[dannymack]

Soz Spruce all what your saying as gone straight over me head lol !!! That's to much involves for me m8, this is my second 110AH Leisure battery I've had in 10 years I don't do nothing with them as it runs off van batter via split charger. I do lots of mileage so that's why it's kept fully charged. I know it has X2 fuses one in van battery and one on Leisure battery. As long as it works ok that'll do me lol !!!!

Thanks for all info 😇😮😏👍

[dannymack]

Just seen your post H20 pmsl yeah like bread without butter pmsl !!!! 👍🇬🇧🇬🇧👳

[Spruce]

Soz Spruce all what your saying as gone straight over me head lol !!! That's to much involves for me m8, this is my second 110AH Leisure battery I've had in 10 years I don't do nothing with them as it runs off van batter via split charger. I do lots of mileage so that's why it's kept fully charged. I know it has X2 fuses one in van battery and one on Leisure battery. As long as it works ok that'll do me lol !!!!

Thanks for all info

If you do the mileage like you do then your alternator will keep your leisure battery pretty well charged up.

If you are like me and do 20 to 30 minutes driving a day maximum then you have to supplementary charge your battery.

The Numax battery boys said that batteries used by window cleaners don't last very long at all and they won't guarantee them in our environment. Having 2 only 110 amp batteries in this length of time means you are doing something right - your van is keeping them in good condition due to the mileage you drive.

[dannymack]

That sounds about spot on Spruce, I'm lucky in that way but not so lucky in the ammount of fuel costs pmsl !!!! 👍👳👳👳

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

I use a charger on my battery every night and also have a SCR, I don't really do enough milage to fully charge the better with a SCR.  Also letting the battery get down to low levels of charge will damage it. I've put a switch on the SCR so I can just let the alternator charge the van battery on it's own and leave the system battery out of it if need be, this is good for the van battery and alternator.

Simon.

[dannymack]

That's a good idea Simon putting a switch on the SCR to save the life of the battery 👍

[DaveG]

I got fed up with charging the battery every night so I thought I would install a split charger..I  also put in a voltmeter to see what the system battery is holding. After driving 5 miles or so, the meter is showing 13.2 volts.

After working for, say an hour the voltage is dropping to 12.5v. A short drive to next job and the voltage is back up to 13!

Is this right? I could do a really short drive (less than a mile) and it makes .5v difference? I don't travel a lot of miles to and from work (not like Mr Mack!).

Just as a test, I put the battery on charge last night and the voltmeter is reading 13.2. Does this mean the battery has had it or is on its way out?

Oh, another test I did was put the voltmeter in the cigarette lighter socket while the engine was running and it showed 14.4v....

At what voltage would the pump stop working?

Sorry for the hijack Danny!

[dannymack]

No probs Dave, I don't no no difference as I've always had my leisure battery fitted to the van battery. I would hate to keep taking it out to charge would be a chore for
Me that is 👳

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

I got fed up with charging the battery every night so I thought I would install a split charger..I  also put in a voltmeter to see what the system battery is holding. After driving 5 miles or so, the meter is showing 13.2 volts.

After working for, say an hour the voltage is dropping to 12.5v. A short drive to next job and the voltage is back up to 13!

Is this right? I could do a really short drive (less than a mile) and it makes .5v difference? I don't travel a lot of miles to and from work (not like Mr Mack!).

Just as a test, I put the battery on charge last night and the voltmeter is reading 13.2. Does this mean the battery has had it or is on its way out?

Oh, another test I did was put the voltmeter in the cigarette lighter socket while the engine was running and it showed 14.4v....

At what voltage would the pump stop working?

Sorry for the hijack Danny!

After charging you need to leave a battery to rest for about 20 mins to get an accurate reading of the charge it holds. A short drive won't recharge the battery fully it's just displaying a higher voltage due to having 14volts at high ampage being dropped across the terminals minutes before. If you parked up had lunch and then checked it would probably be something like 12.6.

Simon.

[David Kent @ KentKleen]

Let you all into a secret!
Standard fittment van and car alternators are not good battery chargers. In fact, they are bad battery chargers. To charge batteries quickly and fully requires a more sophisticated device than that of a standard alternator regulator.

Also if using a split charge relay, make sure it is a zero volt drop relay.

[Spruce]

I got fed up with charging the battery every night so I thought I would install a split charger..I  also put in a voltmeter to see what the system battery is holding. After driving 5 miles or so, the meter is showing 13.2 volts.

After working for, say an hour the voltage is dropping to 12.5v. A short drive to next job and the voltage is back up to 13!

THE VOLTAGE ACROSS THE BATTERY TAKES A WHILE TO STABILISE (4 HOURS). YOU WILL FIND THAT OVER TIME THE GAUGE WILL DROP BACK. IF YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR AN HOUR YOU WILL ALSO FIND THE THE BATTERY WILL RECOVER IF LEFT TO SETTLE. yOU CAN ONLY TEST THE VOLTAGE AND GET AN ACCURATE STATE OF CHARGE ONCE THE BATTERY HAS RESTED FOR 4 HOURS,

Is this right? I could do a really short drive (less than a mile) and it makes .5v difference? I don't travel a lot of miles to and from work (not like Mr Mack!).

Just as a test, I put the battery on charge last night and the voltmeter is reading 13.2. Does this mean the battery has had it or is on its way out?

IF YOU LEFT THE BATTERY ON CHARGE ALL NIGHT AND THEN LET IT STABILISE FOR THIS 4 HOUR PERIOD, THEN YOU WOULD PROBABLY SEE A VOLTAGE ACROSS THE BATTERY OF 12.8 OR 12.9 VOLTS WHICH IS FULLY CHARGED.

Oh, another test I did was put the voltmeter in the cigarette lighter socket while the engine was running and it showed 14.4v...

AS YOUR VOLTMETER SEES THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AT 14.4 VOLTS WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, YOUR VOLT METER IS ACCURATE.



At what voltage would the pump stop working?

STOP WORKING OR BURN OUT? MOST EQUIPMENT HAS AN OVER VOLTAGE BUILT IN. ANY MANUFACTURER WILL BE AWARE THAT A VEHICLE'S ALTERNATOR WILL CHARGE AT 14.4 VOLTS AND SO WILL DESIGN THEIR 12V PRODUCT TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS. (AN ALTERNATOR PUTTING OUT 12V WON'T CHARGE A BATTERY).

Sorry for the hijack Danny!

Hi Dave,

Answers in block capitals as I can't get the letters of the answer to come up in a different colour like I could before.

[dazmond]

I run an extension lead out to my van via letter box from my flat after filling up.takes 2mins.then disconnect in the morning.

[CLEANCARE WC]

I bench charge my leisure battery with intelligent charger once a week at weekends.

[David Kent @ KentKleen]

http://www.seapost.co.uk/sterling-ab1280-special-price---digital-ab-1280-alternator-to-battery-charge-booster-416-p.asp

[DaveG]

I got fed up with charging the battery every night so I thought I would install a split charger..I  also put in a voltmeter to see what the system battery is holding. After driving 5 miles or so, the meter is showing 13.2 volts.

After working for, say an hour the voltage is dropping to 12.5v. A short drive to next job and the voltage is back up to 13!

THE VOLTAGE ACROSS THE BATTERY TAKES A WHILE TO STABILISE (4 HOURS). YOU WILL FIND THAT OVER TIME THE GAUGE WILL DROP BACK. IF YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR AN HOUR YOU WILL ALSO FIND THE THE BATTERY WILL RECOVER IF LEFT TO SETTLE. yOU CAN ONLY TEST THE VOLTAGE AND GET AN ACCURATE STATE OF CHARGE ONCE THE BATTERY HAS RESTED FOR 4 HOURS,

Is this right? I could do a really short drive (less than a mile) and it makes .5v difference? I don't travel a lot of miles to and from work (not like Mr Mack!).

Just as a test, I put the battery on charge last night and the voltmeter is reading 13.2. Does this mean the battery has had it or is on its way out?

IF YOU LEFT THE BATTERY ON CHARGE ALL NIGHT AND THEN LET IT STABILISE FOR THIS 4 HOUR PERIOD, THEN YOU WOULD PROBABLY SEE A VOLTAGE ACROSS THE BATTERY OF 12.8 OR 12.9 VOLTS WHICH IS FULLY CHARGED.

Oh, another test I did was put the voltmeter in the cigarette lighter socket while the engine was running and it showed 14.4v...

AS YOUR VOLTMETER SEES THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AT 14.4 VOLTS WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, YOUR VOLT METER IS ACCURATE.



At what voltage would the pump stop working?

STOP WORKING OR BURN OUT? MOST EQUIPMENT HAS AN OVER VOLTAGE BUILT IN. ANY MANUFACTURER WILL BE AWARE THAT A VEHICLE'S ALTERNATOR WILL CHARGE AT 14.4 VOLTS AND SO WILL DESIGN THEIR 12V PRODUCT TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS. (AN ALTERNATOR PUTTING OUT 12V WON'T CHARGE A BATTERY).

Sorry for the hijack Danny!

Hi Dave,

Answers in block capitals as I can't get the letters of the answer to come up in a different colour like I could before.

Thanks very much Spruce, informative as ever!

What I meant by"at what voltage does the pump stop working" is for instance, if the voltmeter was reading say 11.5 volts would the pump still work? (If that makes any sense!!)

[David Kent @ KentKleen]

Yes it would, it would work slower as your battery volts drop, like a torch when the batteries are going unless your using an electronic pump controller, most of these now cut your pump off when your battery voltage drops below a certain point.
Hope this helps

[Spruce]

Yes it would, it would work slower as your battery volts drop, like a torch when the batteries are going unless your using an electronic pump controller, most of these now cut your pump off when your battery voltage drops below a certain point.
Hope this helps

Hi Dave
excellent example of the torch - must remember than one as it is easy to relate to.

Lets talk about those sterling chargers for £270.00 plus. As an auto electrician, how does that speed up charging a leisure battery? A leisure battery will only accept a low charging rate. My leisure battery is sealed so can't be topped up with water. Too fast a charging will create gas which will escape but there is no way to replace the water, hence the reason for trickle charging it.

Charging a leisure battery doesn't seem to have anything to do with how big the charger is, but rather at what rate of charge the battery will accept.

The reason for asking is that we have had some communication with Grippa who did tell us that fitting their 100 amp relays solved all their customers flat battery problems - except for one who lived next door to his customers and did no mileage.

I got intouch with their suppliers and was told that their 100 amp relay will not work any faster than my 30 amp relay and that it has no sophisticated electronics on board to facilitate faster charging.

[Cliff perkins]

i have a split relay but i charge my van every day at home because i have run out of juice before and don't wanna do it again so i charge it for a few hours every evening

[Spruce]

I got fed up with charging the battery every night so I thought I would install a split charger..I  also put in a voltmeter to see what the system battery is holding. After driving 5 miles or so, the meter is showing 13.2 volts.

After working for, say an hour the voltage is dropping to 12.5v. A short drive to next job and the voltage is back up to 13!

THE VOLTAGE ACROSS THE BATTERY TAKES A WHILE TO STABILISE (4 HOURS). YOU WILL FIND THAT OVER TIME THE GAUGE WILL DROP BACK. IF YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR AN HOUR YOU WILL ALSO FIND THE THE BATTERY WILL RECOVER IF LEFT TO SETTLE. yOU CAN ONLY TEST THE VOLTAGE AND GET AN ACCURATE STATE OF CHARGE ONCE THE BATTERY HAS RESTED FOR 4 HOURS,

Is this right? I could do a really short drive (less than a mile) and it makes .5v difference? I don't travel a lot of miles to and from work (not like Mr Mack!).

Just as a test, I put the battery on charge last night and the voltmeter is reading 13.2. Does this mean the battery has had it or is on its way out?

IF YOU LEFT THE BATTERY ON CHARGE ALL NIGHT AND THEN LET IT STABILISE FOR THIS 4 HOUR PERIOD, THEN YOU WOULD PROBABLY SEE A VOLTAGE ACROSS THE BATTERY OF 12.8 OR 12.9 VOLTS WHICH IS FULLY CHARGED.

Oh, another test I did was put the voltmeter in the cigarette lighter socket while the engine was running and it showed 14.4v...

AS YOUR VOLTMETER SEES THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AT 14.4 VOLTS WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, YOUR VOLT METER IS ACCURATE.



At what voltage would the pump stop working?

STOP WORKING OR BURN OUT? MOST EQUIPMENT HAS AN OVER VOLTAGE BUILT IN. ANY MANUFACTURER WILL BE AWARE THAT A VEHICLE'S ALTERNATOR WILL CHARGE AT 14.4 VOLTS AND SO WILL DESIGN THEIR 12V PRODUCT TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS. (AN ALTERNATOR PUTTING OUT 12V WON'T CHARGE A BATTERY).

Sorry for the hijack Danny!

Hi Dave,

Answers in block capitals as I can't get the letters of the answer to come up in a different colour like I could before.

Thanks very much Spruce, informative as ever!

What I meant by"at what voltage does the pump stop working" is for instance, if the voltmeter was reading say 11.5 volts would the pump still work? (If that makes any sense!!)

As per Dave's answer from Kentkleen.

Our Varistreams cut the power supply at 10.3vdc to help save the battery.

[Spruce]

i have a split relay but i charge my van every day at home because i have run out of juice before and don't wanna do it again so i charge it for a few hours every evening

I do mine every couple of days.