Thanks Michael and Macquatic, I'm sure your right, and I am about to scrap the battery and get a new one, but before I do, if I could find a way to totally discharge the battery without connecting it to the van (thereby avoiding damage to the van), then I could at least try to re-charge it the correct way. Any ideas on how I could totally discharge the battery without connecting it to the van?
Hi mike 147, If you have some old 12V car spot lamps or simmilar, and wire them to battery,should discharge battery in a hour or so,then check voltage with meter.
------------- If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.
I have found this most interesting reading and informative
I wonder though what kind of caravan battery clamps you are using as as has been previously stated the +ve terminal is usually fatter than the negative and so the battery --ve clamp should be too small to fit
Quote: Originally posted by mike147 on 25/2/2011
Were those words positive or negative Jim?
You could say the words were negative. In fact the words were spoken with extreme prejudice. I was not pleased. My wife was not pleased - "How much?????"
Hi Guys, many thanks for all the advice; I just thought you’d be interested to know the outcome. I grasped the thistle, and followed some of your advice and connected the battery with reversed polarity to the caravan, with the positive and negative leads reversed! (To overcome the issue of the different size terminals, I used my heavy duty jump leads reversed). - No blue flashes, no explosions and no expensive blue smoke! Everything worked perfectly; I left some lights on, and allowed the battery to drain completely. Then I disconnected the battery and put it on the bench and connected the charger to it the normal, way, negative to negative and positive to positive. It looked a bit startled and spluttered for a few moments, but then started charging the battery again and it has taken the charge, and is now fully charged and working perfectly and normally – Phew!! - Many Thanks for all your help and valuable advice. Where would we be without the wise council of the members of this forum!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Battery terminals round the wrong way!
