MotorHome ENGINE Battery

Hia

ok HELP PLEASE

last week I came to start my love of my life ,YES my motorhome and it struggled to start.

On Thursday ready to go to Whittingham my engine struggled again VERY NEARLY not starting.
BUt it did. I did 50 miles and just ran the fridge when travelling.
on site nothing was run from my engine battery.
day of leaving I thought I would turn it over before everyone vanished. Yes it chugged and coughed and splutted into life . (not good).
anyway home I came .
put the motorhome back on electric and put the oil filled radiater on to keep her warm.
tried the engine today and it started ok .
now I think I will wait for a frosty morning to see if she starts.

I have had no problems with the battery starting

so my battery is 4 years old in December.
how long should a engine battery last?
am I looking at buying a new one.

I await your responses on this little problem
THANK YOU

Have a ride to Halfords and get it checked out

Hia
Was going to call at our local tyre and battery place but thought well it would have charged up. So might nip up to them . Sorry can't remember the name only up the road

Hi Polly, do you keep your Motorhome on ehu when at home and if so does it charge you engine battery.
Second question, do you have a solar panel and does that top your engine battery up as well as leisure battery.
I have fitted a device on my Motorhome which trickle charges the engine battery from the leisure battery, which is handy if you are using solar or on ehu.
Dave.

Take it to Advanced battery supplies on portwood , they wil check it and their batteries are cheap.Just park on the corner near the Railway.

Hia

I Do have a solar panel and I am on elec at home but don't think it trickle charge my engine battery, but keeps my lesuire batteries topped up I think
Can I ask about your device Dave thank you

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Hi Polly, i tried to put a link in earlier on my ipad but failed, hopefully this will work on my laptop.
How close are your engine and leisure batteries as they need to be linked together with this device.
You may still need a new engine battery, have it checked out and get a new one fitted if needed.
How long a battery lasts depends how it is looked after, if you let it drop below 12.2 volts to often it wont last long. My engine battery is 7 years old, probably just put the kiss of death on it.
If you need to know any more give us a shout.
Dave.

Hia

Thanks Dave
I am going to take it to get it tested where I bought it. Bought it 4 years ago only just up the road. Sadly I can't get the van of the drive at the moment as over the road have parked his car opposite drive way and I can't get it out . And he's not in Never mind its raining so will carry on with my gloss painting .
My engine battery is at the front and my lesuire are at the back
Thanks

daveandsan wrote:

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Hi Polly, i tried to put a link in earlier on my ipad but failed, hopefully this will work on my laptop.
How close are your engine and leisure batteries as they need to be linked together with this device.
You may still need a new engine battery, have it checked out and get a new one fitted if needed.
How long a battery lasts depends how it is looked after, if you let it drop below 12.2 volts to often it wont last long. My engine battery is 7 years old, probably just put the kiss of death on it.
If you need to know any more give us a shout.
Dave.

Dave, this is just what I need, as at the moment my 100w  solar panel just goes to my leisure battery. Have you actually got this one installed on your van?

Has anyone else got a similar gizmo to this? As I like, if poss., to compare price, etc.

Cheers......

Hia

Sorry thought I had posted bought a new battery in the end
I know it wouldn't have turned over this morning as it would have been to cold so glad I'm sorted now. New one turned over very nicely.
Will be thinking of that charger. Though as well

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This looks like the same...it's the one I fitted to a previous motorhome, worked a treat.
Allen

Hia

Wondering if to treat Gladys to one of these for Christmas

Can't do her any harm can it

Go for it, same one as mine and cheaper.

Hia

I know it's a while since this post but some spare pennies so you know who I like to treat yes my Gladys. So looks like she will have one of these fitted

Just a little question
It won't burn it out will it

Oh yes silly question will go an order one

Polly wrote:

Hia

I know it's a while since this post but some spare pennies so you know who I like to treat yes my Gladys. So looks like she will have one of these fitted

Just a little question
It won't burn it out will it

Oh yes silly question will go an order one

Polly, just do it.

Hia
It's out of stock for 3 weeks but kept my order in

I've just fitted one of these to our M.H.
Easy enough...but.
Being a thick old joiner, I'm not clued up as to how it actually works.

After I've done the installation. I expected the little green light on it to light up straight away. It only lit up once I'd started the engine. Then went out when the engine stopped.

Is this correct?
Am I being impatient, and will the thing will light up on it's own when it's good and ready - without the engine being on, and it's just getting power from the 100w solar panel?

Sorry if it all sounds a bit vague, but I know stuff all about how things electric work, I used to knock nails in wood.......

Cheers.
Ron

What voltage is your leisure battery showing, these figures are off the top of my head but I think if your leisure battery falls below 12.8v it stops giving a charge and will not charge again until the leisure battery reaches 13.2v

Sorted!
I think I was just being impatient, expecting the gadget to work straight away.
I don't possess a volt meter, so I couldn't take a reading.

I put the M.H. on 'Hook Up' over night, and this morning the little green light was on. So, yesterday, I guess there was not enough charge in the leisure battery for gadget to switch over to the starter battery. The test will come when we are wild camping and to see if our 100w solar panel operates the switch over successfully too. 

Thanks for your help and suggestions Dave. I appreciate you taking the time to post your thoughts......

Safe wheels.

Ron

Hia
 Well it's come. So another cup of coffee and will see where it can go. 
I have two lesuire batteries. One in the outside batter box and one under the seat so which one should it connect to?.  Oh excited


Oh suppose I had better let someone who knows what they are doing. My mechanic Allan. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Polly, are your two leisure batteries connected to each other?

Hia
Yes lesuire batteries  connected to each other

Just connect to the leisure battery that is closest to the engine battery.

Easiest way of fitting these is to put it near your control unit /onboard charger, both battery feeds are in there for you to connect to

Hia

On my way back from our family holiday we stopped at Llanfairfechan beach cafe. For lunch. When we came out I went to start her up and nothing. So after a little pushing and poking under the bonnet the lights lit up but when I came to turn her over everything went off. So the nice little breakdown man was called for. It was the connection to the battery. I got home and arranged for my mechanic to take a look the next day.
Luckily she started up the next day and off I went.
Allan showed me later what was broken and ordered me a new part. While he is awaiting the part he as connected my gadget I bought.
Blooming electric grrrrrr

Hia

Gladys is home and sorted out and the little Thingy connected as well.