Analogue controller

[Jango]

Hope you guys can advise. My leisure battery is 4 years old. I regularly charge it, due to not doing many miles, even though I have a split charge relay. I noticed today when I was reeling  in the hose, the battery light was flashing. I only charged it yesterday. Do you think I need a new battery before winter? I had it tested two weeks ago and it tested good on the garage’s device. Any thoughts? Thank you in advance. 

 

[Pjj]

I would give it a good overnight bench charge and see what happens , if the garage has done a drop test then one assumes it’s ok ??? What amp hour is it ?? If a battery is on the way out a bit of cold weather will kill it off  quickly , 4 years for a normal leisure battery is quite good . 

 

[AW Services]

Hope you guys can advise. My leisure battery is 4 years old. I regularly charge it, due to not doing many miles, even though I have a split charge relay. I noticed today when I was reeling  in the hose, the battery light was flashing. I only charged it yesterday. Do you think I need a new battery before winter? I had it tested two weeks ago and it tested good on the garage’s device. Any thoughts? Thank you in 

Are you using a high quality charger and not a £10 B&M RAC one? 

If it's been tested I'd check your chargers capability and capacity 

A VSR won't charge a battery on start stop journeys unless you drive miles down a motorway 

I have a VSR but charge mine most weeks at home and charge my leisure battery and van starter battery 

 

[Jango]

@Pjj I have bench charged it from 4-30 pm yesterday till 8am this morning. Using a Ctek charger. Not a cheapie?. I have been charging it through the summer every other night as I only do about 5 miles a day. I’m not sure about specs. Someone set the system up for me. I will check. 

 

[Jango]

Are you using a high quality charger and not a £10 B&M RAC one? 

If it's been tested I'd check your chargers capability and capacity 

A VSR won't charge a battery on start stop journeys unless you drive miles down a motorway 

I have a VSR but charge mine most weeks at home and charge my leisure battery and van starter battery 

II have always manually charged it, as I don’t do enough miles at all some days I do 2 miles max. It’s a 7amp Ctek charger I use. No cheapie?. 
my van battery failed about two months ago so got a new van battery got a Varta which is supposed to be good. Had a slight loose connection on the wire and clip that fits on the leisure battery but was sorted. So now I’m wondering if I have another problem. Thank you

 

[ched999uk]

Cheapest way to find out is get a multimeter (only £10 on amazon) and measure the voltage at the start of the day, after recharge and towards the end of the day.  Ideally battery voltage should be after 4 hrs of rest but any measurement will give you an idea if it's dyeing. Then have a look at lead acid leisure battery voltages and it should give you an idea. 

Getting a multimeter and watching a few youtube video on how to use it will help you if you ever get pump issues as well!

 

[AW Services]

II have always manually charged it, as I don’t do enough miles at all some days I do 2 miles max. It’s a 7amp Ctek charger I use. No cheapie?. 
my van battery failed about two months ago so got a new van battery got a Varta which is supposed to be good. Had a slight loose connection on the wire and clip that fits on the leisure battery but was sorted. So now I’m wondering if I have another problem. Thank you

Get a multi meter from toolstation or screwfix and test it. Check all wiring and ensure that the wiring is of a correct gauge 

 

[Davy G]

Sealey MM20HV is a very good multimeter and not at all expensive. It will measure temperatures (thermocoupler) as well as electric readings.

 

[AW Services]

Sealey MM20HV is a very good multimeter and not at all expensive. It will measure temperatures as well as electric readings.

I'm a Fluke man 

 

[Davy G]

I'm a Fluke man 

I don't know that make. The one I have was recommended to me at the local motorfactors as his preference out of his modest selection, for an amateur with my needs. He cited the reasonable price, ease of use and the ability to test temperature as well as electrics as his reasoning. It's the only multimeter I've ever used as it's not my field of knowledge or experience so I can't compare with any other. ?

 

[Jango]

Thank you for your replies. I have a multi meter and kept checking it the last few days and all seems ok. I wonder if I have a wiring fault somewhere. 
I have put the battery on charge again tonight, although it is showing green on the top, which is supposed to show it’s charged. It’s driving me mad. Might have to get it fully checked out. 
many thanks. 

 

[ched999uk]

I don't know that make. The one I have was recommended to me at the local motorfactors as his preference out of his modest selection, for an amateur with my needs. He cited the reasonable price, ease of use and the ability to test temperature as well as electrics as his reasoning. It's the only multimeter I've ever used as it's not my field of knowledge or experience so I can't compare with any other. ?

Fluke is sort of the industry standard same as AVO was in years gone by. I think they can be calibrated to national standards etc.

 

[AW Services]

Thank you for your replies. I have a multi meter and kept checking it the last few days and all seems ok. I wonder if I have a wiring fault somewhere. 
I have put the battery on charge again tonight, although it is showing green on the top, which is supposed to show it’s charged. It’s driving me mad. Might have to get it fully checked out. 
many thanks. 

You need to check all the wiring as you may have a current drain or something constantly zapping the power 

 

[Jango]

You need to check all the wiring as you may have a current drain or something constantly zapping the power 

Many thanks. That’s got to be the next process. Think I will have to get someone to do that for me. 

 

[High-tower]

Mine does the same thing, always has. Only when reeling in. Never been a problem. Battery is still remaining fully charged via the split charge, and stays charged when left too. 
Might you have just not noticed it before?

 

[AW Services]

Many thanks. That’s got to be the next process. Think I will have to get someone to do that for me. 

You can do it yourself and being a window cleaner you will ideally need to become an expert at plumbing, electronics, mechanics which will reduce down time with system related issues 

 

[spruce]

Many thanks. That’s got to be the next process. Think I will have to get someone to do that for me. 

My question! How did the garage test your leisure battery? If it's a combo battery with a CCA rating then they could do a drop test, but if it's a standard leisure battery then they can't do a drop test. Putting a very heavy load on a standard leisure battery is a leisure battery killer.

At 4 years old, you have to suspect that the leisure battery needs replacing as its lost capacity. You are doing a good job maintaining it, but they don't last forever.

 

[Jango]

Morning Spruce

The story is my van battery died. I got a new one, then that died after 4 weeks. So they wondered if something was causing it. They tested the leisure battery and said it was performing ok. It showed 12.8 on a volt meter. Which I have realised doesn’t mean anything as this can drop rapidly when under load. 
Then they realised the new van battery was at fault, the cells in it was duff. So I got an exchange. 
But my leisure battery runs my pump and electric reel, so maybe I need a new one. Can you suggest a good one for me.

Thanks everyone. 

 

[spruce]

Morning Spruce

The story is my van battery died. I got a new one, then that died after 4 weeks. So they wondered if something was causing it. They tested the leisure battery and said it was performing ok. It showed 12.8 on a volt meter. Which I have realised doesn’t mean anything as this can drop rapidly when under load. 
Then they realised the new van battery was at fault, the cells in it was duff. So I got an exchange. 
But my leisure battery runs my pump and electric reel, so maybe I need a new one. Can you suggest a good one for me.

Thanks everyone. 

I would always recommend a Numax combo battery. It must have s CCA rating (cold cranking amps). The are usually class B and suitable for wild camping. Mine is a 105amp. We have always had good service from Numax. 

As with most other battery suppliers, they won't give s warranty on batteries used by window cleaners as we are battery abusers as an industry.

Unfortunately a combination battery isn't a perfect starter battery or a perfect leisure battery. But with an electric reel that does draw around 25 amps, albeit for a short time, I believe this is the way to go. I did this when I added my diesel heater. 

 

[Davy G]

Numax XV35MF 120 AH. 100 percent recommendation from me. I tried to find it online but was unable to. I phoned the place where I bought my last one three or four years ago (Swindon Caravan Centre). They don't have it in stock but they can get it. The last price they had was £155 but she said they will have gone up significantly. I'd expect if they can get it most caravan centres and battery suppliers throughout the country should be able to.

Not a cheap battery by any means but in my experience with batteries, you very much get what you pay for ie, no Halfords etc for me, right or wrong. I'm very much for the buy the biggest, best, meanest one I can sensibly get, from a professional local supplier. Fit and forget it. No messing with mains charging unless I have to. I never have to. Durite SCR take care of it. I have two batteries linked in tandem running two pumps and controllers. We use manual reels.

I cant be certain it's a combination battery but I think it probably is. I'm trying to find out but I'm not having much luck at the moment.

Edit : I've just spoken to a very helpful gentleman at BBL Swindon (formally Bristol Batteries). Matt, on 01793 616646. They have the Numax xv35mf on the shelf. He confirmed It is a combination battery. It's priced at just under £140. Delivery outside of the local area would be £12.50 on top.

 

[Jango]

Mine does the same thing, always has. Only when reeling in. Never been a problem. Battery is still remaining fully charged via the split charge, and stays charged when left too. 
Might you have just not noticed it before?

Could be I haven’t noticed it before. ?