Leisure Battery Failure.

[jacquigem]

Must be a poor charger as it should hit 14.4v before going into float mode at around 13.7v, is it the silly power/charger fitted to vans, if it is ditch it and fit a proper unit.

I think this is part of the problem as I have not seen numbers that high . It is the factory fit for a 2010 Autotrail Mohawk.
Can you recommend a proper unit ?

 

[merl]

What wiring fault are you thinking of? Can't be terminals as it works fine when the mains charger its on. Can't think what you mean

Something like this Neil.
If the fuse blows or the connection is lost at the battery terminal, fuse carrier, where the battery supply meets the bus bar or at any connection point in the BATTERY negative, then the battery is completely taken out of the system BUT the charger will continue to supply power to the system whenever the charger switched on, if the alternator and solar are taken to the common busbar they will do the same. ALSO the same thing could happen in the negative supply wiring.
Where you had the cruder and more typical system where the battery terminals themselves are used as the common connection then if the clamp terminals becomes loose or corroded and the connection to the battery is lost then the same thing would happen.

 

[jacquigem]

Now moved to better solar area with leisure reading 13.6 volts , mains charger off.
Plan is too stay here use 12v tv this evening with mains charger off and if batteries last then all is good and we will move off.
If they fail then time to get checked with multimetre and or replace I think.

 

[merl]

Now moved to better solar area with leisure reading 13.6 volts , mains charger off.
Plan is too stay here use 12v tv this evening with mains charger off and if batteries last then all is good and we will move off.
If they fail then time to get checked with multimetre and or replace I think.

Going back to using hook up. You said the 12v dies when the mains charger is switched off. Does this happen instantly? Or is there a delay at all?

 

[jacquigem]

Going back to using hook up. You said the 12v dies when the mains charger is switched off. Does this happen instantly? Or is there a delay at all?

Yes at the time it happened instantly.

Update.
Moved to a better solar area early yesterday.
Last night watched 12 volt tv all night with power charger switched off to mimic off grid parking ?
No problem , in the morning leisure battery reading 13.2 at Sargent control panel
So I am thinking problem caused by poor solar conditions and not using mains charger an that leisure batteries will last a but longer ?

 

[merl]

If the 12v stopped working instantly then it's as I suggested previously along with that drawing I supplied to Nabsims post.
You have a dodgy power connection linking the batteries to the van electrics. When the connection is made then things work fine, when the connection fails then
A, you get no power from the battery itself and you become reliant on the battery charger or solar for direct power.
B, your battery isn't being charged.

 

[molly 2]

If you suspect you batterys are shot you are proberbly right ,

 

[trevskoda]

I think this is part of the problem as I have not seen numbers that high . It is the factory fit for a 2010 Autotrail Mohawk.
Can you recommend a proper unit ?

Numax 10/30amp smart chargers, these charge battery not power lights, so if lights etc must be if not already wired to the battery and fused.