Club 80-90 Forums

hi all ,
we have had a van now about a year and a half and havent really used our two lesuire batteries at all,only for igniteing the fridge . so the other day i pulled them out to recharge them as they were showing that they were low ,does this mean to say and this might be really obvious to you guys in the know ,that they are not charging properly ????
the reason this is an isue as i am wanting to carry out the mod on the electrics to run the stereo lights and ciggarete lighter of the lesuire batt ,so i really need to know if they are not charging or if its becausethey havent really been used .they are now showing full charge after a good 2 days on a charger .
any help or advice would be greatly appreciated before i shoot of to maplins
thanks

Is that a westfalia

leisure or marine batteries like to be charged on stage chargers.
Three stage chargers for deep cycle batteries are not cheap, but Lidl sell one now and again for £15.

Charging leisures on alternators and normal chargers will only charge them to about 80% capacity.
to check for charging..
Check the voltage of the battery with a meter when it's in the van and engine running. It should read at around 14V

Also check the leisure is holding a charge. after 12 hours of inactivity it should not drop below 12.5V, if it does it's had it.

hi kev ,
yes sorry it is awesty california 1.6td 1989 ,both batteries are showing 12.5v after about 2 weeks of no action so looks like the batteries are good ,i cant check voltage when running at mo because alternator belt is off as im having the power steering fluid pipes renwede as old ones have corroded,so belts are off at the mo ,
but if batteries are good then would you think that there is summat wrong with the charging system?

yes
and the usual suspect is the split charge relay

so when you can, test the charge.

ok will do, thanks kev . is the split charge relay that little silver cube in the battery compartment behind drivers seat ,dont suppose you know where i could get a new one ?
thanks

kevtherev wrote: Three phase chargers for deep cycle batteries are not cheap,

I hope you mean three stage and not 415v!!!!!

yes I did.. my bad

Big Boris wrote:ok will do, thanks kev . is the split charge relay that little silver cube in the battery compartment behind drivers seat ,dont suppose you know where i could get a new one ?
thanks

I wouldn't know about westy split chargers

It might not be the problem .. wait and see

kevtherev wrote:Check the voltage of the battery with a meter when it's in the van and engine running. It should read at around 14V

Never had 14v. Even after fitting a new regulator (in Ireland after alternator failure) I still only get 13.5 - 13.8v

well I did say "around"
I get 14.2 on the main
13.8 on leisure