Battery Puzzle

glyne lock wrote:
To test a battery for its condition needs a battery cranking amp tester and will test the amps in the battery .12.8 volts could be the voltage but the battery may now be only charging half the cranking amps
What has been said by this person is no help for the fault with the the electrics the person has that started this post for help

Hmm, thank you for those kind words. I am sure your post will be of great help to the OP. 


BTW he did not mention a a cranking problem, or a starting problem, or even an electrical fault. He actually said everything was working correctly.

What he asked was:-
"Would be grateful if anyone can offer advice as to why the low vehicle battery alarm is sounding and possible remedy. This fault does not repeat when on EHU"

He also said "The vehicle battery is only 1 month old" 

I think I gave a possible reason as to why the alarm is be sounding, i.e.fitting a different technology battery 1 month ago.

Aethelric
If you had the electric system that the person has that started this post has you would understand more what his problem could be and what checks need doing first and there has been talks about this on lots of post on the forum .putting  the correct settings in the controller is most important .the leisure battery is on charge as to the voltage showing in the picture and is above the 14.8 setting it should go to. I was explaining to you and others that a voltage will not tell your the overall condition of the battery it may now only be taking half the amps it’s should be holding .this was the reason I said needs testing with a correct battery tester
If the person was to come back and say that all the settings are correct  then would need to then do other checks 
To find a fault the basic checks need doing first

Glyne  - perhaps you could be a little less abrupt to others who are only trying to help. We know you have a vast knowledge of all things motorhome but your responses are being noted as abrasive.

FreelanderUK wrote:

Where does it say he fitted a different technology battery , he has not fitted lithium,

it clearly did not as you are saying Freelander
even if its a new battery could have a fault and for warranty would be tested as I said with the correct gear
it would be good if Apple came back and said if he has sorted the problem
lots of people have put the control to run the habitation off the vehicle battery and I have shown them the problem and do get lots of thank you said and is not nice having to show them the fault
this Is the reason you have to start at the basics and the controller settings is the first for this fault with this make of electrics fitted

Can I add another comment to my previous one?
It concerns the low voltage battery alarm sounding at the over-door panel on my Bourton. I was getting alarms at odd times even during the night. They sounded "peep-peep-peep" in quick succession but not for long enough for me to see what the message was saying. On checking the voltage at the display it always read 12.5v or thereabouts.
I took it up with A-S who told me that it was associated with the terminals at which the voltage was measured and that they were not the same as the terminals used for the display at the over-door panel.
I delivered the van to their premises where they made the modification to the wiring and that cured the problem for me. 
I hope this helps those in a similar situation.
Best Wishes

FreelanderUK wrote:

Where does it say he fitted a different technology battery , he has not fitted lithium,

Hi Chris

He doesn't say what technology starter battery he fitted.  We don't know if it was standard flooded, enhanced flooded, AGM, or Gel (or Lithium??) Neither do we know what was in before.  My point was simply that these all have slightly different o/c voltages.  A good standard flooded battery will show 12.6V at 100% charge. An AGM battery would be only 75% charged at 12.6V. Maybe that would trigger the alarm.

To clarify, I am fairly au fait with batteries, but I know nothing about the Sargent charging system or how it is set for different types of battery.