leisure battery query

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

hi,

got an 85 Ah leisure battery, 4 years old.

last weekend on a rally wouldnt power 'van lights
think may have had meter on it at under 12v yet
when got home before starting to charge it on
car charger in shed read 12.8v which i believe is
almost full, well 12.9v is supposed to be.

so why was it dead whilst away or seemingly dying.

have put in a new 110Ah sealed unit but is this
old one worth keeping as spare in its lying mode?

[dinky]

Bang it on Our PATROL; AS A SPARE,:thumb2:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol

[mully]

You need to check the gravity of each cell a 4 year old leisure battery which has not been charged correctly during it life wil be knackered,i personally would bin it!

[mav]

Hello Richard.

I was told not to use a car battery charger as leisure batterys need to be trickle charged over a longer period.

[(RIP) PLANK]

I agree with MAV i would check your charging circuit!, or charge it for a long time on a charger outside the caravan, when the charger reads complete it may still be charging (drawing current).

I have some ropey leisure batteries almost 10years old and they get left flat for weeks and still charge up, sometimes they dont seem to charge at first but just leave them on the charger for a while and they start to draw current.

I use lot of them as we have 3 caravans and many 12v electric fence systems. So my advice try everyhting before you bin it!

tyr putting the meter across the top with the charger conected and turend off, then again with it switched on, this will show you if the charger is doing its job. I have one charger that was only putting out 11 volts and therefore could no longer charge a battery!

[dinky]

Aldi and Lidl usually have m/cycle trickle chargers ,which would be suitable.

[craig1976]

agree with the above, as have a bike aswell,
the chargers are called OPTIMATE, and come in various models but all do the same thing, and retail for about £25 upwards, so compared to the price of a battery it is cheaper,
i only use my bike in april-september, (puff i know!!!), but the rest of the year its hooked onto an optimate and never drops under charge,
hope this helps
craig:thumbs

[Terranosaurus]

I agree trickle chargers are kinder on batteries than ordiary battery chargers - unless you have an expensive multi stage charger. However the best way to charger any of them is with your alternator, this is kindest in the battery and will put a proper full charge in too.

[mav]

This is what i got works a treat, I just leave it plugged in for a few days on return from a weekend away. I do believe that it can be left connected all the time.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CARAVAN-CAMPER-ATV-BATTERY-TRICKLE-CHARGER_W0QQitemZ170387558450QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK _Campervan_Caravan_Accessories?hash=item27abe3d032

[mav]

Also, Batteries lose 30% or more of their capacity when they get cold. Therefore stand them on thick timber so they are isolated from the cold floor.

[TONUP]

I use a little solar charger (panel about a 300mm long), which worryingly puts out about 18v, but so far doesn't seem to have hurt the battery in the year it has been connected to it.

When I turn the panel on in the caravan it usually reads about 13.2v. I would think that's about right.

Alan

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

well 2 other pals thought maybe a plate was dud or bent.

it doesnt owe me anything but will keep and split charge
in boot when away in box already have or in spare slot
under bonnet. also have the terranos old bigger battery
which tends to charge well on car charger in shed but
not so well on caravan's own charger.

got this new 110A in 'van too now and looking a decent
spec solar panels to keep it topped up ideally to avoid
buying a genny which i really would prefer to avoid still.

keeping it 12V and simple(ish) is plan.