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Subject Topic: spark when connect leisure battery
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Persondgw1963
03/10/2014 at 12:39pm
 Location: Cornwall
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Hi
Could anyone help me with this please?

With everything electrical on our Adria Altea 2010 turned off, when I connect the battery I get a spark on the battery terminals.
I have taken out the fuses one by one and found that the spark is generated by the circuit that has the battery charger on it.

My question is "is this normal"

I rang the Adria dealer who didnt know but said it would not be a problem....
I am asking because the battery does not hold its charge when on the van. We only use lights, nothing else. It could be that there is a short or it could be because the battery is at the end of its life.
The battery is maintained by an Optimate 6 charger when not on the van. This analyses the battery, takes charge out and puts it back etc, so I am inclined to think the battery is ok.
The response from the dealer did not fill me with confidence to say the least! So I don't really want to take the van for checking there.

Any help would be welcome.
Thanks


Persontrog100
03/10/2014 at 3:02pm
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a spark when you connect up says "something" is drawing current when you connect up..i am going to state this as fact but wont have a guess as to what is drawing the current or for how long..

with everything switched off you battery should not go flat when connected up..

if you have what is called a parasitic drain it will.. an amp meter connected between battery post and van connection lead will tell you if there is a drain when there should not be..

if your battery is well worn out a small drain will quickly make it go flat..it may well be well worn out..

you seem to have two separate issues..

trog


PersonDaveS1
03/10/2014 at 4:50pm
 Location: Hatfield Peverel Essex
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As Trog says, something is drawing current.
Are you sure the aerial amplifier and alarm (if you have one) are off ?
Daves1


Persondgw1963
03/10/2014 at 4:57pm
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Hi
Thanks for both your comments
.
We don't have an alarm or an aerial. I took all the fuses out and replaced them 1 by 1 until I got a spark. The draw is definitely on the battery charger circuit.

I have e mailed Adria to see if there is a parasitic discharge on the battery in van charger. I will wait and see what they say.
Thanks
David


Personalbee
03/10/2014 at 11:05pm
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Hi, on the charge circuit you may have a battery condition indicator which could take a small amount of current when first connecting battery.


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PersonTersane
12/10/2014 at 5:54pm
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Always connect the positive (+)terminal first, then the neutral (-). Do it the wrong way round and you will get a spark. It is the same as on a car. If you 'jump-start' one car from another, the same applies.


Persontango55
13/10/2014 at 2:36pm
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Are you connected to a 240 volt mains supply when you connect the battery clips by any chance? If you are then that would explain why there is a current running from the charger.


Persondgw1963
13/10/2014 at 5:15pm
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Hi
Thanks for replies. I turned of the battery indicator but still got a spark, connected in the correct order and was not connected to the 240V. Adria have not replied to my e mail, don't answer the telephone and "live chat" on their web site is always unavailable, which is a bit disappointing. I will try and get a good recommendation for a local auto electrician I think.
David


PersonAndy Higham
13/10/2014 at 8:39pm
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It could be charging the smoothing capacitors in the charger


Persontrog100
14/10/2014 at 9:21am
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complications.. he he.. but an initial spark could be doing something like that.. it needs an amp meter in line to find out whats happening for sure..

trog


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Personclever
14/10/2014 at 12:10pm
 Location: Derbyshire
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Just a thought - but If you tried to contact Adria through the UK website the email link sends an email to info at adriaconcessionaires.co.uk

I used this and got no reply from them.

I then tried info at adria.co.uk and got a reply from them straight away.


Persondgw1963
14/10/2014 at 12:18pm
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I tried Adria again today and they answered the phone in a couple of rings. All there staff are at the NEC caravan show, hence why difficult to get through. Restores my faith in them, in the past they have been very good at customer relations.
Have booked the van in to get this sorted out on Thursday, we will wait and see what happens.
Thanks to all that replied.


Personclever
14/10/2014 at 12:19pm
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Please let us know what they say.


Persondgw1963
14/10/2014 at 12:22pm
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ok, will do


Persondgw1963
17/10/2014 at 1:27pm
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Just got the van back.
Apparently a spark is normal. The battery has one dry and useless cell so this is possibly why it has not been holding charge.
If this is true then my very expensive battery charger that is supposed to analyse the battery 24/7 is not working that well!
I will buy a new battery in the spring.
Thanks to all those who showed an interest

"Clever" I see you have an Altea 542 as well, this may be of interest. The water switch on the toilet has its own fuse, in the locker area, however the feed to the switch is fed from the circuit that the heater fan is on, so if this blows the fan and the toilet switch will stop working. That one caught me out!



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