Posted on 03/04/2019 16:16
Just been down to check daughter's caravan in readiness for new season. Been there since November with no charging what so ever during this period. Out of interest measured battery it is showing 12.39 volts. What does this tell me about the state of it? Any advice welcomed,
Posted on 04/04/2019 10:57
My van has what I believe to be a smart system as such. It has factory fitted solar panels as well and automatically switches as needed between leisure and vehicle batteries for charging. I have a good charger at home but down at daughter's that is not available to me.
Deionised or distilled for 'top up'. Pretty sure HG meant charging top up mind but it wasn't clear. There is a very slight discrepancy in levels across the cells but non below the plates.
Posted on 04/04/2019 14:04
If the plates are covered Micky that’s a start but I concur that the battery, having been left that long will not be very healthy. If it were me, I would use distilled water to top up but be careful not to over fill! Try to go to the level of the cell showing the most. Then a smart charger! Hopefully, it will be able to recover it but I’m afraid with a Lead Acid, it can never return it to exactly what it was. There is bound to be some damage - that’s just the way it is. hopefully, not very much. Best of luck mate.
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Posted on 04/04/2019 10:57 by mickysfMy van has what I believe to be a smart system as such. It has factory fitted solar panels as well and automatically switches as needed between leisure and vehicle batteries for charging. I have a good charger at home but down at daughter's that is not available to me.
Deionised or distilled for 'top up'. Pretty sure HG meant charging top up mind but it wasn't clear. There is a very slight discrepancy in levels across the cells but non below the plates.
Posted on 04/04/2019 14:32 byMicky, none of what you have found is cause for doom and gloom. The battery charge level is low but the electrolyte level is not bad just top it up with de-ionised water to an equal level in each cell. Normally there is a short peg, often not easily seen, jutting out of the filler hole just above the plates; that is the fill level, just cover it, otherwise about 5mm above the plates will be fine.
You van charger is most likely a smart charger and your idea of using it to charge the battery is much better than nothing. Make sure the charger is set to charge a flooded lead acid battery; your normal battery may be a different type. When you put it on EHU if the charge rate rises to above 14.4v and possibly up to 14.7v that would be ideal. It is then time for a glass of your favourite tipple and to leave the battery on charge for at least 24 hours.
Posted on 04/04/2019 18:00
It is most likely to take a charge and come up to the full voltage, the real test though is "what capacity" it now has.
As said earlier that if always on and EHU with the only ask being the mover, could still be adequate. If off EHU then the loss of capacity becomes an issue.
Hope it all recovers well, the use of a smart charger increases your chances.
Posted on 04/04/2019 18:00 by ocsidIt is most likely to take a charge and come up to the full voltage, the real test though is "what capacity" it now has.
As said earlier that if always on and EHU with the only ask being the mover, could still be adequate. If off EHU then the loss of capacity becomes an issue.
Hope it all recovers well, the use of a smart charger increases your chances.
Posted on 04/04/2019 20:19 by mickysfYep, we live in hope! Just how do we test for capacity mind?
Posted on 04/04/2019 20:34
The least technically demanding is if it still performs as it did before or is obviously inadequate, since its mishap.
To measure it properly is very much more complex and needs the makers performance charts, frequently hard to come by. It really gets all too complicated, so I would wait to see if it does what is asked of it adequately, as I assume it once did.
mickysf
Motorhomer