Flat batteries in new campervan.

My 150w panel with split charge (60:40 leisure/starter) controller maintains both batteries at full charge state, even in gloomy periods like we’ve had recently - checked my starter battery this morning and it’s 12.86v. Panel faces due south with no obstructions. However, it’s stored about 1/2 mile from the sea and the panel is often covered in a layer of salt that reduces the efficiency quite a bit, but not enough to cause a problem. In my experience alarms are often the culprit with excessive battery drain, tracker should only be a tiny drain.

Can or do you power down your motorhome when its left standing ?

Thanks for all the helpful replies. The breakdown guy who came out about 8.30 last night tested the vehicle battery which was VERY flat - 2.8V? Very bad for a new van. Kept engine running for 45 minutes & did the same today for 30 minutes. Engine warning light stayed on. Garages shut over holiday weekend so will do the same daily in meantime. Sounds like the new battery is very poor & will need replaced. To add to our problems he broke the plastic cover of the tool box under the passenger seat & have emailed his garage today to ask them can we bill them for the repairs! 

We are novices so regarding the comment about powering down the motorhome when standing what does this mean? The van is sitting beside the house so gets a reasonable amount of light. 

Starting an engine will take more from a battery than idling for 30/45 mins will put back in. You need to drive it. As the motorhome is at home can't you plug it in & use the onboard charger to charge the battery/batteries? (I've no idea if the starter battery is charged by it)

If the starter battery was only 2.8v then it'll be fit for the bin (worth a couple of quid scrap value)

Yep, plug it in. That’s what I said. 

Agree, it needs a good run 40 miles or so to keep it in good order, not just the batteries either. We try to take ours out every 7-10 days.

On our caravan we can switch off all the 12 volt circuits so no drain on the battery and the solar panel can keep the battery charged 

Your dealer should replace the battery under warranty and also check that all the charging functions are working correctly - solar, EHU and engine.

Those cover grilles are a pain….about £60 on eBay, more from a Fiat dealer. They’re so easy to break, they give the illusion that you can simply unclip them, let the cover drop and remove tools. In reality you need to fully detach and remove it or, as you’ve discovered, the clips will break when you try and remove the tools.

Maybe Forfarshire & Angus is sufficiently North of most people replying for there to be significantly less daytime sun available??

There is certainly 45 minutes less daylight, over where we live in Nottinghamshire, so it will make a difference.