leisure battery query

Thomas-the-Terrano2 · 13-11-2009, 23:23

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 · 14-11-2009, 05:21

Bang it on Our PATROL; AS A SPARE,

mully · 14-11-2009, 09:58

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 · 14-11-2009, 14:41

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 · 14-11-2009, 21:48

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 · 14-11-2009, 21:57

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

13-11-2009, 23:23	#1
Thomas-the-Terrano2 Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hackenthorpe Sheffield Vehicle: Terrano2 R20 lwb 2.7TDi Posts: 5,234	leisure battery query 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? __________________ M6YTB / 20YTB '60' 2010 Ford C Max Zetec 1.6i, black '56' 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0TD, silver 2021 Bailey Pegasus Grade SE Turin caravan Smile, its more likely to confuse. One Life, Don't Just Live It, Drive a Nissan, or ...... a Jeep. Owner of Nissan 4x4s 2005 to 2019, and maybe in the future too!

14-11-2009, 05:21	#2
dinky Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SOUTH YORKSHIRE Vehicle: t20 lwb Posts: 1,238	Bang it on Our PATROL; AS A SPARE,

14-11-2009, 09:58	#3
mully Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: dorset Vehicle: Terrano11 Posts: 112	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!

14-11-2009, 14:41	#4
mav Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: South Posts: 1,748	Hello Richard. I was told not to use a car battery charger as leisure batterys need to be trickle charged over a longer period.

14-11-2009, 21:48	#5
(RIP) PLANK Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Central England, in the Heart of the Black Country Vehicle: T2 2004 TDI SE LWB Posts: 7,740	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!

14-11-2009, 21:57	#6
dinky Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SOUTH YORKSHIRE Vehicle: t20 lwb Posts: 1,238	Aldi and Lidl usually have m/cycle trickle chargers ,which would be suitable.