Hi, we’ve only used our T6 camper for short journeys recently and the leisure battery now seems completely dead. The Sargent unit beeps constantly when on and even when driving. Doesn’t seem to be resolved by leaving on hookup for several hours. So, wondering whether it is possible to get to leisure battery and test with multi-meter and/or stick a trickle charger on it or similar. The van has a dc to dc unit which we’ve tried turning on and off and have checked main fuses. Nothing has helped. Interestingly, our diesel heater control won’t turn on either although guess that might be powered by leisure battery. Any advice would be appreciated as we’re now stuck as to what to try next. Also newbies so apologies if any of this should be obvious!
Charging leisure battery
- Thread starter Hobsini
- Start date
It will help folks advice if you post some pictures of your setup (chargers and batteries) so we can identify them and see the wiring.
How old is your leisure battery?
Have you let it go below 50% at any point before (this is the region where damage accumulates on lead acid type batteries)?
And yes diesel heaters will normally be wired to secondary batteries if they are fitted to protect the starter battery.
How old is your leisure battery?
Have you let it go below 50% at any point before (this is the region where damage accumulates on lead acid type batteries)?
And yes diesel heaters will normally be wired to secondary batteries if they are fitted to protect the starter battery.
Hi, thanks - some pics included here. Leisure battery is about 3 years old. Haven’t included a picture of the battery itself as not sure how to get to it. I assume it is below the fuse box/unit and behind the gas cylinder. May have run to below 50% previously but not certain of that and mainly used on hook-
post a few pics of the leisure battery as well.
have you got a multimeter to dome testing?
have you got a multimeter to dome testing?
Is it me or does every dead leisure battery problem involve a Sargent unit?
I know what you mean - either the DC-DC charger or the All In One PDUs
I don't think it's an inherent issue with the equipment - I think it's just common/habitual in a certain segment of the conversion market where I don't think enough priority is given to the electrical expectations of the buyers coupled with a lack of hand over knowledge of it's capability and how to look after it.
They're perfectly fine systems for occasional use when touring or mostly being on EHU - but most folks see a battery as a fuel tank that can be emptied and filled up without damage so if they then start using those systems as "mobile off grid holiday cottage" and hit the battery hard the damage accumulation is rapid.
I think folks learn a lot more questions to ask about the electrics the second van they own
I feel that people are making more and more demands on a camper, expecting to use power as they do at home. People walk around with phones glued to their hands, expect to use a laptop for hours every day, run an electric kettle/coffee maker, run electric fridge, run lights as though it were daylight and so on whereas I used to tour around for a couple of months in a T25 with a 110Ah battery and a 40W solar panel and the battery never went flat or ran so low that it needed charging. Gas fridge makes quite a difference also. I was always aware of the limits of the system. People expect far too much from a limited resource.
Spot on
Have you got some wider view pictures?
That seems quite a sealed gas locker unit so I'm wondering if it's behind it rather than through it?
That seems quite a sealed gas locker unit so I'm wondering if it's behind it rather than through it?
Looks like there maybe a removable panel in the back of the gas locker.
Just tack welds by the look of it:
ahh right
damn my ageing eyes!!I have an EC155 but I’ve only used EHU 2 or 3 times in the last 6 years. As far as I’m aware it’s not a smart charger so isn’t great for avoiding battery damage.
I just use my CTEK 250SA via B2B and 150w solar to charge my 2x45Ah AGMs, plenty for what I need even for months away from home.
Have you got a pic from further back and one showing the panels either side and what’s above. It’s difficult to tell from those what’s what.
I can't see that you would access the battery by removing the locker.
