Over Heating Batteries

5Us
5Us Forum Participant Posts: 1
edited August 2016 in Caravans #1

I own a 2013 swift challenger se (6 berth), which I bought new. I have been through four batteries in that time. They all work fine for a few months and then the smell starts and the overheating, before they wont charge anymore. Can there be a problem with the cut out for the charger unit. Caravan used mainly on serviced pitches, then put into storage, before I bring it home and keep it on charge for two / days before we leave. This should not affect the battery should it. When I bought the caravan new I got four motor movers on each wheel, not sure if this can cause a problem. I only use the motors when the power supply is not connected.

 

Any help will be most appretiated, or if you want an further information please get in touch.

Comments

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #2

    when you say 'put in storage'....how long?,

    do you have a tracker or alarm that drags the battery down?

    do you have any way of keeping the battery topped up..solar etc?

    if not, the battery may be knackered if left below 50% discharge level for any length of time...

    you may well be repeating the same process with each subsequent new (expensive) battery....Sad 

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585 ✭
    1000 Comments 250 Likes Photogenic
    edited August 2016 #3

    If you are leaving the caravan with an alarm on this could flatten the battery in about two weeks. You may also have be leaving the aerial on and again this will drain the battery so needs to be off. You should have a master switch which will switch off
    everything except the alarm.

    If in storage and the alarm is on you will need a decent solar charger or to visit regularly to charge the battery.

  • MrGarval
    MrGarval Forum Participant Posts: 120
    edited August 2016 #4

    I think it would be asvisable to have the charger checked out, could be putting out to many amps.

  • jennyc
    jennyc Forum Participant Posts: 957
    500 Comments
    edited August 2016 #5

    As you describe a smell of overheating, the cause could be overcharging, or an excessive load. The latter would discharge the battery very quickly, which isn't what you have posted, which leaves overcharging as the likely culprit. Our Swift van, of a similar
    age is fitted with a Sargent power supply/ control box, which incorporates the charger. The charger is designed with some 'intelligence' so that it uses multi stage charge with a max 300W output. It seems likely that it's this element of your installation
    which is faulty. You can obtain more clues by measuring the input/ output of your battery with an ammeter. Whether you do this or not, I'd call Sargent's technical support first. If you want to avoid workshop bills, I believe that Sargent offer a factory repair
    service - but you'll need to have the confidence to disconnect/reconnect the unit yourself If you take that route. It should be less than an hours charge from a dealer if they do the work.

  • peterjbrock
    peterjbrock Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited August 2016 #6

    Over winter I made the mistake of taking my van off the mains without shutting down the aerial booster and radio. When I checked the battery a month later it was fully discharged. Tried charging and it looked Ok, however when on holiday in Scotland my battery overheated. I

    checked the cells and one was dead so charge going through 5 cells not 6 and so overcharging the cells. I now make sure EVERYTHING switched off if not on mains

     

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