[Tom White]

I've two pumps and two flow controllers running from one outlet in the tank and one large 115 APH battery.

I use two different flow controllers, but this problem only affects my pump with my Digital Varistream controller.

What happens is, it keeps flashing "L" for Low Battery and then to "U" for Undercharge and turning off.

But the battery was pretty well charged (I'm fairly sure; though I've got it on charge overnight to have another go in the morning).

And also, it seems to happen more frequently when we're both working with high flow rates, but when we drop the flow rates on both pumps, it doesn't happen as much.

It's got to be something to do with the draw it's pulling from the battery; I think.

Any ideas?

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

You have 2 reels with 100m of 6mm hose Tosh?

That will sap some amps from the battery, especially as you higher the flow. You would get the same flow but at a lower speed setting from 8mm hose.

It does sound like a power issue with it "curing" if you set the speed lower.

[gto]

Are they wired seperatly to the battery, with good wire and right sized fuses.
It could be low current through the wiring.

[Tom White]

Yeh, they're wired separately to the battery, with the wire that came with the flow controllers, and joined at the crocodile clip.

I think another battery would cure the problem then.

I'll find out tomorrow,'cos the battery will be freshly charged.  Thinking about it, it's fine in the morning when it's freshly charged, and then starts playing up later in the day; so it's got to be something with the draw of power; but according to the same flow controller, the battery power level was still pretty good.

Thanks guys.

[AuRavelling79]

Don't buy a new battery Tosh - go to a garage and say you want a "chuck out" battery that's come off something meaty and not too old.

I got a nice 135 amp 3 year old jobbie off a Volvo for ten quid last month.

You gotta a pay a tenner tho' cuz they can get £5/6 off a scrap dealer.

[alanwilson]

check the wiring is good - no discoloured wire.

now is the battery a leisure battery?  Batteries are designed to discharge differently to one another so you need a battery that will discharge a minimum of 20A - the rating is on the battery, the 115Ah bit is the total ampage it holds (think volume) but the discharge ampage will be less, so sometimes it is expressed as 5h/110Ah which effectively means 22A discharge.

[Tom White]

Hi alan, yes, the battery is a leisure battery.  I'll have a look tomorrow if it states the discharge ampage on it.  I'll check out the wiring too.

Gold, cheers; as a last resort I'll do that.

[alanwilson]

by the sounds of it the battery should have no problem giving you the required power, a split charge relay will obviously help things too if you haven't fitted one already

[Simon@ Clearview contractors]

What is happening IMHO is the battery is struggling to run 2 devices at the same time(it's only 12V)

Ive seen this happen many times when connecting the transfer pump to the terminals on 1 of the trolleys when it's running, it slows the trolley's pump down like nobody's business

Get another battery, problem sorted...

Simon

[LWC]

I had 2 controllers a few years ago, one a purefreedom dial control and the other a digital varistream, the digital varistream was always the side to play up first ie flashing saying battery is low etc.

Apparently the digital varistream has a higher setting for when the battery is low which is frustrating as it stops working when the other one still carried on!

Obviously the higher the flow rate the more amps it pull from battery so thats why its happening there. As you say youve got it on charge and see how it goes today, its should power those 2 all day long really so maybe it is the battery. It shouldnt struggle to run 2 at all. If in doubt pop to halfords and ask them to test it for you, its free. I had a tiny battery on my trolley and that lasted a few days so a leisure battery will have no issues powering 2 pumps.

[Frankybadboy]

What is happening IMHO is the battery is struggling to run 2 devices at the same time(it's only 12V)

Ive seen this happen many times when connecting the transfer pump to the terminals on 1 of the trolleys when it's running, it slows the trolley's pump down like nobody's business

Get another battery, problem sorted...

Simon

rubbish :

we been running two pumps from 1 battery for a few years and no problem,for 6/8hrs aday 5days a week.

[Spruce]

Hi Tosh
Crocodile battery clamps gave me no end of problems. Once they were replaced with proper battery terminals the problem was solved. This was in the early days when the digital Varistream was the future.
Spruce

[STEVE-UK]

Interesting topic....

Ive got a few digital varistreams that have been running fine for years, i recently ordered a new varistream with the battery voltage indicator and had the same problems mentioned, this wired wired up to the vans battery which is a brand new trafic so the battery should be fine,

When i had these problems i phoned williamson pumps as i bought from them direct and was told faulty wiring or low battery would be the cause, i then had over sized wiring fitted to the brand new battery but problem remained,  i have since sold it and am looking at an alternative
 

[david thomas]

I had no problem with the old varistreams but since buying the new varistreams when I turn the controler up to 3 low battery blinks I have a battery for each pump & controller. bought two new gardiner controlers for my other van and these work fine

[Simon@ Clearview contractors]

What is happening IMHO is the battery is struggling to run 2 devices at the same time(it's only 12V)

Ive seen this happen many times when connecting the transfer pump to the terminals on 1 of the trolleys when it's running, it slows the trolley's pump down like nobody's business

Get another battery, problem sorted...

Simon

rubbish :

we been running two pumps from 1 battery for a few years and no problem,for 6/8hrs aday 5days a week.

I was talking about a TRANSFER pump that affected the flow on the trolley, I've not run 2 shurflo pumps off one battery so wouldn't know how they ran.

[mikecam]

Your battery needs charging. I've found even with a split relay charger when running two pumps they need to be charged up every other day.

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

It seems to be becoming apparent that the newest version of the digital varistream isn't as good or as reliable as the first digital version. My mate has a newer one & it's no where near as responsive as mine (which is the older version).

[Frankybadboy]

Your battery needs charging. I've found even with a split relay charger when running two pumps they need to be charged up every other day.

i charge my battery once a week if lucky,and it on a spilt relay,which some days we only do 5miles.

[alanwilson]

haven't charged a battery for a couple of years - do 300 miles a week each van

[Spruce]

It seems to be becoming apparent that the newest version of the digital varistream isn't as good or as reliable as the first digital version. My mate has a newer one & it's no where near as responsive as mine (which is the older version).

Yeh, I have got the same feeling.
Spruce