Batteries discharge whilst driving

G8UZQ
G8UZQ Forum Participant Posts: 3
edited June 2016 in Motorhomes #1

we have just moved from a caravan to a campervan.

we appear to have a problem that both vehicle and leisure batteries are fully charged on mains but after a 4 hour journey home both are down to 50% ?

1) fridge on 12v

2) stopped for 1 hour break

3) been looked at by dealer who said vehicle battery was faulty and replaced it.

any ideas please?

steve

Comments

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2016 #2

    is your vehicle alternator charging properly? Undecided

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,389 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited June 2016 #3

    is your vehicle alternator charging properly? Undecided

    You can check this quite easily by measuring the battery voltage with the engine running. I would expect to see in excess of 13volts.

    peedee

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited June 2016 #4
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • Doug n San
    Doug n San Forum Participant Posts: 92
    edited June 2016 #5

    GW0UXX cq G8UZQ.

    First/ the fridge only works on 12v when the engine is running, it takes 10A.

    Second/ the engine may not be wired to charge the domestic battery.

    Third/ the on-board mains battery charger may not be wired to charge the engine battery.

    This is the normal setup for motor homes, so you can see that it's very possible that one battery can be fully charged and the other fully discharged.

    And last of all do not trust what a battery salesman tells you I have found they are normally ignorant of the working of batteries and the instruments they use to test batteries are useless, plus they are not beyond telling porkies

    73 GW0UXX

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited June 2016 #6
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User