A costly mistake......School Boy error!

[TheGrapeEscape]

I could literally kick myself......

Last Sunday, my parents came round, they've not properly seen my camper. I was still jetlagged from my 10 hour flight from Mexico, as they picked me up from the airport. Maybe I got too excited and carried away, but it appears I've left the 12v system on!

Just got back from a meal out and went to put the lights on in the back, nothing! Looked up and seen the system on and battery meter dead.



The Ctek hasn't been able to charge it, as its been left on.

Immediately, I've got the EHU out and plugged the van in, I then plugged my old but hardly used trickle charger in, but this too Is not recognising the battery connected. I believe under 7.5v the battery charger don't work. In fairness, i think this charger isn't up to the job.

I've left it on trickle charge, but I fear the worse.

Question is now, do I

1) buy a new lead acid battery (old technology I know)

2) buy lithium battery (clueless in the field) and renew my Ctek D250SA for the SE version.

2 days ago, I almost purchased the victron ip65 15a battery charger, to allow me to not kill the battery, and charge the battery while on site with the EHU.

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated

Mark

 

[n10n]

I could literally kick myself......

Last Sunday, my parents came round, they've not properly seen my camper. I was still jetlagged from my 10 hour flight from Mexico, as they picked me up from the airport. Maybe I got too excited and carried away, but it appears I've left the 12v system on!

Just got back from a meal out and went to put the lights on in the back, nothing! Looked up and seen the system on and battery meter dead.

View attachment 254655

The Ctek hasn't been able to charge it, as its been left on.

Immediately, I've got the EHU out and plugged the van in, I then plugged my old but hardly used trickle charger in, but this too Is not recognising the battery connected. I believe under 7.5v the battery charger don't work. In fairness, i think this charger isn't up to the job.

I've left it on trickle charge, but I fear the worse.

Question is now, do I

1) buy a new lead acid battery (old technology I know)

2) buy lithium battery (clueless in the field) and renew my Ctek D250SA for the SE version.

2 days ago, I almost purchased the victron ip65 15a battery charger, to allow me to not kill the battery, and charge the battery while on site with the EHU.

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated

Mark

You’ll likely to be able to tease the battery to life again but it might have suffered and hold a lesser capacity.

Try a recovery mode if your charger has one - for example Victron chargers have this:

 

[TheGrapeEscape]

You’ll likely to be able to tease the battery to life again but it might have suffered and hold a lesser capacity.

Try a recovery mode if your charger has one - for example Victron chargers have this:

View attachment 254659

Thank you. I'm gonna order that charger now on amazon, it's already in my basket

 

[TheGrapeEscape]

 

[TheGrapeEscape]

Time to try save my van

 

[TheGrapeEscape]

 

[roadtripper]

If you've gone under 11v you've likely damaged the plates, especially if it's been left that way for a while and it's not a whoops and instant recharge.

Worth a try to get you going and that's a good charger to have anyway, but if you succeed you will probably still need a new battery next season anyway I'm afraid.

A decent lead acid leisure from somewhere like Tanya Batteries would be a few minutes of swap over. Much as I think lithium is generally a better choice it's quick and simple and if it gives you the capacity for the camping you do there's nothing wrong with that approach.

If you fancy LiFePo then you need something with low temperature protection in the battery, you've just ordered an ideal 240v charger. While the CTEK isn't a charger I would recommend normally it's a straight swap for the older model and in this situation is a good choice.

 

[meza]

I had a dead lead battery and bought the same Victron charger… don’t expect magic from the recovery function! I got just a handful of Ah capacity from the battery even after using recovery for a number of days.

If the battery is already toast the Victron won’t be able to turn it back to bread!

I do vouch ditching lead and going for a LiFePo4 lithium battery however.

 

[Skyliner33]

As above, you might have damaged the battery too much and require a new battery.

Do you use the solar of the CTEK?

 

[DaveD]

I did a similar thing to a battery on a ride on mower (I left the ignition on overnight) and my Noko charger wouldn't even try to charge it, it was too dead.
I connected it up to a good battery using jump leads and left it for half an hour, then removed the jump leads and the Noko charger then recognised it and fully charged it overnight. It probably has suffered some damage but it starts my mower every time and does what I need it to do.

 

[TheGrapeEscape]

If you've gone under 11v you've likely damaged the plates, especially if it's been left that way for a while and it's not a whoops and instant recharge.

Worth a try to get you going and that's a good charger to have anyway, but if you succeed you will probably still need a new battery next season anyway I'm afraid.

A decent lead acid leisure from somewhere like Tanya Batteries would be a few minutes of swap over. Much as I think lithium is generally a better choice it's quick and simple and if it gives you the capacity for the camping you do there's nothing wrong with that approach.

If you fancy LiFePo then you need something with low temperature protection in the battery, you've just ordered an ideal 240v charger. While the CTEK isn't a charger I would recommend normally it's a straight swap for the older model and in this situation is a good choice.

Thanks for this.

Yeah, ideally, I'd be eventually swapping out the ctek for either the se lithium version or for a victron non isolated dc-dc charger.

When I have the funds to add the kitchen, I'll be changing the electrics and taking camper off the road for a month to do it

 

[TheGrapeEscape]

As above, you might have damaged the battery too much and require a new battery.

Do you use the solar of the CTEK?

I don't have a panel at moment. The guy I bought the van off only used the van for mountain biking around the UK. It's quite an outdated setup really, just lead acid battery and a ctek dc-dc charger. I added the 240v hook up and electrics, but need to link the victron now, so it charges the 12v while on site (using lights/fridge) etc.

I'm not sure how the previous owner thought the existing setup would work, running a fridge constant off a lead acid battery.

 

[TheGrapeEscape]

I did a similar thing to a battery on a ride on mower (I left the ignition on overnight) and my Noko charger wouldn't even try to charge it, it was too dead.
I connected it up to a good battery using jump leads and left it for half an hour, then removed the jump leads and the Noko charger then recognised it and fully charged it overnight. It probably has suffered some damage but it starts my mower every time and does what I need it to do.

I'm hoping it hasn't damaged mine, but, I do have the receipt and its already 3 years old, so I will be changing it soon enough