Hi all, i went to pay storage fee the other day so had a quick look inside the van everthing looks ok justed smelled a bit as not been used since beginning of december.
I went to check battery level on onboard battery level indicator & to my surprise it read nothing so decided to take battery off & bring home to charge on looking at battery at home realised it was not a sealed battery as i thought, so on opening the top up caps it needed topping up so topped up with de-ionised water put on charge. as i had not checked battery in 5 & half years thought it mite be buggered so went out & brought a hydrometer from halfords but my problem is the battery is now showing charged on the little charge indicator window but the hydrometer says it needs charging when i check it so is battery any good?
cheers eddy & co
------------- WHY DOES SHE TELL ME EVERYTHING IS MY FAULT?
I would not go of voltage measurement to see if a battery is fully charged, as a battery will always hold some residual charge from the charger. It will take about 8 hours to settle.
Ideally the best indication is a hydrometer reading.
Leave it on charge for a few days. You have nothing to lose. I had one went completely flat after the fridge (which was wired wrongly) had been left running off the leisure battery for a few months. Left it on charge for a week and it's still going strong two years later. (it has been recharged a few times in that period!)
thanx for the replys i had already looked at the battery page but could not find the info i wanted, i have had the battery on charge now for nearly 2 days & as i said the battery indicator has turned green to suggest it is fully charged but hydro meter says otherwise but have checked battery with a small 12 volt camping light & seems to work fine after having battery disconnected for 2 hours...might just put it back on charge as legsdownkettleon says ive nowt to lose... dont really no if i am going to get anywhere with it but dont really want to buy a new battery as we are away at easter & would rather spend money on that...
cheers eddy & co
------------- WHY DOES SHE TELL ME EVERYTHING IS MY FAULT?
When away at easter are you on EHU, if so don't worry about the battery, if your on battery only consider a new one and next year take it out of the van over winter!!!
during your easter hol with the battery on charge for a day. switch off the ehu at night when the lights are on etc and see how long it lasts, if you don't get a full evening of lights and tv (if the tv is12v!!) the battery is goosed, however if your always on a site with ehu don't worry, save your cash!
i might just try your idea one night while away, returned home this morning off nights checked battery with hydro-meter again & the charge level seems to be goin up steadily so might just leave another day or so to see how goes....as suggested by legsdownkettleon..
cheers eddy & co
------------- WHY DOES SHE TELL ME EVERYTHING IS MY FAULT?
Last year our zig unit/charger over heated and tripped - first time ever. Our leisure battery was flat and, well completely useless. Turned out that the charger was putting so much into a dead battery and trying to feed the lights that it just gave up.
So if your battery gets to the stage where it won't take a charge either remove it or replace it if you remove it make sure you insulate the terminal connectors
Quote: Originally posted by Tfspark on 23/3/2010
Why not pop it round to any of the high street tyre retailers? They'll test it for you using a meter that puts a load on it. And the test is free!!
but if they test it, do they not put cranking power to the battery This will damage it. Its just like a drop test.? Engine batteries are based on CCA's (cold cranking amps) & built for heavy loads, leisure batteries are built differently.long and thin plates, that will buckle under loads.
Post last edited on 23/03/2010 12:14:25
------------- Roughing it in style at Calloose caravan and camping holiday park nr St Ives.(seasonal pitch)
Its not a hangover, its wine flu!
Sounds gooses, my leisure battery had died, topped it up and it showed full charge but it didn't hold the charge and very quickly went flat. Got myself 2 new 110's off ebay from a place called Alpha Batteries, £139.00 and free delivery to anywhere mainland UK (excpt Highlands).