Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: JandS on July 22, 2022, 02:16:50 pm

Title: System problem.
Post by: JandS on July 22, 2022, 02:16:50 pm
After about 3 hours working yesterday low battery cut out kicked in on controller despite being on charge all night and showing full......turned it off and on again and was showing 12.2 which is low for 3 hours work but not low enough to cut out....couple of minutes later it played up again......went to battery shop and he checked it and was reading 12.8.......left it with him overnight to charge on their system and this morning when I put it on controller it read 13.4.........lasted about 2 hours before it started struggling again today tried it on spare controller and same problem......put it on charge and it's showing 80% charged.........any ideas?......going to try a different pump on it tonight to see if it's the pump.
Title: Re: System problem.
Post by: Don Kee on July 22, 2022, 02:27:00 pm
Batteries dead.

It’ll charge up no problem (hence the high voltage after you’ve benched it) but it wont hold the charge for very long.

12.2 is low when it’s not under load btw, switch your pump on and then check the voltage with the pump going and you’ll soon see why the controller was cutting it off.

Added - you could always check your connectors for a loose/dodgy connector that may have corroded over time which maybe causing the low voltage, but the symptoms you describe point to the battery being on its last legs.
Title: Re: System problem.
Post by: richard connett on July 22, 2022, 03:09:17 pm
Whenever I’ve had this problem 9 times out of ten it’s a connection . Usually on the crocodile clips on the battery terminal or however you connect to it . I use a bit of wire wool to get some fresh metal as well
Title: Re: System problem.
Post by: Smudger on July 22, 2022, 03:46:18 pm
Combo of heat and old battery

I had one this week that did this - it was over 3 years old - popped in a new one and all is good

the other very similar - it required a full weekend to recharge and is now fine ( this one was about 8 months old )

Darran
Title: Re: System problem.
Post by: JandS on July 22, 2022, 04:11:17 pm
It was showing 12.2 on the controller but when I took it in he tested it and was showing 12.8......he wants me to fully charge it tonight and bring it in in morning and he's going to do a full discharge I think is what he said over w/e to test it .
The battery is only 13 months old and used 3 days a week last one did 4 years.
Title: Re: System problem.
Post by: Smudger on July 22, 2022, 04:22:55 pm
some last better than others - ive got ones 5 years and still going - another 18 months totally had it

Darran
Title: Re: System problem.
Post by: Splash & dash on July 22, 2022, 04:38:28 pm
Battery is knackered , put a new one on and you will be fine   
Title: Re: System problem.
Post by: Jonny 87 on July 22, 2022, 07:13:34 pm
Honestly don’t think you need to mess about and waste your time testing it. Just get a new battery and then that Atleast eliminates that from the potential faults.

It’s most likely to be the battery.
Title: Re: System problem.
Post by: JandS on July 22, 2022, 08:33:59 pm
If I test it and it is the battery I'll get a good deal on a new one as I bought from them and it's 3 weeks out of warranty.....they have a good name round here and won't sell you a new one just for the ease of it and besides I am having Monday off and it is 10 minute drive.
Title: Re: System problem.
Post by: Blue Frog Systems on July 23, 2022, 09:22:31 am
For the cost of a battery it's not worth messing about with them. Out of warranty and they might knock you a tenner off a new one.

Change the battery and connectors and crack on making money rather than f***ing about
Title: Re: System problem.
Post by: jo5hm4n on July 23, 2022, 10:44:56 am
What is the make of the battery you got?

Im almost 95% sure that your battery is absolutely fried.  I've had lots of issues over the last few years with batteries and what you describe is almost identical.

FYI - i've had batteries last only 6-12 months when they should be lasting 3-5 years.
Title: Re: System problem.
Post by: dd on July 23, 2022, 11:13:30 am
The best way to make your battery last is to keep it well charged. If they lose too much charge this shortens their life.

If the battery supplier leaves a battery sitting on their shelf too long without charging it, this will have shortened it's life before you even get to use it.