[mgba_78]

Got a bit of a problem in one of the vans and cant work out why??!

So if its used as a one man system all day there is no problems and all runs tickedy boo!  Doesnt matter which controller and reel is used it works all day without stopping.

If there are two of us working from the van and both controllers are being used pump 2 cuts out, and upon checking the voltage on the controller is just below the 10.4 cut off or what ever it is so no water, but leave it 30 sec and it wil work again for a bit before happening again, its normally pump 2 this happens to but can happen on pump 1. The van always starts fine no probs.  We are currently running just one battery and have been for over a year with no probs until a couple of months a go. Battery is less than a year old.

Any ideas???

[Spruce]

Are you running both pumps off your van battery?

[mgba_78]

Are you running both pumps off your van battery?

Yeah both are going to the van battery, did originally have a leisure battery in line as well but now do not, all running of van battery

[bobplum]

we have two batteries charged by a split relay, this solved our problem

[Bungle]

Are you running both pumps off your van battery?

Yeah both are going to the van battery, did originally have a leisure battery in line as well but now do not, all running of van battery

Why would you expect to run a van and 2 pumps all day off 1 van battery? Sounds a bit mad to me.

[mgba_78]

Why would you expect to run a van and 2 pumps all day off 1 van battery? Sounds a bit mad to me.

Cheers, obviously i am mad then 

[Spruce]

When the pumps start to 'fail', I would start the van engine (I'm surprised you can TBH) and if the pumps then run perfectly then its a low battery voltage issue that is causing the pump 'problems'.

There could also be a poor electrical connection somewhere that is creating an increased resistance, which will become more evident on low battery voltage.

The battery in my Citroen Relay van is rated at 65 amph ( I know as I've just replaced it). When both pumps on the van are running they are using around 7.5 amps an hour. If those pumps are running for 4 hours a day we will use about 30 amps from the battery. This means that theoretically my van battery would be 1/2 charged at the end of the day. Using the same example a single operator will use 15 amps so the battery would be 3/4 charged.

The recharging absorption rate of a flat battery is complex - initially it is high but as the battery becomes more fully charged the absorption rate decreases. (So it takes a long time to get the battery really fully charged.) So whilst traveling time between jobs will have a bearing on this, the reality is that your van battery will never be fully charged when you start your first job.

Westabo make a range of diesel block heaters which can be used to warm a cold engine up to virtually normal operating temperature before starting the engine. It draws between 12 and 14 amps for a short period of time to fire up and then will settle down to drawing about 2.5 amps. Webasto say that to ensure the battery is always in peak winter condition, the driver must ensure the car journey is the same as the length of time the Webasto has been working. So if its run for 20 minutes first thing then the car journey must be at least 20 minutes. If you apply that same principal to your pumps which are drawing much more current, it means you are going to be driving for a heck of a long way.

When a battery works the voltage drops. When the battery stops working and rests, the voltage slowly stabilizes and  increases. This is what you are experiencing. This is similar to a torch battery. As the battery goes flat the light gets dim. Switch the torch off for a while. When you switch the torch back on the light will be bright for a moment before it goes dim again.

  

[Ian Sheppard]

When the pumps start to 'fail', I would start the van engine (I'm surprised you can TBH) and if the pumps then run perfectly then its a low battery voltage issue that is causing the pump 'problems'.

There could also be a poor electrical connection somewhere that is creating an increased resistance, which will become more evident on low battery voltage.

The battery in my Citroen Relay van is rated at 65 amph ( I know as I've just replaced it). When both pumps on the van are running they are using around 7.5 amps an hour. If those pumps are running for 4 hours a day we will use about 30 amps from the battery. This means that theoretically my van battery would be 1/2 charged at the end of the day. Using the same example a single operator will use 15 amps so the battery would be 3/4 charged.

The recharging absorption rate of a flat battery is complex - initially it is high but as the battery becomes more fully charged the absorption rate decreases. (So it takes a long time to get the battery really fully charged.) So whilst traveling time between jobs will have a bearing on this, the reality is that your van battery will never be fully charged when you start your first job.

Westabo make a range of diesel block heaters which can be used to warm a cold engine up to virtually normal operating temperature before starting the engine. It draws between 12 and 14 amps for a short period of time to fire up and then will settle down to drawing about 2.5 amps. Webasto say that to ensure the battery is always in peak winter condition, the driver must ensure the car journey is the same as the length of time the Webasto has been working. So if its run for 20 minutes first thing then the car journey must be at least 20 minutes. If you apply that same principal to your pumps which are drawing much more current, it means you are going to be driving for a heck of a long way.

When a battery works the voltage drops. When the battery stops working and rests, the voltage slowly stabilizes and  increases. This is what you are experiencing. This is similar to a torch battery. As the battery goes flat the light gets dim. Switch the torch off for a while. When you switch the torch back on the light will be bright for a moment before it goes dim again.

  

I would agree with Spruce here. The discharge and recharge characteristics of a leisure battery and vehicle battery are totally different. A vehicle battery is not suited to WFP and long draw periods associated with a pump running for several hours.

The following may help. If you scroll down there are some further links

[mac74]

Check your wiring is ok on pump 2, as u may have broken/pinched it somewhere, (i had this the other day) controller 1 keep flashing to batt?  Your van batt is made to give a full whack of amps in 1 go to start it, not to slow drain off other stuff mate, although this may work 4 a while? You would be best getting  2x 110amp leisure batts (£70ish) for powering your two pumps 2 two reels, charge them with a ctek 5amp charger (£60ish) and rotate daily, (a pain) but they will last. A split charge relay on leisure batts is only a good addition if you are mainly driving 4 long periods of time between jobs or after work, but for me although i have one, their not ideal normal charging option. Good luck m