Battery discharging to quick ???

[Channa]

I went to the van tonight, and the 85ah leisure battery is practically discharged.

The battery was replaced in April this year so I guess it could be faulty but unlikely ?

I assume it was pretty well charged Friday Lunchtime, Having travelled from Dover to Doncaster. the previous day it had little hammer, and the previous day it was hooked up to the mains for 18 hours and then the van did a 60 mile trip.

The only thing I can think of is that whilst travelling I switched the fridge to battery and forgot to switch it to gas on Friday...But I was under the impression it only works off the leisure battery when the engine is running ?
( or is this the problem ?)
Any ideas as to what I need to check first before I start incurring costs with Auto electricians ?

thanks in advance

Channa

 

[Firefox]

Fridge is normally wired on a relay which only gives 12V fridge supply from the engine starter battery when the ignition is switched on. If anything a fault here would flatten the vehicle battery, not the leisure battery if for example the relay was faulty.

However, not all fridges have been wired like that. What you could do after charging both batteries is switch off the gas and disconnect hook up. Then put the fridge on 12V and it should be clear after a few hours by checking fridge temp if it is operating. If it is, operate a few more hours and check the charge on both batteries. It should be clear which is supplying power. If the fridge can operate with engine switched off, definitely worth rewiring it.

If it is not the fridge, and aux battery still discharging there may be something else switched on. Check the aux battery isolation switch or you could try removing each fuse in turn to see if a particular circuit has developed a fault eg Faulty appliance or earth leak which is discharging the battery.

Finally you could charge the aux battery and then disconnect it. Check charge a couple of days later. It may be that your battery has failed even though it is new. It does happen

 

[Deleted member 207]

The only thing I can think of is that whilst travelling I switched the fridge to battery and forgot to switch it to gas on Friday...But I was under the impression it only works off the leisure battery when the engine is running ?
( or is this the problem ?)

Many 3 way fridges are permamnently connected to 12V - they need the 12V to run the igniter circuit and the thermostat - so its certainly possible to have your fridge running on 12V without the engine running.

See if an auto electrician will do a quick load test on the battery, that will give you a good idea if the battery is US.

 

[biggirafe]

But I was under the impression it only works off the leisure battery when the engine is running ?

With ours the fridge runs from the engine only when it is running, my understanding is most modern MH's are wired like this. In short when you are driving the engine keeps your fridge cold then you park up and turn on either gas or 240v

One simple test is to disconnect the leisure battery, turn all your electrical equipment off and put an AVO meter across the the MH terminals (thats the disconnected terminals not the battery terminals) You should not have a circuit if everything is turned off. If you do something is leaking or still turned on.

 

[Channa]

But I was under the impression it only works off the leisure battery when the engine is running ?

With ours the fridge runs from the engine only when it is running, my understanding is most modern MH's are wired like this. In short when you are driving the engine keeps your fridge cold then you park up and turn on either gas or 240v

Thanks for the answers fellas, Poor explanation on my part, but garafe conveys better the point I was trying to make.

Channa

 

[maingate]

Hi Biggirafe,

My Elddis could run off 12v with the engine off. Not good for leisure batteries if you do it a lot (as I found out)

My present van (Burstner) does not. Found out the hard way and had to drink warm beer. Not being a Suvverner, I found this most distressing.

 

[Mr B]

Hi Channa,
Have you checked the fuses between your main battery and the leisure battery, there is 1 each end of the live connection between the two on my 1990 Highwayman, also if you have a Zig unit there is a fuse on there. Hope it helps,
Chris

 

[derekfaeberwick]

Hi Biggirafe,

My Elddis could run off 12v with the engine off. Not good for leisure batteries if you do it a lot (as I found out)

My present van (Burstner) does not. Found out the hard way and had to drink warm beer. Not being a Suvverner, I found this most distressing.

Your beer is moving Sarff mate! Tadcaster Broon Ale.

 

[biggirafe]

Hi Biggirafe,

My Elddis could run off 12v with the engine off. Not good for leisure batteries if you do it a lot (as I found out)

My present van (Burstner) does not. Found out the hard way and had to drink warm beer. Not being a Suvverner, I found this most distressing.

I would find this a good reason to sell the MH, warm beer not nice

 

[ajs]

Hi Biggirafe,

My Elddis could run off 12v with the engine off. Not good for leisure batteries if you do it a lot (as I found out)

My present van (Burstner) does not. Found out the hard way and had to drink warm beer. Not being a Suvverner, I found this most distressing.

took HID out fer the day satdee.. a walk in the woods
... parked up forgot to switch the fridge to gas ... (twas on battery while moving)..

4 hrs later... battery flat as a norverners cap
... not enough power to flush the loo
110w new-ish battery... flat in 4 hrs... couldn't believe it...nearly sold the flipper .. can't be avvin with that

fortunately the beer was still cold .. cus it wasn’t a warm day


kinbell ..them fridgeethingies must draw some power ****

regards
aj

 

[guerdeval]

Just in case some are unaware and plan to replace a fridge they do it automatically now,ie,switches to 12volt when driving,automatically switches to gas when you stop the engine or 230volt when you hook up.

 

[Channa]

took HID out fer the day satdee.. a walk in the woods
... parked up forgot to switch the fridge to gas ... (twas on battery while moving)..

4 hrs later... battery flat as a norverners cap
... not enough power to flush the loo
110w new-ish battery... flat in 4 hrs... couldn't believe it...nearly sold the flipper .. can't be avvin with that

fortunately the beer was still cold .. cus it wasn’t a warm day


kinbell ..them fridgeethingies must draw some power ****

regards
aj

I am hopin the flat battery was operator error on my part AJ and nowt anymore sinister.

Anyways next day or two will investigate.

Still me Belgian Pekin (rockett fuel) was still cool !!
Channa

 

[Firefox]

Just in case some are unaware and plan to replace a fridge they do it automatically now,ie,switches to 12volt when driving,automatically switches to gas when you stop the engine or 230volt when you hook up.

You'd still need to wire in the 12v fridge supply on a relay (or manual switch) to work only off the alternator, but they do select the power source automatically according to what is available. That's my understanding anyway.

Typical 100W fridge could draw 8 amps at 12V so, if it's a warm day 8 amps will flatten the average leisure battery in 10 hours. That's why they recommend 12V from alternator/starter battery only.

 

[ajs]

Typical 100W fridge could draw 8 amps at 12V so, if it's a warm day 8 amps will flatten the average leisure battery in 10 hours. That's why they recommend 12V from alternator/starter battery only.

are you sayin/suggesting that my fridgeefingie shouldn't have flattened my battery in 4hrs
and therefore i have a duff new battery (or summat else wrong)

please confirm... (as i'm now worried )

before i take battery back and accidentally drop the ferferkir on his toes


regards
aj

 

[Firefox]

LOL Well I think that figure was for a typical 60-80l fridge.

If you've got a lot of beer you need a big fridge and I think 100-140l fridges are fitted on some MH's in which case 4-8 hours could be closer to the mark.

It depends on your fridge model/size, the coolness of the day, and if you put a lot of warm stuff in there, but 4 hours seems a tad quick by most standards.