Starter battery draining and dead after a few days [Resolved]

[CJW]

What model is it please? I can quite make it out from the photo. I can find the manual online and check for you.

 

[CJW]

Looks like it’s a TR-smart 12-18, which comes up with this manual for engine running detection. Looks like there are a couple of settings that can only be set with the free companion smartphone app. I wonder if they’re correctly set? Someone with experience of this Victron auto-sensing would be better placed to advise on what those settings should be, but the manual appears to offer some defaults.

https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Engine-on-detection-set-up-Orion-Tr-Smart-DC-DC-Charger-EN.pdf

 

[CJW]

Also, please have a look at how your ‘remote on/off’ connections are made (is there a jumper wire, are there wires coming from the L and H terminals, if so, where do they go to etc) as it looks like it’s possible to use that as an IGN+ / BCM connection, effectively overiding the auto sensing. This is from page 9 of the manual.

https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Manual-Orion-Tr-Smart-Charger-Isolated-EN-NL-FR-DE-ES-SE-IT-.pdf

 

[KenA]

I had a go at charging and leaving the battery without it being connected to the van (removed the negative terminal), here are the graphs. The second is 45 minutes after I took it off charge.

 

[CJW]

Dead battery? If it’s been as low voltage as you said earlier, then damage is likely. Mine says don’t discharge less than 12.0v.

 

[KenA]

Dead battery? If it’s been as low voltage as you said earlier, then damage is likely. Mine says don’t discharge less than 12.0v.

Thanks, I seem to be in a chicken and egg situation, I need a new battery, but it's likely that whatever is up with my van will drain the new battery to below 12 volts, probably sooner rather than later.

 

[CJW]

Did you get a chance to have a look at the remote on/off wiring and the app settings? Your answer might be there.

 

[KenA]

Did you get a chance to have a look at the remote on/off wiring and the app settings? Your answer might be there.

Hi, there a wire bridging the green terminals and here are the various settings.

 

[CJW]

Thanks for sending. You’re definitely not using an IGN+ / engine running signal as the terminals have a jumper wire across them. This means you’re relying on the auto sensing. Your settings look right compared with @Dellmassive ’s post here:

FYI . . . the default settings are shown on the Victron APP DEMO files.


View attachment 135811View attachment 135812View attachment 135813View attachment 135814View attachment 135815

Your auto sensing is set to stop pulling power from the starter when the starter voltage gets down to 12.5v. From your earlier posts, your voltage has dropped below 12.5v, so (assuming Victron isn’t faulty) that makes it look like the DC-DC charger isn’t the reason for the drain.

Process of elimination - is it worth running a scan to see if there are any faults?

 

[Pete C]

Have you put a current clamp on the wires from the battery to determine what the current flow is ?

Pete

 

[KenA]

A local mechanic eventually found a broken wire in the loom, which when fixed, cleared all the faults.

I'm still a bit confused, as despite having driven a couple of hundred miles, the battery is showing as being at 12.4 volts.

 

[Howzat]

The mechanic fixed your wiring but you probabaly still have a faulty battery due to the previous issues, but I wouldn't worry too much for now unless a) you plan on leaving it for days without runnning the van or b) it starts getting cold (<5C). You will eventually need a new battery but at least it should stay charged if the previous issues are fixed.
So is your stop/start issue also resolved?

 

[Salty Spuds]

A local mechanic eventually found a broken wire in the loom, which when fixed, cleared all the faults.

I'm still a bit confused, as despite having driven a couple of hundred miles, the battery is showing as being at 12.4 volts.

View attachment 159248View attachment 159249

12.42V is normal for a stop start battery. The BM2 default profile assumes you have a standard lead acid non-stop start battery. Don’t forget that the “normal” state of charge for a smart alternator/battery is 80%. So 80%=“normal”. The latest firmware for the BM2 allows you to set a custom profile.
Here’s mine

 

[KenA]

The mechanic fixed your wiring but you probabaly still have a faulty battery due to the previous issues, but I wouldn't worry too much for now unless a) you plan on leaving it for days without runnning the van or b) it starts getting cold (<5C). You will eventually need a new battery but at least it should stay charged if the previous issues are fixed.
So is your stop/start issue also resolved?

The battery was also replaced at same time and yep, the start/stop fault has also disappeared.