i have read with interest the posts about batteries. i have a 10 y.o sprinter. last battery went for 13 months, new one 3. no problems before that, tho' i did a lot more travelling than i have done in the past 10 months.
have had it to 3 different places - the auto electrician said it must have dead cells. said he couldn't find anything else. charged it up and less than a week later it was dead again. 3 lots of advice followed with no good outcome. currently waiting for the battery rep. to visit (live in the country so could be a week or so to go) i know nothing about batteries (as long as they work, i'm happy). i wonder if it could possibly be a wiring fault. have solar panels and van has been moved from under cover to get the sunlight. nothing left turned on in the van. would there be anything else i need to check - make it a simple instruction please :):)
no, but i take it (did take it) on regular runs to keep the battery charged - usually about 100km + every 2-3 weeks if i wasn't travelling. again i had 3 different lots of advice about length of run and frequency
Hi Majorme
I assume your battery is an agm battery at least an 120 amp if you have had regular and or deep discharges you may have shortened the life of the battery therefore when it is fully charged you will find you will run out of power quickly.Some battery shops or auto places can check if this is the problem .With a 120 amp agm battery you can only use about 40% then its flat.Maybe you need two new batteries 2x120 amp to enable less discharge and use a ctek or dcdc charger to help keep them topped up.
Cheers
__________________
John
2017 dmax lovells upgrade full CSM trade aluminium canopy,3.5 m quintrex tinny and rear boat loader mangrove jack aluminium trailer
Hi Majorme I assume your battery is an agm battery at least an 120 amp if you have had regular and or deep discharges you may have shortened the life of the battery therefore when it is fully charged you will find you will run out of power quickly.Some battery shops or auto places can check if this is the problem .With a 120 amp agm battery you can only use about 40% then its flat.Maybe you need two new batteries 2x120 amp to enable less discharge and use a ctek or dcdc charger to help keep them topped up. Cheers
Hi Jennifer
I have an older Sprinter Now to your battery problems, are you talking about the vehicle starter battery failing or about a second 'house" battery. If a second house battery then could you tell us what is the type and size, or model number of the battery. Possibly printed on the side of it.
You said you have solar, so what size panel and what type and model of regulator is fitted. Any other thing you could tell us would help the brains trust to give good answers. A solar regulator will use some small power all the time and possibly other items like a radio. The only way to check is to put a meter on the battery system and accurately measure any current that is flowing when the vehicle is sitting with nothing turned on.
Re (or deep discharges you may have shortened the life of the battery therefore when it is fully charged you will find you will run out of power quickly) If you have the TV/Lights/Diesel Heater on for any length of time and the Battery Voltage goes below 12v for a length of time B4 charge as above re Deep Discharge this can shorten battery life.
Some Solar regulators can be set up for low voltage cut out eg say 12v, or a separate unit can be installed. When our lights went out in our Sprinter, when the water tap was used ( electric pump) I knew our 5 year old house battery was close to being retired.
The Low voltage cut out, will notify you of the problem and a battery charge will save your battery B4 deterioration.
-- Edited by PeterInSa on Tuesday 18th of August 2020 09:42:26 AM
hello.
the battery bloke is supposed to be coming this week (hopefully) and i have written down all the info you have given me so i can ask him to check out your advice.
will definitely get a battery meter so i can monitor it myself.
not being techy minded, i've just driven the van and hoped for the best -and had plenty of long trips without hassles. and it always gets regular garage maintenance. the main problem is a 13 month old battery kept going flat, bought a new one and that kept going flat after 3 months. and no-one could tell me why. previous batteries lasted their lifetime.
the problem is the vehicle starter battery. solar battery is ok. had been advised to leave the van in the sun when not in use. was under cover til then.
so, thankyou for your help. will let you know what transpires.
Store it under cover . With 240v smart Charger fitted . Or outside solar panel connected via battery regulator., what size is cables between starter batteries and house batteries? Is there a VSR , voltage sensitive relay between the two batteries ? Is there an isolator switch to disconnect battery ?
forgot to mention that when anything doesn't work i immediately assume it's mice in the wiring...........???
Hmm Jennifer
Possibly pesky mice are nibbling the wires and gorging themselves on electrons. Been know to happen !
However what ever the cause it needs a person with excellent electrical skills to take a hard look at the vehicle system, test it, and the wiring to determine if there is a device or short that is causing the starter battery to be discharged all the time or possibly sometimes. Not rocket science but sometimes beyond the average auto electrician in my experience. I could offer some advice but it is hard to replace proper trade course training with just a paragraph on a forum.
So my advice is to find a more competent person to look at it. Possibly a multi talented pest exterminator !
Jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Thursday 20th of August 2020 08:50:35 AM
thanks for the further replies.
i must say i have had my doubts about the auto electrician who charged the battery and said nothing was wrong..bloke had been recommended by a mechanic, however.
the bill seemed a bit small for what i imagined would be a thorough check over which i had requested.
have had another auto electrician recommended but, alas, still waiting for the battery rep. before i do anything. last 2 batteries under warranty so hopefully i get a new one if the present one is dodgy.
i've checked all things electrical in the van. didn't find any mice:) not to say they weren't holed up somewhere.
Some years ago I helped a friend find a reason for his battery not holding a charge, it turned out to be a bad diode in the alternator circuit. But if a sparkie has checked out your vehicle, this to me should have been checked.
Now to your battery problems, are you talking about the vehicle starter battery failing or about a second 'house" battery. If a second house battery then could you tell us what is the type and size, or model number of the battery. Possibly printed on the side of it. 
Been know to happen !
Possibly a multi talented pest exterminator !
