Leisure AND engine battery both lose charge

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Sun, 2012-03-18 17:09
#1
Petepreston
Leisure AND engine battery both lose charge

 Hi guys.

I've replaced both batteries over the years but it seems like neither can hold a charge for long, though the AA guy tested and said both are taking a charge ok. I'm wondering if there is a problem or whether they are just not being run often enough - they only run a few times a year. Should I be disconnecting one or both? Or is there a chance that one is draining the other?

Im hopeless at electrics, and it's not helped by not having wiring diagrams for the conversion work. 

It's an older FordTransit van concerted to high top roof and LPG. 

Thanks,

Pete. 

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Mon, 2012-03-19 15:46
#2
ruth
ruth's picture
Battery problems

Hey P, don't think they should be draining each other?  Not being run enough sounds like the more likely problem.  Just like if you leave a car for a long time without driving it the battery doesn't like it and will go flat.  You can disconnect and store batteries to prolong there life but that still involves charging it up every couple of months and it needs to be kept cool and dry.  I reckon it sounds like it might be worth taking it to a car electrician who should be able to help you with the wiring and stuff.  R

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Thu, 2012-09-20 11:09
#3
greent5
greent5's picture
Battery Box

I'd strongly recommend getting a proper battery box if your going to store a battery for any lenght of time.  Helps keep out moisture or dirt, protects it a bit from elements which helps prolong the life....

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Thu, 2013-04-04 19:25
#4
Ed Forsyth
Leisure AND engine battery both lose charge

Hi everyone,

I had the same prob's in keeping my 3 batteries charged. After a week of not being used, the battery hardly turned the engine over. I checked each battery and all were showing a medium-charge. Eventualy I discovered that because I had fitted 12 volt batteries they were not of the same amperage capacity. One battery was 65amp and the other two batteries were '110 amp' leasure batteries. Consequently the 110 amp batteries were only recieving a maximum charge of 65amps only. .also batteries will only accept being chaged to more than 80% of the stated amperage. My answere was: 'I fitted a split-charge relay.' Now the 65 amp battery is fully charged (up-to 80%) the two leasure batteries take it in turns to be charged because I switch the charging to each battery individualy. Well that worked for me. Now I have always got 80% fully charged and healthy batteries.   Why the battery manufacturers assume users should know that 80% charge is usual I dont know! --- happy days folks.

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Thu, 2013-04-04 19:26
#5
Ed Forsyth
Leisure AND engine battery both lose charge

Hi everyone,

I had the same prob's in keeping my 3 batteries charged. After a week of not being used, the battery hardly turned the engine over. I checked each battery and all were showing a medium-charge. Eventualy I discovered that because I had fitted 12 volt batteries they were not of the same amperage capacity. One battery was 65amp and the other two batteries were '110 amp' leasure batteries. Consequently the 110 amp batteries were only recieving a maximum charge of 65amps only. .also batteries will only accept being chaged to more than 80% of the stated amperage. My answere was: 'I fitted a split-charge relay.' Now the 65 amp battery is fully charged (up-to 80%) the two leasure batteries take it in turns to be charged because I switch the charging to each battery individualy. Well that worked for me. Now I have always got 80% fully charged and healthy batteries.   Why the battery manufacturers assume users should know that 80% charge is usual I dont know! --- happy days folks.

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Wed, 2013-05-15 08:41
#6
Vixser
  Hello :) I've found

 

Hello :)
I've found when I have a car/van in general that if I don't run it for a month or so the battery either goes flat or a bit low and it's lethargic to start, so your problem might just be normal battery discharge rather than because they are connected together. Might be a good idea to get a little solar charger of the type that sits on the dash when it's parked up for a long time. It wont charge a battery from dead, but it'll trickle charge the starter battery at the sort of rate that means it stays topped up but doesn't damage the battery. Tesco have one for about a tenner.
 
Most starter/leisure battery charging systems are split so that the leisure battery will only charge if either the engine is started, or the starter battery has a particular voltage accross it (split charge relay vs voltage sensitive relay), so although a solar panel will keep the starter battery alive it's unlikely to top up the leisure battery. That said, as long as the vehicle starts, the leisure battery can top up on the drive to the holiday. 
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