Flat MH vehicle battery - help!....

GMJ

GMJ

Full Member
Posts
4,356
Likes
16,353
We had an an emergency today in that my FiL had a small car crash and had to be rushed into hospital. This necessitated us having to jump into a car and rive up to Cheltenham.

More of that anon...

Anyway we thought to go in the MH so we could stay close however the vehicle battery was flat. By the looks I had left the control panel on in the hab area and this had drained the battery. I couldn't jump start it either with my battery pack.

I have the MH plugged in to the mains now.

The question is (bearing in mind that I am all over the place and have no access to any of my bumf) by plugging it in to the mains will this charge both the hab and the vehicle batteries? I have a Sargant control panel and I can change between hab and vehicle battery via a switch on it.

Its a 2017 Autotrail Comanche.

Sorry about the basic question but I haven't time to research and have no paperwork with me.

If it will do this I'll go back home on Saturday and try and start it and bring it up to Cheltenham.

TIA folks
 
If it's the same as my control panel, selecting vehicle position will send charge to vehicle battery.
Put multi meter across terminals, if it shows 13v+, then it is charging.
I have connected the positive hab battery to positive vehicle battery via a magic box, so as solar charges hab battery, it trickle charges vehicle battery. Something to look into when less fraught.👍
 
I would think yes, the Sargent systems are very good in that the vehicle battery can be charged too. It depends on how you have it set though as it can be set to charge either/or and if it has the smart charge function in operation (would expect a 2017 version to have that and be enabled) then the system will take care of both batteries depending on which needs charging the most. If the vehicle battery has been drained it may be that it was selected as the battery providing power to the 12 volt system but hopefully it’ll now sort itself out if you are on EHU. Good luck.
 
  • Thank You
Reactions: GMJ
The Sargent control panels as fitted in most AutoTrails will show both Leisure and Starter Battery Voltages, so you should be able to see what battery is charging at any given time and if that changes when you select Leisure or Vehicle battery.
Again, most Sargent systems will charge one OR the other, not both, and the one selected on the control panel is the one that gets the charge.
 
Thanks all

I am away from the MH now so cant check the status.

I think I'll get another vehicle battery when I travel back tomorrow. Can anyone please point me to where I can check the battery physical size and type? I cant seem to get any websites to recognise my Reg No...presumably as its a MH.

Thanks again
 
GMJ said:
Thanks all

I am away from the MH now so cant check the status.

I think I'll get another vehicle battery when I travel back tomorrow. Can anyone please point me to where I can check the battery physical size and type? I cant seem to get any websites to recognise my Reg No...presumably as its a MH.

Thanks again
Click to expand...
If you message Alpha Batteries they can confirm what a popular battery would be.
The chances are it is a "Group 19" so look for that definition or a "G19" as part of the name.
 
  • Thank You
Reactions: GMJ
GMJ said:
That is very helpful - thanks you

A quick check throws up this one as the only option...


I cant seem to see any Group size on the web page though? Any ideas?
Click to expand...
The "Group" thing is very commonly quoted in the US and makes it over to some descriptions in the UK, but the common sizes are still worldwide.
FWIW, this is the battery I got for my VW LT (aka Sprinter) that uses the Group 19 size (the key being the length and width) - https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/019-nordstar-car-battery/. (the '019' in that description is for Group 19 I would assume?
That Nordstar I found great starting the old 2.8L engine whatever the temperature.
The battery you linked to has the G19 length and width but is very tall. Likely too tall to fit, especially if it is going into a battery compartment in the footwell.


PS. The other consideration is the layout of the +ve and -ve posts. As an example, if you compare the battery I linked to and you linked to, the posts are reversed. Always easiet to get a new battery whose posts match the layout of the old battery to save faffing around trying to make cables reach.
 
Thanks again

I cant get access to the battery until I get home by which time I would have liked to have bought one so as to avoid the hour long return trip if I have to go back out.

Alpha have come back with this...


and this...


and told me to ignore the one that their site suggested! Bothe the above pages suggest a max height of 190mm which is the same as the one you linked to.

As I'll be buying it from an auto factors (or Halfwits) en route I just need to know what relevant info they will need really. If I say Group 19 or 20 will that suffice or will they need anything extra?

You have been a great help thus far btw - I really appreciate it. We are all over the place at the mo due to FiL problems so are a bit frazzled to say the least!
 
I would go for a Bosch/varta stop start as they can take a hammering better than most.
 
I imagine your base vehicle is a Ducato and that the battery is located under a cover in the passenger footwell.

All that is needed to define which battery you require is the make, model, engine size and model year of the base vehicle.
 
  • Thank You
Reactions: GMJ
Canalsman said:
I imagine your base vehicle is a Ducato and that the battery is located under a cover in the passenger footwell.

All that is needed to define which battery you require is the make, model, engine size and model year of the base vehicle.
Click to expand...

That's what I am hoping but wanted to be belt and braces just in case, hence my worried questions. :)
 
Some times the "right" battery as far as the manufacturer is concerned is the wrong battery :(

Example is RAV4.2 from Toyota. The Petrol engined model was fitted with too small a battery and after a week of being parked, it would be flat. "Normal" as far as Toyota are concerned and battery tested good multiple times. Fit the battery from the Diesel model and problems gone.

Manufacturers fit the cheapest parts they think they can get away with. Very often room for improvement when replacing parts, especially batteries.
 
Update

Battery bought and fatted yesterday with no dramas. Halfrauds: helpful people but useless in identifying the one I needed. The Euro Motor Factors place were spot on. The MH started first time on the OLD battery but I swapped them anyway just in case. When I get back home I'll charge the old battery up and check how good it is at holding charge and we'll see if its worth keeping or not (probably not I'm guessing).

I got a Bosch silver one in the end. Nor cheap but with a 5 years guarantee.

Thanks all for your help. It was much appreciated.
 
Glad you`re sorted (y)

If the old one is duff and you are getting rid of it a little bit of time and effort taking it to a local scrap yard will pleasantly surprise you with what you`ll get for it :)
 
GMJ said:
Update

Battery bought and fatted yesterday with no dramas. Halfrauds: helpful people but useless in identifying the one I needed. The Euro Motor Factors place were spot on. The MH started first time on the OLD battery but I swapped them anyway just in case. When I get back home I'll charge the old battery up and check how good it is at holding charge and we'll see if its worth keeping or not (probably not I'm guessing).

I got a Bosch silver one in the end. Nor cheap but with a 5 years guarantee.

Thanks all for your help. It was much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Good to hear you’re sorted. Just a reminder to check out the settings on the Sargent system, if it has the smart function and is enabled/selected then provided that there is enough sun available the solar panel should keep both batteries topped up.
 
  • Thank You
Reactions: GMJ
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Back
Top