Went into the bus last night and wanted to turn the interior light on. Nothing. Checked ignition. Nothing. Checked voltage on little Westy panel. Nothing. So that looks like both starter and leisure battery dead. Checked for things left on (lights, fridge, etc) but nothing was. I have a tracker and that's the only thing that is always on. Could it have drained the starter battery in two months?! And would the flat SB and having a Durite VSR installed flatten the LB? What's the way to check for a drain again?
to check charge the battery(ies) - and then run an ammeter in series (ie disconnect the earth or positive and connect each probe, one to terminal, one to lead) - this will show the current draw. you can also do the same with each fuse to check which circuit (if part of the original wiring) is pulling the current.
When was the last time you used the van? Bad for batteries to leave them connected in the vehicle for long periods without charging. Flat batteries often don't recover, so you may need new ones.
Quite possibly as you have a permanent load on the SB. Remember they are 2 way & will protect the starter if there is a load on the leisure, but not the other way round. Why not run the tracker off the leisure? Oh, & a Ctek connected but not charging will also drain a battery as it is voltage sensing.
Oh, ok. I have the VSR and a CTEK connected. Ooooops. Although I thought I'd disconnected the CTEK at the plug half way along the lead. Will double check that!
Last driven about 6 weeks ago maybe? However, was driven about 2 miles up the road, parked up for the day, and driven back.
Stop it! I want to, but I also want to upgrade the fridge to benefit. That's £1000 right there. Grrrrrr.
My son had this with his van which he doesn't use much. So when parked on his driveway, the batteries are disconnected and charged regularly with an external charger. He charges them to max before going on a trip and all is fine and the van starts on the button as the batteries have full charge. Also its a good idea to occasionally clean up the wiring connectors at the starter solenoid as corrosion there often causes starting problems. Try never to let your batteries go completely flat as it buggers them.
Your batteries were probably sick to begin with and there is probably a stereo on the leisure battery as well as the tracker on the starter battery. I doubt the VSR has anything to do with it as it disconnects the batteries at 12.65 volts (100 % charged minus a bit) If the starter battery was a bit flat and never hit 13.3 volts the VSR will not ever cut in so the leisure battery just drains away. And the starter dies because it it is flat. To fully charge a typical 130AH setup will take say about three days on a 7 amp Ctek or maybe 24 hours of driving. New batteries time and try and fit even a 10 to 20 watt solar panel to keep up with the tracker. A small panel 10-20watt like that only needs two diodes one to each battery and no regulator . I have that setup on my boat.
Batteries should be good. Hopefully! Both easily under a year old. Will see if the CTEK can bring them back to life and then will check for a drain.
Ahha, nice one zedders. Well, we knew it wouldn't draw like a fridge lol but nevertheless I'll bet most peeps would think that if it's switched off, it's off. Not so as one flattened our boat bank over 5 months or so. Wouldn't think it would you?
I have a smart charger attached to my battery/batteries when parked. If the camper was left for a long time, I'd disconnect the batteries to preserve them
Well, the problem is back. After fulling charging both batteries at the end of August, both are flat again. In fact, this time I can't even get the CTEK to charge the leisure battery! Flashing power light which means the battery isn't connected..... It is! Well looks like I'm going to have to fit some kind of on/off switch to the leisure battery at the very least. See what happens when the bus doesn't get used Poor bus
Yep. I've got one to fit to my leisure battery so that I can isolate it quickly if there is an electrical fault. Already got one on the starter Battery.
