[vivaro 013]

does anybody have any ideas how i can check out if my  battery charger is charger my battery , i have my suspicion mine inst working correctly,
any help would be appreciated   

[jeff1]

If you don't have a multi-meter, you can give it a basic test with a 12v bulb, maybe from your car/van?

[vivaro 013]

yes i  do have a multimeter,  tried  checking it today when charging  battery , when not  connected to charging it showed 13 .5 volts on multimeter 
how can i tell if charging  is putting any charge in battery jeff

[AuRavelling79]

Sounds ok to me - how old is your battery?

[vivaro 013]

about 2  year old

[jeff1]

yes i  do have a multimeter,  tried  checking it today when charging  battery , when not  connected to charging it showed 13 .5 volts on multimeter 
how can i tell if charging  is putting any charge in battery jeff

The out-put voltage seem's ok.
You need to do an amp test on it, connect your meter (set to amps) between the crocodile clip possitive and the battery, before switching the charger on turn your meter to the highest amps it has, then simply work down the scale until you have a good reading.

The reading should be within the range Amp out-put of your charger.

Just incase you are unsure on how to connect your meter to the battery for an amp test, this is how to do it.

Red lead of meter to possitive of battery
Black lead of meter to red possitive crocodile clip of charger.

[vivaro 013]

jeff thanks for help
tried out a new battery 115 amps fully charge today , lasted all day, as were my other battery would be  showing signs of going flat after 3 hours or so
when i connected battery charger intelligent  type from halfords to old battery, charger light would come on for 1 minutes or so then light would change fully charge maintaining battery light would come on

do battery still bubble up when fully charge

what life span on these leisure battery

what can i do to maintain the life of new battery

[Wrekin C S]

How often do you guys charge your leisure batteries? Every night -  every other?

Thanks.

[Sir Squeaky]

Don't know, but there's a charger I fancy in Halfords that will do it.

It can charge at different speeds.
Gives a readout of charging, levels, voltage...etc.
It even rejuvinates old batteries that have dropped too low.

I've had £50 I'd get one, as my battery only lasts about 4 or 5 hours, and I think it's due to poor charging.

Here it is, read the features.
www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_532907_langId_-1_categoryId_31335

I'm impressed anyway.

[vivaro 013]

sounds good
i have returned battery charging  back to halfords and exchange it for the same type, chap behind counter said he had a few returned with faults , if i was a expert with electric i could check out battery charging was charge battery 
only option i had was to try out a new battery

[CLEANGLASSUK]

very easy way to check, get a headlamp bulb put a wire on each pin connect to the battery you are charging, the bulb will probably be dim, when you start the engine if the bulb goes bright it's charging fine if not it's knackered.

[Wrekin C S]

Don't know, but there's a charger I fancy in Halfords that will do it.

It can charge at different speeds.
Gives a readout of charging, levels, voltage...etc.
It even rejuvinates old batteries that have dropped too low.

I've had £50 I'd get one, as my battery only lasts about 4 or 5 hours, and I think it's due to poor charging.

Here it is, read the features.
www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_532907_langId_-1_categoryId_31335

I'm impressed anyway.

Looks like a gooden that one would be handy to know if it really needs charging or not.

[vivaro 013]

i no battery does get charge  when van is started up as pump run at full speed
is battery holding charge or is battery allowing battery charging to work correctly

[jeff1]

jeff thanks for help
tried out a new battery 115 amps fully charge today , lasted all day, as were my other battery would be  showing signs of going flat after 3 hours or so
when i connected battery charger intelligent  type from halfords to old battery, charger light would come on for 1 minutes or so then light would change fully charge maintaining battery light would come on

do battery still bubble up when fully charge

what life span on these leisure battery

what can i do to maintain the life of new battery

The intelligent  type charger from Halfords is the one I have, if your battery is in a reasonable state of charge then the charge light will quickly go out and the little orange maintenance light will flicker, this is telling you its topping your battery up and keeping it topped up.

Batteries should not bubble, this will overheat the cells and buckle them, causing a low life span of the battery.
A leisure battery will last you many years if you keep it fully and regularly charged, my own battery is now over 8 yes 8 years old and its still being used every day and recharged every night

[vivaro 013]

jeff
after a hard day were i no battery is low on charge , i taken battery of connected it to charging
amble light come on 1 minute or so
green light come, on maintaining charge
cannot charge a low battery that quick

[jeff1]

jeff
after a hard day were i no battery is low on charge , i taken battery of connected it to charging
amble light come on 1 minute or so
green light come, on maintaining charge
cannot charge a low battery that quick

Some days when I know I have hammered my own battery, I get the same light show as yours, I know the battery is ok, next day when I take it off charge to use it, I have no problems with it.

If you check you will see the little amber light flickering, it means the voltage in your battery is fine and the current your battery is drawing is very little, in fact just enough to keep your battery charging in maintenence mode.

Does your battery function ok the next day?

[vivaro 013]

yes it functions ok for a couple of hours or so , just to get through day i keep starting van to keep charging battery
with new battery  fitted today, din,t have to start van up , pump pressure din,t drop, all look ok
all i can think old battery not holding charge 

[jeff1]

If you need to keep starting your van to top up then it sounds to me its on its way out, one sure way is to charge it over a full week-end and then try it, if it still needs a boost from your van then I should bin it.

[Sir Squeaky]

Don't know, but there's a charger I fancy in Halfords that will do it.

It can charge at different speeds.
Gives a readout of charging, levels, voltage...etc.
It even rejuvinates old batteries that have dropped too low.

I've had £50 I'd get one, as my battery only lasts about 4 or 5 hours, and I think it's due to poor charging.

Here it is, read the features.
www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_532907_langId_-1_categoryId_31335

I'm impressed anyway.

I bought the above charger last night, as my battery's barely lasting a day now.
It still went flat before the end of today after showing 100% charged last night.

I think what's happened is where it's run down flat so much it's damaged it, and reduced it's capacity, so it is fully charged, but technically a tiny battery now.

Still, on the weekend I'll do the slow 2amp 30+ hour rejuvinating function, and see what happens.
Fingers crossed...

Doesn't it make a noise though?
There's like a constant fan on.
That'll be my electric bill going up.

Oh yeah, just to compound things...I trod on my SL2 today and  snapped it.
Can't afford to replace it either.
Need it for tomorrow too...

Sorry for the long story.
Had to get it off my chest.

[lovewindows]

jeff
after a hard day were i no battery is low on charge , i taken battery of connected it to charging
amble light come on 1 minute or so
green light come, on maintaining charge
cannot charge a low battery that quick

Got same van got same problem, 3 hrs work got to run van for 15 mins to carry on, took batts out put on charge after a couple of mins says fully charged