DC voltage drop.
Have just moved site today and although everything seems to be working on EHU I have just noticed that the DC voltage is reading just under 12.5 volts instead of the usual charge of 13.5 to 14, which I think it was reading up till today. We have been away in the van for 4 weeks, always on EHU, without an problems. Could it be that our leisure battery has given up the ghost?
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As a ‘resting voltage’ 12.5v is at the low end of OK - about 80% charged. If that’s a charging voltage your battery may well be getting tired.
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That's voltage when on hookup, I've not yet checked what it is with the EHU disconnected. I will check it in the morning, and also the fuse to the charging unit, which down not seem to be as warm as it should be. The battery is not that old and has regularly been charged, as we are away every month throughout the year.
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Morning
I'll agree with peedee NTH, it's not charging. If you have a multimeter, plug in into the EHU and check your lead is live. I say that as we get a lot of members asking for help with no power which has been a loose wire in the hook up lead.
If you're not home for a bit, disconnect your van charger and get a cheap battery charger to tide you over, always handy when you get home as well
JK
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As well as the possibility that there is a disconnection, the voltage of the mains supply may be lower on your current site - either temporarily or always.
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Thanks for the replies.
We are on EHU on site, and have been all trip, and all the 240v appliances are a working fine....TV, Alde Heating, and mains sockets in the van. When I got up this morning the meter was reading 13.5v or there abouts, but when I run the water pump it drops to a little over 12v, similarly when I switch on the internal lights. I did change the 20 amp fuse for the battery charger but without any change. I am using a brand new EHU lead, and have been since we set off. At the moment, with the heating running, and a couple of ipads on charge it is showing over 13.5v.
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Nellie. I'm not an expert but with 13.5 showing when on EHU it does look s though the charger is ok but with a light drain on the battery dropping it to 12v it looks as though the battery may be on its last legs. Maybe the cold temperatures are having an effect? I had a similar symptoms a few months ago; on EHU 13.5 but as soon as I disconnected EHU and used mover battery flat!! Cost me a new battery but ok now.
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I think you can be fairly confident that your battery isn’t fully charging. Any charging voltage in excess of the resting voltage will charge the battery, but it needs to deliver something like 13.8 to 14.5v to fully charge the battery (12.8v resting voltage). So, 2 options….your charger maybe faulty or battery not maintaining its charge - process of elimination would be my next step.
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I know this is a daft question but how do I disconnect the battery charger. As you can see eletrickery is not my strong point. I do have a charger with me, so once I disconnect the van's charger can I run my charger from my 240v socket? Our van is a 2010 model Bailey Unicorn Madrid if that helps, and the battery was new in Sept 2019.
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Not familiar with your van, but on my MH the battery charger can simply be turned off. For testing purposes why not just temporarily disconnect the two leads on your leisure battery terminals. Connect your home charger and see what happens.
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Morning
So, find your power supply unit, which is the box under the seat somewhere with 12 volt fuses and mains trips. Looking at the electric side you'll see (probably) a yellow trip with a test button. That's the main rcd. Next to it will be two or maybe three smaller trips, these are mcb's. One of those will send power to the charger. Find that one and flip it. Usually up is on and down is off.
I know you mentioned that you have a new hook up lead and it might well be good but back in the day when we did site shop we sold loads of leads (kerching!) and we did have a few that had a loose wire brand new in the bag.
Good Luck
JK
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I’ve had a few problems with duff EHU leads over the years and now always keep one of these Mains Tester Plug on board plus adaptor. Don’t take up much space and really useful when you need it.
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The first thing I would be doing is check connections, especially the main battery terminals. Are they clean and secure. You could be getting false idea of the battery’s condition. There could be enough of a connection to get a voltage reading but not enough to pass current. As soon as a load is put on it, it would show a dramatic voltage drop and not supply the current to actually make anything work
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Thanks again. The trip for the charge is also the same one for the heater, not something I want to do without at the moment really.
I also have a spare mains lead so will sell them over and see what transpires.0 -
If the sockets and heater are working then the EHU cable is fine. However, if the battery is gradually falling then it sounds like the charger has failed (or the battery is completely gone)...use a multimeter across the battery terminals (set to DC voltage of 20v and you should be seeing between 13.8 and 14.2 (if charging, or 13.5 if on float...
all these things 'could' be fine but the panel is reading incorrectly, hence the need to confirm this with the meter.
if the meter and the panel match, ie the voltage is 12.5 (or even lower now) then the charger is not charging battery...for whatever reason.
you could swap a battery with someone on site (for a few minutes) and check the level again...if the same symptom then it's the charger not the battery. Easy solution, get stand alone CTEK type charger in the interim.
you could even borrow a CTEK and connect up and check voltages..if it all seems to be working better than it confirms must be the charger.
However, if the voltage on the swapped battery rises quickly to 13v plus, then it's the battery. Easy solution, new battery.
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That's what I did, and think that is what I'll continue doing occasionally for the rest of this trip. We do carry a small electric heater which we can use while the battery leads are disconnect.
Thanks, B&B for your comments. I've yet to find someone with a multi metre to check it all out. I guess I'll have to get one for myself, learn how it works, and then check the links. Cheers.
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OH says they are easy to use and as he is ex electronics he has one in the vehicle and said he has got two more in his shed and has used them for over 50 years as he said an extension of his arm!!
But glad you are still able to keep caravanning NTH.
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As they say, there’s never a daft question.
Apart from the low voltage readings, does everything work properly? If so, then there might not be a major problem.
From the age of the caravan and my memory of similar Bailey models of that year, I take it that the readings are being taking from the on board panel, which is possibly a old needle type gauge. These are are not always accurate and do deteriorate over the years. At college we were told unless it’s a mirrored scale like a AVO, then it should be regarded as an indicator not a meter.
Getting it checked with a digital or tested meter is by far the best course of action. In the meantime, if it’s not affecting anything, carry on caravanning and don’t worry.0 -
Thanks RK and FaW. The meter is as you describe, and is generally reading about 13.5v when we are running heating and anything from the sockets, but when we have the lights on it drops and if we run the pump the lights flicker and dim slightly, although don't go out. We will carry on to the next site and see what's what then. You never know a good shoogle en route might just sort it out, although I doubt it, but one never knows.
ED, I will certainly get one and learn how to use it too.
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Anyone using a meter on mains voltages does well to remember that they are potentially lethal. Not just the electric shock but the fright from the bang when something shorts out.
Many of us learned this the hard practical way, and none moreso than the safest electrician I've ever known. He only worked on equipment with one hand - he had lost the other in an electrical power accident.
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Sounds like the hab battery is ready for the last rites to me.
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That's my worry, CY, although it is only 3 yrs old and has been used, on EHU, virtually every month since purchase. It has an indication light which is showing green, so not requiring charging, supposedly.
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Agree with CY, classic symptoms of carked battery…..volts ok, but not able to deliver enough current. You could ask a battery specialist to perform a load test before buying a replacement.
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I would definitely be looking for a poor connection then.
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Will do, SB, cheers.
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He wouldn't get the voltage then. As has been said, a poor connection somewhere if NTH has confidence in the battery.
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