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Subject Topic: Has my leasure battery had it? Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonGary H
14/5/2014 at 5:31pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: 2004 Lunar Lexon CS. 1.9 Passat tug View Gary H's Profile View Profile   Reply to Gary H Reply   Quote Gary H Quote  
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Got my van out of storage a week ago (inlaws farm building), battery was showing 6 volts which is probably where my problems started. Should have taken it out for the winter but didn't!
I charged it for about 4 days using the vans built in charger. It was then showing about 13 volts. Great I thought, got away with that one!
However, when I come to use the mover, it'll turn a wheel half a turn before it cuts out and wont move. I then have to turn off the handset and start over. The mover is practically useless at the moment. As soon as the motors start to draw the amperage, the relays in control box shut it off. Its as if they wont hold in. On a slight down ward slope the mover will work OK as less current is demanded.
Does it sound like my battery has a dud cell?

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Persongail1955
14/5/2014 at 6:35pm
 Location: Co.Durham
 Outfit: Bailey Ranger 500 4 View gail1955's Profile View Profile   Reply to gail1955 Reply   Quote gail1955 Quote  
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Hi Gary, you just might of got yourself a dud battery now. It is said that if the battery goes below about 10 volts then its no good. Have you tried to charge it with one of the new chargers at home that give the battery a slow charge then a boost charge. Just in case you never knew but a 85 amhr is a bit low for using on a mover. Usually the best is around 110 amhr ones. try a different battery and see what happens then. DONT use a car battery though. They are designed in a different way to a leisure battery.
Hope this helps a bit.

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gail


PersonGary H
14/5/2014 at 7:12pm
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 Outfit: 2004 Lunar Lexon CS. 1.9 Passat tug View Gary H's Profile View Profile   Reply to Gary H Reply   Quote Gary H Quote  
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Im sure you are right, I don't think I done myself any favours leaving it in the van all winter! Lesson learnt. It was pretty flat, certainly less than 10 volts and Im sure Ive killed it. It was the issue with the mover I was most concerned about as I didn't want that to go wrong but its looking like the battery is causing it to behave the way it does.
Thanks for the tip about the smaller 85amphr ones, il be buying a biggun!

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Persondad1uk
14/5/2014 at 7:21pm
 Location: Birmingham
 Outfit: Pennine Pullman Folding Camper View dad1uk's Profile View Profile   Reply to dad1uk Reply   Quote dad1uk Quote  
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Unfortunately with Leisure Batteries, once they have lost charge they are usually scrap. You can't pick them up again..... sorry but an expensive lesson to you

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Jan and Simon and Jet and Amber


PersonPickled Onion
14/5/2014 at 7:34pm
 Location: Near Alton Towers
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Made the same expensive mistake myself,   one of those things you usually only do once.

Dave



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Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day,
Teach a man to fish and you can get rid of him for a whole weekend.


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PersonJTQU
14/5/2014 at 8:07pm
 Location: Hampshire
 Outfit: Hymer Nova S View JTQU's Profile View Profile   Reply to JTQU Reply   Quote JTQU Quote  
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Our lead acid batteries really, really don't like being left "empty"; it wrecks them as sure as anything can.
So that is what from your description has happened in this case, its not a failed cell it is all six cells.
Dropping below 50% is not wise, but leaving it there is going to be fatal. The rule is don't drain them much and never leave them much short of full.

A quality leisure battery can withstand brief deep drains [up to 50%] much better than a starter type of battery which is designed only to use 20% of its capacity ie never go below 80% full.

You don't need a big battery for a mover, but a sick 100 Ah battery will of course yield more than an equally sick 75 Ah one. As most user batteries are sick they go for bigger batteries rather than buying and looking after a smaller better quality one.

If you don't do off EHU, and can avoid leaving the battery connected during prolonged storage, a starter battery is a cheaper and a suitable alternative to a decent Leisure battery. If you want a decent Leisure battery look for one meeting the EU standard for them, EN 50342 test C20. Look to Banner Energy Bull, Varta Professional, or Exide's Leisure as known examples of compliant batteries.


PersonGary H
14/5/2014 at 10:52pm
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Oh well, it'll be used for a lead light in the garage I suppose!
Thanks for the reply's folks.

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PersonRobRushton
02/6/2014 at 9:10pm
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I've also got a potentially dud battery. It holds enough charge to run the interior lights for about an hour, even when it's been on charge overnight. I borrowed a battery charger, on which the indicator light suggested that the battery wasn't "dead" but even after charging overnight, it was still useless.
Is there a way to revive such a battery?
We left the battery in the caravan over winter - where should we have stored it?


Personclever
02/6/2014 at 10:33pm
 Location: Derbyshire
 Outfit: Adria Altea 542DT View clever's Profile View Profile   Reply to clever Reply   Quote clever Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by RobRushton on 02/6/2014
We left the battery in the caravan over winter - where should we have stored it?


If possible it's best to take the battery out and bring it home. You can then give a charge every so often to keep it topped up.


PersonGrampian91
02/6/2014 at 10:44pm
 Location: Midlands
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You can cycle some batteries by rapid charging them which helps to remove the sulphate on the plates.

But its risky. A mate had one explode.

It may improve the performance but it will never be the same again.

When left discharged the plates sulphate up and start breaking down. A dead battery can also freeze. A fully charged one wont unless its very cold.

Charge it up monthly with a decent charger not the caravans onboard charger.


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PersonRobRushton
02/6/2014 at 10:52pm
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Thanks for your replies. The battery spent the winter in our caravan on our driveway. Next winter, I'll bring it into the house to keep it warm.


Personclever
02/6/2014 at 11:51pm
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I put ours in the garage and wrapped it in a blanket to keep it warm!

I then charged it every few weeks to keep it topped up.


PersonTim and Cary
08/6/2014 at 3:11pm
 Location: Criccieth Gwynedd
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Hi

I recently found similar problems when trying to use my mover a couple of weeks ago. I keep the battery on charge over the winter using the 'van's Emperor 3 Stage charger but someone had, unnoticed, switched off the power socket in the garage.

I tried recharging the battery both in the 'van and out on my Halford automatic charger but as soon I attempted to use it went flat again.

I replaced mine with a 115AH leisure battery from local Halfords. A good price of £80.10. Supposedly reduced from £129.99 to £89 and then a further 10% reduction for camping goods when I reserved it on the internet. The battery came ready charged and so I was able to use it immediately and so was not further delayed on setting off.

The Halfords price is currently £89.00 online but I can no longer see a mention of the camping sale. They do smaller sizes too if this battery is too large for your battery box - mine a very "snug" fit. The Halfords website gives dimensions so I measured up first.

I hope this may be of some help.

Regards
Tim



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Tim and Cary


PersonGary H
08/6/2014 at 5:13pm
 Location: None Entered
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Thanks Guys, all noted!

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