What does our leisure battery do for us?

Since our Eriba was imported 2nd hand from the Netherlands, it has been fitted with a leisure battery and all the electrical equipment that goes with it.

However, we never visit camp sites that don't have EHU's. We don't have a mover, we're only a cold water van with no sophisticated electrical gizmos

Now here's the nub of the question.
Yesterday we noticed that the colour changing health indicator bullseye in our sealed leisure battery was showing red. It's been disconnected all winter. However, I reconnected it and towed the van for about 40 miles before taking it out and connecting it to our smart charger. It was >13 volts and in the past 20 hours it has trickled charged to > 14 volts.

Having read articles about the unreliability of health indicators on batteries and in view of the fact that our battery is responding to a charger, I'm inclined to see what happens over the next few days.

However, if the battery is dud what effect will it have if it's left "in line" on the van? Again, I've read mixed opinions from "nothing at all" to "a boil over will ruin the fabric of the van". If it's been on charge for the past 20 hours I can't see it boiling over.

The simplest answer is to change it but why hurry if we don't use it, especially as there might be nothing wrong with it?

Again, you might recommend we have it checked out but I refer to our original question. What does it do and what is the effect of running a dud battery "in line"?

Randa

What you need is a consultation with the great JohnE, Roger.

Have you been charging your battery occasionally over the winter or has it been left for months unloved? Could that be the problem - Randaneglect?

If the battery has accepted a charge and is now holding it then I don't think you need to worry. I assume the magic eyeball indicator has returned to green indicating a healthy condition?

So far as I'm aware, a battery should have 12.8+V across the terminals without load and when you put it on load (lights, awning light, taps, heater blower etc) and you are on EHU the on-board charger should top the battery up automatically and then keep it fully charged with a 'maintenance' voltage. With the BIP unit fitted to my 2003 van, the maintenance charge is 13.7V (+/- 0.1V) when it is working correctly but with my CTek 7000 it's 14.1V (I think.).

You will recall that on our first trip to France in 2011 with the Triton it soon became obvious that the BIP charging circuit was defective and I had to buy a charger to keep the battery topped up - important when you have a mover fitted. That's why on our return I fitted a panel voltmeter so I could keep an eye on things.

If you haven't already got a voltmeter, fitting one before you set off could give you peace of mind (or confirm your fears).

Anyway, there's a rumour going around that you can actually buy batteries in France and Spain so it would hardly be a disaster if yours gave up the ghost during your imminent Randajaunt.

Quote: Steamdrivenandy wrote in post #4

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Ah, but why recycle if it hasn't run its allotted span.

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Quote: crow wrote in post #8

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Thats it in a nutshell young Pete

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Zitat

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Again, you might recommend we have it checked out but I refer to our original question. What does it do and what is the effect of running a dud battery "in line"?

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Randa

"What does it do and what is the effect of running a dud battery "in line"?"

What does what do? The battery?

If you use a defective battery it'll fail much sooner than one which isn't. If that's likely to leave you in the lurch, get a new one. If it isn't, don't bother.

You haven't said how old it is or for how long it was left unattended.

.

What does it do?

Internal lights (I think battery stops them flickering when on EHU)
Awning light (only works when on EHU)
Heater blower fan (if fitted)
Water pump activated by switches in taps
12V sockets (but nobody ever uses them)
Toilet (if model with electric flush fitted)

Have I forgotten anything?

Hi Pete.

Zitat

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If you use a defective battery it'll fail much sooner than one which isn't. If that's likely to leave you in the lurch, get a new one. If it isn't, don't bother.

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Thanks for that. That's what I was trying to establish. Whether a dud battery would do any damage to the rest of the equipment or not. As we don't know if it's a dud and if it does no harm to carry on with it until its condition is established then as Brian says, we can always pick one up abroad if needs be.

As to its age. Don't know but at least 4 years old but never used in anger. As to its mistreatment then yes, as always, at the end of the season we disconnect it and leave it in its battery carrier until the following year.

Incidentally, research has shown that currently, Halfords are selling Leisure Batteries at quite competitive prices.

Randa

Wenn Sie hier auf Links zu eBay klicken und einen Kauf tätigen, kann dies dazu führen, dass diese Website eine Provision erhält.

Quote: Randa france wrote in post #12

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Incidentally, research has shown that currently, Halfords are selling Leisure Batteries at quite competitive prices.

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