Battery seems to drain

[rob and jen]

All,

Recently been away in my Abbey Sepctrum 620 and had prblems with the electrics. We stayed in one evening and had quite a few lights etc on in the van. I then noticed that the roof lights inside the van started to dim. Upon inpection I noticed that my battery was draining. My van was connected to the main supply OK and the car/van selector switch was on Van with battery charger switched on. When I turned off some lights the battery started to charge again and the battery indicator resumed back to full.

I was on the impression that when I am plugged into the main the battery is charged but all 12v appliances are fed from mains. Any one had any experience of this and is this normal - just in my 2 years of caravanning I've never had this issue.

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Rob

Looking at my Bailey wiring diagram I think I know the answer.

However this is just the type of technical question that cries out for input from the manufacturer, in this case SWIFT.

Kath, Can you offer some advice here please?

Cheers

Alan

 

[JimC]

Rob

You don't say how old the caravan is. I believe modern electrics on caravans can actually run all the 12 volt appliances without a battery in situ, with the battery acting as a storage devise. I think the charger acts as a transformer whilst connected to a mains supply.

Regards Jim

 

[rob and jen]

Thanks Jim/Alan,

My van is just turned 3yr old - now just out of waranty.

I thought exactly the same but this does add up with the symptom I had. I have noticed that one of my remote fobs has a power isolator switch on but even after reading the manual many times on this I could not find out exactly why you would want to use it.

 

[rayc]

Rob, I am an electronic engineer and have learn't to my cost the problems associated with diagnosing problems from long range but if it wereme I would:

1. Charge the battery { with a battery charger - not the van one}and run the 12v lights, {including the spots}, and see how long the battery hold up.

2.On my van there is a centre position on the car / van switch which disconnects the battery and when on hook up runs the 12v without the battery being in circuit. What happens if you disconnect the battery and run the 12v lights?

If I was going to guess - and that is all it would be without doing some tests - I would suspect the battery.

 

[rob and jen]

Thanks Ray.

Yep coming to the conclusion that I need to do some tests to find out exacty what's happening. The key fob does concern me though as it seems to isolate and switch off the 12v circuit.

Once I've ran the test (next time I get van out) I will post results.