Threebarkingdogs replied on 01/11/2017 15:12
Posted on 01/11/2017 15:12
Right here goes straight in at the deep end!
Just picked up our first camper van a month ago, a 2004 Autotrail Tracker SE on a Fiat.
Anyway all seemed fine and we brought it hone to the Hebrides from Somerset. But the first night of the trip back we we stayed on a campsite and on plugging into the mains I was surprised to see the display showing a negative value for amps (charger turned on). The book says a negative value means current being drawn from the battery.
Anyway all was well in the morning, Leisure battery voltage fine. Drove home over the next three nights without mains hookup and voltages remained fine.
Been home for a couple of weeks with no use and voltages fine. Hooked up to mains and again display showed negative value for amps (around -8 amps). Next morning unplugged and leisure battery still showing good voltage (12.5V). Left it for another week and went out to find leisure battery on 1.5V OMG!!! Looked at battery and discovered one terminal loose opps!. Tightened up connection but still showing 1.5V. Hooked up to mains and current shows as 50amps (positive value) for about five minutes and then drops to -8.5 amps where it has stayed for a couple of hours. Voltage showing 13.2V.
So why is it showing negative amps on charge. Would a loose connection have resulted in a discharge of the battery (possibly when I last put it on charge?
The battery is new but will it recover from such a major discharge?
I know very little about lecky! The reverse polarity is NOT illuminated
Help help help
Andy
Threebarkingdogs