I regularly keep the van battery charged when not in use.
went into the van turned the lights on, nothing, checked the battery meter, flat so hooked it up to power, screen showed just 4,8 volts, left for 24 hours, came back same numbers still flat.
Checked all fuses appeared ok.
removed battery currently being looked at by a pro,
if its NOT the battery what could it be?
and who does the fixing? a auto electrician? or van shop? or???
Does not surprise me. From new we struggled with the system. Had a 100ah batt. At about 3.5 years I bought a new 120ah battery. Been great since. The new batt was a lot heavier than the old. So I'm guessing it was the cheapest 100ah batt they could get. Probably not even deep cycle. I've heard and seen a few similar stories.
Is it a well known brand? If so you might have a bit of warranty on it.
Be careful who you take it to. The van industry is unregulated. Try and fine a specialist or with a good reputation
-- Edited by oldbloke on Friday 11th of February 2022 01:05:32 PM
Welcome to GN's Paul, at 18mths it is most likely battery, probably manufactured a couple of years prior to you buying it and been sitting on Manufacturer's shelf.
A good Auto Electrician would be my choice of diagnostic technician/repairer - Most Manufacturers do not employ Electrical tradespeople, just assemblers.
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hi
U need an old school battery charger that has no or low volts 2.oov to start charging . The later multi process chargers need at least approx 8-10v to start charging .
How many batteries and Ah capacity????
Secondly u need to
list your chargers
solar wattage
Pwm or Mppt
240 volt charger
do u have a dc2 dc charger
Your electrical loads eg ????
leds
radio
engel fridge
water pump
Do u have a 3 way fridge ,how is it wired ???
U NEED A LVD low volt disconnect trigger point of 11.5 ---12.oo volts Narva make a 30anp unit set to cut out at 12.oov
hi U need an old school battery charger that has no or low volts 2.oov to start charging . The later multi process chargers need at least approx 8-10v to start charging . How many batteries and Ah capacity????
Secondly u need to list your chargers solar wattage Pwm or Mppt 240 volt charger do u have a dc2 dc charger
Your electrical loads eg ???? leds radio engel fridge water pump
Do u have a 3 way fridge ,how is it wired ???
U NEED A LVD low volt disconnect trigger point of 11.5 ---12.oo volts Narva make a 30anp unit set to cut out at 12.oov
sorry that just went over my head
its a 3 way fridge , wired no clue, led lights throughout, water pump for shower sinks, just one battery a told its a big [ power etc] one, has a BMPRO battery plus system installed if any of this helps?
hi
You have to be familiar with the systems enough to make decisions even if u do not do the work . Armed with the good info u can instruct auto electrician to wire in the correct parts . Also being familiar with system allows the internet to help .
Does your van have a 'power switch' that you turn on and off? I had the same issue and it was due to leaving that switch on [and maybe a light?] The battery went too flat for the charger in the van to recharge it. I went to battery world and they charged it on their equipment, tested it and said it was still ok [unfortunately I wanted to go somewhere so paid for a new battery so I could go]. I'm now really careful not to leave that switch on.
U need an old school battery charger that has no or low volts 2.oov to start charging . The later multi process chargers need at least approx 8-10v to start charging.
I will go along with that one. Monitor your battery voltage before and after you switch the charger on. If you do not see an increase in the battery voltage it probably means that the charger did not start because there was insufficient voltage at the chargers output terminals. If you let us know the make and model of the charger, someone could advise if our theory is correct..
-- Edited by PeterD on Friday 11th of February 2022 03:41:22 PM
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
It would be helpful if you would state the model name and year of the new build. Others with the same van would then be in a position to give advice. Do you have a main 12v power switch? Was it turned off? Do you have items that are wired directly across the battery which are not powered through that switch? e.g gas detctors, diesel heater, a shunt battery monitor etc ? Name them all. Do you have solar panels? A solar controller? Name and model?
-- Edited by BaldEd on Friday 11th of February 2022 03:56:34 PM
Does your van have a 'power switch' that you turn on and off? I had the same issue and it was due to leaving that switch on [and maybe a light?] The battery went too flat for the charger in the van to recharge it. I went to battery world and they charged it on their equipment, tested it and said it was still ok [unfortunately I wanted to go somewhere so paid for a new battery so I could go]. I'm now really careful not to leave that switch on.
Not sure of this switch you speak of, it may well have, and sounds like it could be the culprit and it make sense if it went too flat.
It would be helpful if you would state the model name and year of the new build. Others with the same van would then be in a position to give advice. Do you have a main 12v power switch? Was it turned off? Do you have items that are wired directly across the battery which are not powered through that switch? e.g gas detctors, diesel heater, a shunt battery monitor etc ? Name them all. Do you have solar panels? A solar controller? Name and model?
-- Edited by BaldEd on Friday 11th of February 2022 03:56:34 PM
on my van [jayco] the switch is on one of the beds right next to the fuses. The battery is right next to it under the bed. I expect any switch would be near your battery/electrics but I don't really know.
did they not do a handover when you got your van to show you everything? My van is secondhand, I paid for a 'handover' to find out about things.
The reason for the problem I had is what people are saying. The charger in the van can't work if the voltage goes too low.
on my van [jayco] the switch is on one of the beds right next to the fuses. The battery is right next to it under the bed. I expect any switch would be near your battery/electrics but I don't really know.
did they not do a handover when you got your van to show you everything? My van is secondhand, I paid for a 'handover' to find out about things.
The reason for the problem I had is what people are saying. The charger in the van can't work if the voltage goes too low.
yes the handover was 1 month after build so was 16 month ago only used the van 2 times in that time [ thanks covid] I may have forgotten? but kept the van charged, not sure why it went so low but it did so I do suspect as you say it went too low for the charger to recharge
as for this switch as above with bobdown pic there is no "black" switch anywhere in the van nor any switch I do not know what it does.
well battery back from pro, he thinks it was said above, it went below the minimum number and the charger couldn't recharge. He has told me what to do to see if it was this. If it fails he recommends new battery.
thanks for the advice lets hope its all sorted
-- Edited by wanderer 2 on Saturday 12th of February 2022 12:45:15 PM
why not use jumper leads and use vehicle to charge battery, if it stays charged its ok if i don't its stuffed, on the farm tractor was cheapest batter charger and the fastest
why not use jumper leads and use vehicle to charge battery, if it stays charged its ok if i don't its stuffed, on the farm tractor was cheapest batter charger and the fastest
Whilst never thought of that not sure it would have worked on this battery as it doesn't have the traditional neg pos posts they are screw holes that a bolt screws into.
anyway its been charged and attached to van and I am monitoring it so far so good first 24hrs. pretty sure it went below the minimum number preventing it being recharged, human error as I think I found the culprit that drained all the power.
Dc to Dc charger . Get the workings of voltage sensitive relay . VSR so if you forget to switch things off etc the VSR stops battery going flat ! Imo go known new battery and go from there ! Btw nothing beats a good high-sh amperage charger . Not having good gear can cost durability & pain in the long run . Dont skimp on solar
Yes they need a good bump to get them started when they get too low.
Battery leads off your car is an easy way to do that. (Auto Elec told me)
Then the old style Charger.
If it ( the battery) started to smell wierd, it's dead or dying. I'm looking for a new one as we speak.
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Karl Marx.."the masses are the asses" Groucho Marx.. "I never knew my brother Karl"
so hooked it up to power, screen showed just 4,8 volts, left for 24 hours, came back same numbers still flat.
] I may have forgotten? but kept the van charged, not sure why it went so low but it did so I do suspect as you say it went too low for the charger to recharge 
