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Subject Topic: Charger problem, replace with a CTEK? Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonGrampian91
03/9/2009 at 11:48pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram View Grampian91's Profile View Profile   Reply to Grampian91 Reply   Quote Grampian91 Quote  
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My electric panel only has a green & red light to show battery condition, Whilst on holiday last week the red light kept showing when turning a couple of lights on or using the water pump. Sometimes the bathroom light wouldnt come on properly unless it was the only light on. Sometimes the lights would dim then brighten up again.

Is my charger on its way out? I forgot to take a voltage meter with me, Normally i do take one (typical).

I was going to buy one of the ctek chargers(3600)? could i replace the onboard charger with this as well as use it to keep the battery in peak condition whilst not in use?

Avondale Grampian 1991.

Thanks


Personwizard9956
04/9/2009 at 7:08am
 Location: Bristol
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I would check first that you don't have any bad connections , and see what voltage the charger is putting out .

atb

Wizard


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Persondigisatman
04/9/2009 at 12:23pm
 Location: Royal Wootton Bassett
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If replacing go for Numax 10a It will charge & run your lights at the same time, works perfect for me.


Personadsheadv
04/9/2009 at 2:18pm
 Location: Manchester
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Quote: Originally posted by digisatman on 04/9/2009
If replacing go for Numax 10a It will charge & run your lights at the same time, works perfect for me.
That link has just gone straight into my favourites!  We also need a new charger & the only one I'd been able to find was £110.  Is this one easy enough for a 'layman' to fit?

-------------
Vanessa
x


PersonLegsDownKettleOn
04/9/2009 at 3:33pm
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Could be the battery on the way out and not the charger at all. I recently had my charger fail. Fortunately I had a so called intelligent charger that I had bought for about £14 from Aldi which I have on their at the moment. The only problem is that when the mains power goes off the charger needs to be manually restarted as it has a push button to start it rather than a switch.


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PersonGrampian91
05/9/2009 at 1:32am
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram View Grampian91's Profile View Profile   Reply to Grampian91 Reply   Quote Grampian91 Quote  
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Battery was brand new last year, Always kept at home & topped up every month.

Bought the CTEK today & within an hour or so it says the battery is fully charged.

They had the onboard units starting from £60 (10amp)
or £80 for an 18amp 3 stage unit with a cooling fan.

Jacksons of arley, before anyone asks.


Personwizard9956
05/9/2009 at 9:11am
 Location: Bristol
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Hi Grampian91 , if your Ctek charger only took a hour to charge a flat battery it would suggest your battery maybe duff , i had exactly the same thing with a battery , although it was flat my charger said it was fully charged after a short while on charge .
I'd have the battery tested to be sure .

atb

Wizard


Persondigisatman
05/9/2009 at 9:40am
 Location: Royal Wootton Bassett
 Outfit: GrandlandX & Coachman 520 4& M-Mover View digisatman's Profile View Profile   Reply to digisatman Reply   Quote digisatman Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by adsheadv on 04/9/2009
Quote: Originally posted by digisatman on 04/9/2009
If replacing go for Numax 10a It will charge & run your lights at the same time, works perfect for me.
That link has just gone straight into my favourites!  We also need a new charger & the only one I'd been able to find was £110.  Is this one easy enough for a 'layman' to fit?

Dead easy to fit, I leave mine on all the time


PersonGrampian91
06/9/2009 at 1:00am
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram View Grampian91's Profile View Profile   Reply to Grampian91 Reply   Quote Grampian91 Quote  
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I don't think the battery was flat, Just tested the voltage after having a LED striplight (26 leds) on for over an hour 12.87 volts.

I will test it tomorrow with a higher load & see how it performs. I think its an issue with the lights or wiring in the van. It is 18 years old now.

Bathroom light seems to be the main problem, That takes the longest to illuminate. Sometimes only dimly.

Just had a thought, Could the charger actually be taking power from the battery?

eg. Charger only putting out 11 volts intermittently.


Thanks


Personjhsw
06/9/2009 at 3:55pm
 Location: Lanarkshire
 Outfit: Compass Lynx 340 2 View jhsw's Profile View Profile   Reply to jhsw Reply   Quote jhsw Quote  
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Hi Grampian91,Had exact same problem two years ago on my 98 compass lynx, lights would work intermitently aswell, found it to be bad earth conection at earth terminals,(wire inside sheeth had broken),replaced part of earth wire and reconected it to terminal and it has given no problems since,might add i did'nt repair it, the caravan enginer from Knowepark Caravans worked on traceing the fault for one and a half hours,and it did not cost a penny,great bunch of guy. hope this may be helpful. jhsw 

-------------
If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.



John


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PersonGrampian91
06/9/2009 at 8:01pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram View Grampian91's Profile View Profile   Reply to Grampian91 Reply   Quote Grampian91 Quote  
Joined: 11/5/2008

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Popped down to the caravan today with a 12v jumperpack.

Starting voltage 12.86

With 2 halogen spotlights and 2 twintube ceiling lights (16watts per light) and the square ceiling light all switched on the voltage dropped to 12.23 volts and the red light on the charge panel illuminated.

Not having any hookup to try i can only presume the onboard charger is having trouble to raise the voltage above this level.

Anyone know if that voltage drop is normal or are my lamps drawing too much load?



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