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Eriba stuff ......FOR THE NEXT 5 CATEGORIES PLEASE BE PRECISE BY GIVING FULL DETAILS OF THE TYPE OF ERIBA/TOW CAR/AWNING YOU HAVE TO HELP US ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. � Anything Eriba-related �

Battery problems?

in Anything Eriba-related Wed Mar 29, 2017 3:20 pm
by Trroll (deleted)

Recently replaced our battery and noticed that it already needs topping up.
I am told that this be due to being over charged when connected to mains.
Has anyone else had a similar experience?
Our first trip to the rally in Poole so will consult Automotive Leisure.

RE: Battery problems?

in Anything Eriba-related Wed Mar 29, 2017 3:32 pm
by Pepé Le Pew •

| 2.752 Posts

Are you charging it in situ with the onboard battery charger or with something else?

Whichever it is, the first thing to check is the charger output voltage.

.

yy-R56kh

RE: Battery problems?

in Anything Eriba-related Wed Mar 29, 2017 6:02 pm
by cabbie37 •

| 695 Posts

The other thing you might want to do is check for some current drain in the system. When I recently revised my entire electrics, one of the reasons behind it was a permanent drain in the system that I never discovered but as I was replacing it all, I didn't bother to track it down. Put a meter in the system with everything turned off and see if you get a reading..

RE: Battery problems?

in Anything Eriba-related Thu Mar 30, 2017 4:40 pm
by Trroll (deleted)

Output when connected to mains is 15volts.
Is it possible the battery is still being charged even when fully charged.
I assume it ought to be regulated.

RE: Battery problems?

in Anything Eriba-related Thu Mar 30, 2017 4:41 pm
by Trroll (deleted)

Yes it is connected to mains.

RE: Battery problems?

in Anything Eriba-related Thu Mar 30, 2017 5:15 pm
by Pepé Le Pew •

| 2.752 Posts

Quote: Trroll wrote in post #5
Yes it is connected to mains.

I assume by 'it' you mean the caravan, and that the onboard charger is charging the battery?

I have to admit that I'm not really familiar with whatever chargers are fitted to these vans as standard (neither of mine had - or have - 'factory' chargers).

Having said that, 15V is too much - especially if it's 15V constantly - and that will damage the battery.

A smart charger like a C-Tek charges at 14.4V, dropping to a maintenance charge voltage of 13.6 or so when it detects that the battery is full. A car alternator will output a similar voltage range, typically 13.8 to 14.7.

The additional voltage to 15V (though relatively small) is very significant.

.

yy-R56kh

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Last edited Thu Mar 30, 2017 5:26 pm | Scroll up

RE: Battery problems?

in Anything Eriba-related Thu Mar 30, 2017 10:44 pm
by Angie and Steve (deleted)

Yep, keeping 15V across the battery will bubble off electrolyte. You probably haven't done any permanent harm, top the battery up with distilled water to the correct level and get yourself a better charger. The C-Tek chargers already mentioned are excellent and will not harm the battery when left connected and switched on - in fact they'll do it good

Steve.

Without music, life would be a mistake.

RE: Battery problems?

in Anything Eriba-related Fri May 26, 2017 8:15 am
by Trroll (deleted)

Well just back from Caravan repair shop with a new Voltage regulator, none fitted it wasn't supposed to have a battery yet has a mover!
Will see how we get on. When we bought it a battery was hastily filled by the cowboys selling it, a dealer in the West Midlands, fitted the battery. Later Automotive Leisure serviced it but passed no comment. The main clue was repeatedly blowing internal lights especially LED's. Then new battery started to cook and then a friend who was an electrical engineer checked voltage and 15volts far too high so now sorted.

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