battery charger

Electrics are a PITA to diagnose over t'intenet at best of times, let alone if the person on other end doesn't know what they've got or how it works.
All I can say is you would expect on that van, the charger to charge both batteries and that it would go at least a month of no charging without problems.
 
we had a bessecarr also on a fiat 2.8 & never had any trouble starting.
it was often up to 4 weeks or longer idle without hook up.
I have spoken to other motorhome owners & they say their engine battery holds the charge for longer than 2 or 3 weeks.
tony
 
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I have on hook up and use one of these for the starter battery after getting caught out last year when I was ill did not get to the bus to give her a run and the starter went flat,I have since been using this and the starter always reads fully charged so all good . The one I have is this one AA Shop | Car Battery Solar Charger got from amazon though for 20 delivered
 
blights said:
I have on hook up and use one of these for the starter battery after getting caught out last year when I was ill did not get to the bus to give her a run and the starter went flat,I have since been using this and the starter always reads fully charged so all good . The one I have is this one AA Shop | Car Battery Solar Charger got from amazon though for 20 delivered
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Total wast of money,output is to low,you would require at least 1/2 to 1 amp just to cover normal loses.in winter you will get nothing from that we toy.
 
why should I need another charger solar or otherwise.

there is a built in charger that puts in according to laika 2/3 amps per hour maintenance charge into the engine battery.

surely this should be enough ?

why then is my battery running down.

when everything is off there is nothing drawing from the battery.

the battery is not 12 months old yet.

the previous battery again was less then 12 months when it packed up.

tony
 
tony said:
why should I need another charger solar or otherwise.

there is a built in charger that puts in according to laika 2/3 amps per hour maintenance charge into the engine battery.

surely this should be enough ?

why then is my battery running down.

when everything is off there is nothing drawing from the battery.

the battery is not 12 months old yet.

the previous battery again was less then 12 months when it packed up.

tony
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Do get a spark to test the van alt as the rectifier may be leaking back,i have a skoda fabia in my back yard doing this,24 hrs and flat as a pancake.
 
what are the chances of the built in charger be overcharging the engine battery ?
laika say it should put in 2/3 amps per hour into the engine battery on EHU how do this sound ?
i'm no good with those figures.
if this is the problem would an isolator/kill switch on the engine battery help.
ther is a solar panel fitted on the roof.

tony
 
Again just guessing as you haven't posted what charger the van has, but usually the chargers put most of charge into leisure battery, the charge to starter battery shouldn't overcharge it.
You appear to be clutching at straws and contemplating a bodge to try and rectify a problem, I would suggest getting it sorted by a professional.
 
colinmd said:
Again just guessing as you haven't posted what charger the van has, but usually the chargers put most of charge into leisure battery, the charge to starter battery shouldn't overcharge it.
You appear to be clutching at straws and contemplating a bodge to try and rectify a problem, I would suggest getting it sorted by a professional.
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i phoned a motorhome repair place i got one of those b####y machines i left my name & number & guess what they never got back to me.

tony
 
tony said:
i phoned a motorhome repair place i got one of those b####y machines i left my name & number & guess what they never got back to me.

tony
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I would use an auto electrician because they would be much better at checking out this problem.

I know it is difficult finding "good people" but a auto electrician is what you need :hammer:.

:goodluck:
 
update

hi i had to get a new starter .
i had it reconditioned last january.
it seems there were parts which would not be replaced were corroded.
it is now turning over way better than it was.
fingers crossed that is the problem solved.
thanks all
tony
 
Chainsaw Charlie said:
How long are you leaving it for not being used ?
Mine would go flat after about a fortnight
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I'm having the same problem with an as yet undiagnosed drain on the battery.

Just reading the manual it states if leaving unused for more than 5 days disconnect the Neg lead from the battery - 15 plate Citroen Relay
 
sparrks said:
I'm having the same problem with an as yet undiagnosed drain on the battery.

Just reading the manual it states if leaving unused for more than 5 days disconnect the Neg lead from the battery - 15 plate Citroen Relay
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5 days is not very long,

you would think it should last longer than that.

Well time to get you meter out and start unplugging things.

I did come across an interesting one and that was a built in dvd player that kept waking itself up, and that was due to poor software, taking its fuse out provided a cure until new software was found.

:wave:
 
sparrks said:
I'm having the same problem with an as yet undiagnosed drain on the battery.

Just reading the manual it states if leaving unused for more than 5 days disconnect the Neg lead from the battery - 15 plate Citroen Relay
Click to expand...

the guy that sorted mine also said that if it is to be standing for awhile disconnect the battery even though it is not showing any discharge when he put the meter on it.

tony
 
alwaysared said:
I don't think they're available to buy anymore, I couldn't find out how to buy one anyhow.
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Maplin's web site says not available for delivery or collection.

If of any interest, they are available via ebay. Cheapest offer I saw is this from Rapid Electronics:

Kemo M102N Double Lead Acid Battery Charger Module £16.39 + £3.50 P&P
Kemo M102N Double Lead Acid Battery Charger Module | eBay

They have a web site but buying direct is slightly more expensive:
Kemo M102N Double Lead Acid Battery Charger Module | Rapid Online
 
hairydog said:
These devices are essentially two high power diodes back to back, on a heatsink. No more, no less. Like a pair of electric non-return valves. So the battery with the lowest voltage gets all the charge current until it's at the same voltage as the other battery. I have one that I keep meaning to get round to fitting to the 12v output of the generator.
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There for going between charger and batterys,you are thinking of a diode split block which is after alt,thats whats fitted to my bus from new and it can handle hugh amps where as the kemo can only take 16 ah which is ok after a numax 10ah charger.
 
hairydog said:
No, I can assure you that what I have is exactly this device, which IS just two diodes. Current can flow from the in to either of the outs, but not the other way.
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Have you opened one up,it can only transfar 16ah max through it , will not handle high amps from alt.
 
hairydog said:
Yes, I did look inside a few years ago.
The docs that come with it (which are not to hand) say how many amps it will take with and without an additional heatsink, but I think it is about 15A as it is, 30A with a big enough heatsink. Not a problem for me: the generator's 12v output is only 10A.
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My alt states 90ah,anyway i have my unit after the numax charger as in picture,
 

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