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Subject Topic: Battery not charging well on van?
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09/6/2012 at 3:07pm
 Location: West Midlands
 Outfit: Kampa Hayling 4
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Hi, we've just had out first full week away with our 'new to  us' van.

The van came with a brand new battery but we  noticed towards the end of the week that it was dropping onto amber/red. When left overnight it went half way through amber but no higher.

Just drove back and thought the car it's fully charged again.

It seems a van fault and not a battery do you think? I thought about fuses but woud it not charge at all if the fuse had gone? Any ideas?

Thanks



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09/6/2012 at 3:36pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Caravan now Sold
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did you have EHU on site if not the battery would not last the week.if you did then the charger is suspect.

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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.


09/6/2012 at 3:58pm
 Location: West Midlands
 Outfit: Kampa Hayling 4
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Hi Michael, yes we did have ehu and very little using the battery.

Sounds like a big job then



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09/6/2012 at 4:29pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Caravan now Sold
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dont know do you know anyone with a small tester that can check for you if the charger has failed.ie.a full battery should be 12.7 volts.a test meter can check this by touching the two battery terminals.connected to EHU the reading on charge would be 13.5 volts to 14 volts.check all fuses in the main 10 and 15 amp.its worth a check before you run out and buy a new charger.

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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.


09/6/2012 at 6:28pm
 Location: West Midlands
 Outfit: Kampa Hayling 4
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Thanks Michael



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09/6/2012 at 6:46pm
 Location: West Mids
 Outfit: Swift Ace Statesman & X-Trail 2.0
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This could be as simple as the battery terminals not being secured properly, especially if the suppliers overlooked this when fitting the 'new' battery. Possible too that the cables become loose from the battery terminals.
Was this a private supply or from a dealer?
Check over the wiring and have supply checked if you've access to a meter, as Michael's suggested.

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Every day's a school day!


10/6/2012 at 2:01pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered
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We had the same problem on our first van...turns out it didn't have a charger! MIght be obvious, but thought I'd mention it!


17/6/2012 at 4:25pm
 Location: BlackCountry
 Outfit: Honda CRV & Bailey Pageant Provence
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We had exact the same problem 3 weeks ago for our fisrt trip out of the year, I had been chargeing the battery via the caravan from the house EHU every month or so over the winter. At the start of May left it on and got the fridge and freezer cold ready for the food and especially beer. When I come to move the van using the mover the battery was flat, I found that the 15amp fuse in the van had blown, thus not chargeing the battery but the volt meter read 13-14 volts.

I dont know about the battery chargeing via the car circuit but I doubt if it goes through the mains side of the battery charger.

 



17/6/2012 at 5:05pm
 Location: West Midlands
 Outfit: Kampa Hayling 4
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That's what we thought when the car charged it.

The van is at my sisters at the moment so not had much chance to have a good look at it. Hubby went yesterday to check fuses but couldn't find them!!



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17/6/2012 at 8:42pm
 Location: Fife
 Outfit: Adria Adiva 552PH
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Could just be the EHU cntact was bad


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17/6/2012 at 8:52pm
 Location: West Midlands
 Outfit: Kampa Hayling 4
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Quote: Originally posted by Tonkarav on 17/6/2012


Could just be the EHU cntact was bad

How weird you should say that, hubby waid the same because we had trouble with the EHU during our stay, it was a low rating and you could only have one thing on at a time. That said, we turned everything off at night at it still only charged a little. We are bringing the van home for a few days to investigate further!

Thanks



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17/6/2012 at 9:08pm
 Location: Corinium in the Cotswolds
 Outfit: Calais - Eldorado - Alaska - Romahome
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Proberly a bad connection (corroded) somewhere.
You will need to check all the leads.

Start from the battery and work back.
Spade connectors need checking and cleaning.
Clean with emery cloth the battery lead connections.
It doesn't take much to bring a 12v battery down.

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17/6/2012 at 9:39pm
 Location: West Midlands
 Outfit: Kampa Hayling 4
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If it's the connectors would that have affected the car charging it do you think?

Thanks



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