Just had my claim for a new starter battery (AGM) turned down because the parasitic voltage was excessive and is caused by the installation of a leisure battery. This was before I told them that the fuse to the leisure battery was removed but they stuck to their story and wanted to charge £115 for their time. The resting voltage is about 11.7V after being switched off for an hour. I guess it’s been dropped too low at some time.
I think the standard VW setup is unsuitable for use as a camper because the standard 75Ah battery is rarely charged to more than 80% because of the smart alternator so effectively a 60Ah. If the battery shouldn’t be discharged to more than 50% then I’ve got a useage of 60 – (75/2) which is 22.5Ah (even less if the van is doing a regen when arriving on site and the fans are blowing). Now considering the van’s consumption when on site and not being run, unlocking and locking, courtesy lights on and whatever else the van does, I see from another thread that the diesel lift pump runs for a few seconds when the driver’s door is opened.
What are my options? Replace the courtesy lights with LEDs, stop using the driver’s door whenever possible, fit a larger AGM battery – anyone know the maximum that would fit and any issues doing that?
Ideally I’d like to use the excess from the solar and mains hookup to top up the starter battery from the leisure battery but I don’t want to do much faffing around when arriving on site.
I’d appreciate any comments and advice.
I think the standard VW setup is unsuitable for use as a camper because the standard 75Ah battery is rarely charged to more than 80% because of the smart alternator so effectively a 60Ah. If the battery shouldn’t be discharged to more than 50% then I’ve got a useage of 60 – (75/2) which is 22.5Ah (even less if the van is doing a regen when arriving on site and the fans are blowing). Now considering the van’s consumption when on site and not being run, unlocking and locking, courtesy lights on and whatever else the van does, I see from another thread that the diesel lift pump runs for a few seconds when the driver’s door is opened.
What are my options? Replace the courtesy lights with LEDs, stop using the driver’s door whenever possible, fit a larger AGM battery – anyone know the maximum that would fit and any issues doing that?
Ideally I’d like to use the excess from the solar and mains hookup to top up the starter battery from the leisure battery but I don’t want to do much faffing around when arriving on site.
I’d appreciate any comments and advice.
