Flat Starter Battery

[Robowns]

Hi guys,

Long time lurker first time poster. I have a T6 conversion (converted for me in Jan from an LWB DSG 150bhp job) and it’s been great. I’m currently in the middle of a Scottish road trip (with a 6 month old using some saved up paternity leave!) and had a flat starter battery today after having been parked up for 2 hours and then sitting in the van for an hour with the lights and heat on (with Van switched selected so using leisure battery or so I thought!). Fortunately I had the power bank starter that worked instantly.

I was sat on an hookup electric last night so would have expected both the car and leisure batteries to be in good condition, looks so on my panel (PMS 3v). I believe we left the diesel heater on for those two hours but I can’t see how we could have flattened the car battery having a good health leisure battery? Am I missing something?

I think the fridge is hardwired so bypasses the panel, but surely that wouldn’t have wiped it out. Would that use the car battery if I don’t leave the switch in ‘van’? Are the cigarette lighter sockets using the leisure battery or straight from the car? I leave stuff charging in those when we’re in the van given the 3pins won’t work without electric.

Assume I’m missing something daft as still new so any help appreciated!

Rob

 

[Dellmassive]

You need to add in a 12v charger for the starter battery.... That will charge on EHU.

Thread 'Battery Chargers - How I Did It -'

7 Feb 2019

Battery Chargers - How I Did It -


So its that time of year again, cold, rainy. . . . . . . flat battery =[


This time we look at Battery Chargers.

Our vans will most likely come with a AGM style starter battery, for this type of battery we need a "Smart Charger" . . . . but what does this mean?

well, chargers of old were of the constant voltage constant current type affair.


They would put out 13.8v at say 5amps and that was it . . . . . . . .


Modern AGM batteries need a much smarter way of being charged properly.


Here’s an extract from OPTIMA:


Here are a couple of things to...

• Dellmassive
• charging how to guide
• Replies: 87
• Forum: Electrics, Lighting, ICE, Security

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[Dellmassive]

And look at adding a starter battery trickle charger that will run off your leisure battery.

Thread '[Guide] Battery Maintainer (for Starter battery) -- How I Done It --'

25 Nov 2020

[Guide] Battery Maintainer (for Starter battery) -- How I Done It --

Right so its that time of year again . . . . . . . . Winter & (Lockdown 2020)




The van might be layed up not being used, which will lead to a flat battery in around 3 weeks.

The cold weather doesn't help the battery's either.






This Thread is about using "what you have" to "back charge" the starter battery...

lets look at some options. . . . . . . .

1# Connect a 240v/EHU charger to the starter battery and leave it connected, that's fine if you have a drive way etc, have a look for the...

• Dellmassive
• battery drain dellmassive how to guide vehicle battery
• Replies: 108
• Forum: Electrics, Lighting, ICE, Security

• 

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[Dellmassive]

And make sure you have you own jump pack to jump start yourself...


Sound like you have that covered

L

Thread 'Which Jump Starter?'

12 Oct 2018

Advice required. Hi guys - I thought it would be prudent to carry one of those small JumpStarter powerpacks about with me as I have an electric lift seat installed for my better half and am a little concerned that with the extra demands on the van battery I might get caught out one wintery day!!!
When browsing through Amazon and looking at some of those available I noticed that consideration had to be given to the vehicle CCA. Needless to say - I have no idea what my vehicle’s CCA is. (Kombi 150)

Anybody able to advise? Also - any recommended powerpacks you guys are already using...

• lfgward
• cca jump starter noco
• Replies: 401
• Forum: Electrics, Lighting, ICE, Security

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[CAB]

The 12v sockets in the cab are off the starter battery.

 

[icn05]

Hi guys,

Long time lurker first time poster. I have a T6 conversion (converted for me in Jan from an LWB DSG 150bhp job) and it’s been great. I’m currently in the middle of a Scottish road trip (with a 6 month old using some saved up paternity leave!) and had a flat starter battery today after having been parked up for 2 hours and then sitting in the van for an hour with the lights and heat on (with Van switched selected so using leisure battery or so I thought!). Fortunately I had the power bank starter that worked instantly.

I was sat on an hookup electric last night so would have expected both the car and leisure batteries to be in good condition, looks so on my panel (PMS 3v). I believe we left the diesel heater on for those two hours but I can’t see how we could have flattened the car battery having a good health leisure battery? Am I missing something?

I think the fridge is hardwired so bypasses the panel, but surely that wouldn’t have wiped it out. Would that use the car battery if I don’t leave the switch in ‘van’? Are the cigarette lighter sockets using the leisure battery or straight from the car? I leave stuff charging in those when we’re in the van given the 3pins won’t work without electric.

Assume I’m missing something daft as still new so any help appreciated!

Rob

I have a PMS3 - depending on how the converter wired it, if the car / van switch is left on car, I think it’s using your starter battery to power the entire 12v system. At least that’s how mine was wired until I changed it and installed a LifePo4 battery. I dissed the “car” connection, blanked off the charger switch on the PMS3 and fitted a Victron IP22 mains charger for the leisure battery when on hook up.

Also fitted an Ablemail Amt12/2 to keep the starter battery topped up & 150 watt solar. All working well so far

 

[Robowns]

The 12v sockets in the cab are off the starter battery.

I think it may be this, I always charge my phone there, may have to start using the back! Will look at the other info, thanks very much.

 

[Robowns]

I have a PMS3 - depending on how the converter wired it, if the car / van switch is left on car, I think it’s using your starter battery to power the entire 12v system. At least that’s how mine was wired until I changed it and installed a LifePo4 battery. I dissed the “car” connection, blanked off the charger switch on the PMS3 and fitted a Victron IP22 mains charger for the leisure battery when on hook up.

Also fitted an Ablemail Amt12/2 to keep the starter battery topped up & 150 watt solar. All working well so far

Interesting - I’m using the 12v nearly all of the time so that’s suboptimal is that’s the case, will call the converter. May need to look into what you have as I’d want to use my leisure battery to charge my devices all of the time, otherwise what am I using it for bar appliances (given I can only use the 3pin at plug).

Any other advice for an absolute amateur?

Thanks very much.

 

[icn05]

Interesting - I’m using the 12v nearly all of the time so that’s suboptimal is that’s the case, will call the converter. May need to look into what you have as I’d want to use my leisure battery to charge my devices all of the time, otherwise what am I using it for bar appliances (given I can only use the 3pin at plug).

Any other advice for an absolute amateur?

Thanks very much.

If you make sure the switch is set to “van” you should be using your leisure battery to supply the 12v. The only drain on the starter battery should then be the cab usb’s, interior cab & rear lights (I leave ours switched off) and any systems the vehicle uses when you open / close the doors.

I’m not saying yours is set up as mine was, some converters don’t connect the “car” switch on the PMS but it sounds like yours may have been given what you said about the starter battery going flat

 

[CAB]

I think it may be this, I always charge my phone there, may have to start using the back! Will look at the other info, thanks very much.

We always avoided this unless driving, but now we have a battery maintainer (which trickle charges the starter from our Lithium leisure battery), effectively we are using the Leisure through the cab 12v sockets!

 

[Robowns]

We always avoided this unless driving, but now we have a battery maintainer (which trickle charges the starter from our Lithium leisure battery), effectively we are using the Leisure through the cab 12v sockets!

Interesting thanks mate.

I’ve just got to the next site - I’ve had my phone charging and a baby camera both from the cab 12v, driven for 4 hours and at the destination my van has said “12v low, turn off interior items or start engine”.

That mean my battery is knackered? Or is the draw equal to the generation while driving?

Thanks all.

Rob

 

[Jcl68]

My starter battery was not holding charge. Charged to 70% quickly when engine running but within hrs was down to 17%. Late 2023 with 12,000 miles of long journeys so not an old battery. Bought a yuasa replacement from GSF for £121 on offer with a 4 year warranty. Bit of a pain to swap over but worth it. Registered it with Carista and now working fine. Also fitted an Ablemail Amt12/2 to keep it topped up through solar via leisure battery. Van parked up camping last weekend for 2 days without moving but starter battery stayed at 90% charge. Sounds like you need a fresh starter battery. An Ablemail Amt12/2 is highly recommended too.