer electrons. The starter motor therefore has less energy to work with when it tries to start the engine, and this causes the engine to crank slowly.

charging warms up the electrolite

Post by **Headley18** » 24 Nov 2006, 22:36

Disconnect the negative terminal from battery, join test light between battery and terminal (end of cable), if you have a light showing, it means you have a drain. Remove each terminal one by one till the light goes out, this tells you which circuit the problem is on. it is then a case of finding the fault on that circuit

Post by **ermie571** » 25 Nov 2006, 05:35

Look how bright and early i am up!!!!

Thanks for all the replies...don't think its the battery as they have been swapped.

Firstly - change the battery and see if she will start...then test light.

will let you know

Emma

Post by **ermie571** » 25 Nov 2006, 10:27

I have a drain!

And I found it all on my own!!! Feeling chuffed.

Got a 12v bulb and holder from Maplins (£1.98), two bits of wire that I had floating around in the van.

Checked the voltage of the battery....7.8V. Put the light across the battery - glowed. Took negative strap off and put light between the battery terminal and negative strap...dim glow that faded to nothing. Removed light, and did again. Same result.

So, removed all the ancillary red wires from positive terminal...still red glow. Removed the red wire that was connected by a ring to the bolt on the battery connector. No glow. All that is connected is the really chunky wire that goes directly into the metal connector that wraps around the terminal.

Both these wires dissappear through the battery box floor. On Scoobs the one at fault comes through the floor and disappears off in the direction of the passenger wheel. Checked Ermie, and she has the same arrangement - so what does this wire do, and where does it go??

Emma

Post by **kevtherev** » 25 Nov 2006, 14:11

is'nt that the leisure battery feed?

Post by **DiscoDave** » 25 Nov 2006, 14:52

check that the split charger relay isn't stuck!! if it is then the two batteries will discharge each other!!

Post by **maximus** » 25 Nov 2006, 17:06

check that the split charger relay isn't stuck!! if it is then the two batteries will discharge each other!!

Mine did that changed the relay (5 pin) I have a couple of relays if you want one let me know

Post by **ermie571** » 25 Nov 2006, 18:04

Thanks all.

Spent all morning trying to find the problem - that wire I mentioned is the one that feeds the fuse box.

Put battery from other van in...still no start. Went to assess starter motor for length of wood with which to hit said motor....looked under wheelarch and the red cable is hanging in mid air....John reconnected it, and away she went.

DOH!

still have not found what is draining the battery. Have found a 30A relay (presumably for the spots that were there....) and have replaced it in case that was causing the problem.

thanks again for all the ideas, and the offer of the relay, Maximus.

take care all

Emma

Post by **DiscoDave** » 25 Nov 2006, 20:22

ahhh starter dissconnected! i'd put my bet on the starter lead flattening the battery by going to earther! make sure it's not dammaged and see what happens over the next few days!

Post by **Hacksawbob** » 25 Nov 2006, 22:13

go through the fuse box and take each fuse out to find which circuit is draining.

Post by **ermie571** » 26 Nov 2006, 10:33

Hacksaw,
done that.....no fuses.....still the light had a little glow.

Am hoping Disco is right... Lack of connection would also explain why a 6 mile drive put "no charge" back in the battery.... And there I was worried about sticky starters, broken cables....

That was the first real "5 min job"!!!! (the one and only to date I think...)

The other van, Ermie, has a permanent drain on the battery due to the radio requiring a constant live to remember the stations. When I put the tester bulb between negative terminal and earth strap, the glow was steady. (how useful a second van is for comparison purposes!!!)

However, on scoobs, the bulb would glow then fade out. Take contact off, wait a sec or two, and you could get the bulb to faintly glow and fade again. Is this a drain....

Am currently charging spare battery to test the original as advised above...the 24 hour standing test.

Thanks again to all

E

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 26 Nov 2006, 17:29

You really need a multimeter to check how much current is draining, now you have found something with the bulb.

Post by **Johny B** » 26 Nov 2006, 18:04

got the same problem with mine now