Battery volts

[ThePlotter]

My new Lunar has a Phantom Tracker and on their link it shows the state of my battery ( which is also new) when the charger is on the reading is around 13.5 when switched off it fairly quickly drops to around 11.9 and stays around this level is this normal if not what could be causing the drop.I am going to give it a couple of days and check it with my multi meter.
Also what is best leave it always on charge,charge every few days or charge for hour or so each day via a timer.

 

[Jaydug]

What's the age of the caravan battery?

 

[emmerson]

Hiya Tony!
How's life?
With that quick a drop, I'd suspect a faulty battery, even though it may be brand new.
Generally speaking, if a battery drops below 12v it is on it's way out. Speak to your dealer.

 

[ThePlotter]

As I put in my post it is the same as the caravan one month old

 

[Sproket]

The battery needs disconnecting from the van and re-checking as you could have a parasitic drain that is draining the battery or one of the cell's is duff .....

Something like this clamp meter will do to check for it, or you can use a multimeter on the negative post of the battery wired in series with your multimeter set to amps, you will see strait away what is happening.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Plotter,

When your battery is on charge you should see 13.8 to 13.9V. So as you are only seeing 13.5 it raises a number of possibilities.

The meter in the Tracker may be under reading the real voltage,
The charger may be unable to produce the correct output voltage,
The battery may be in such poor condition that its dragging the voltage down
The circuits connected to the battery may calling for too much current.

Check the voltage using a trusted voltmeter.
Disconnect the battery and check is standing voltage
With the battery disconnected turn on the charger and see what voltage is.

Depending on what you find, will determine what needs to be done

 

[ThePlotter]

Hi folks when the charger is on the display in the van reads 13.7/13.8 the display at the moment reads 12.8 and when i checked the battery with multi meter that also shows 12.8 whereas Phantom shows 11.8. So I guess it is Phantom that is wrong I guess it will drop anyway but each time I go in the van I have to swith on/off the alarm at this point the awning light automatically comes on all putting a drain plus the tracker itself using power.

Emmerson, trust you are well I am ok enjoying retirement although due hip replacement later this year

 

[emmerson]

Hi folks when the charger is on the display in the van reads 13.7/13.8 the display at the moment reads 12.8 and when i checked the battery with multi meter that also shows 12.8 whereas Phantom shows 11.8. So I guess it is Phantom that is wrong I guess it will drop anyway but each time I go in the van I have to swith on/off the alarm at this point the awning light automatically comes on all putting a drain plus the tracker itself using power.

Emmerson, trust you are well I am ok enjoying retirement although due hip replacement later this year

Good luck with the hip. It'll make a new man of you!
As for retirement, it's the best job I've ever had!

 

[ThePlotter]

The wife will be glad of that,trust you are still involved with the village hall etc and still involved with Royales.
sad the old Gary site died as we all had a great time.
Not heard from Lord Brakwynde or Colin Bridgend

 

[SirRogerFFS]

Hi Plotter. I have just read your thread and you mention Lord Braykewynde.I can tell you he is very well and enjoying life well nearly anyway .Mrs Braykewynde has not been very good but I wont go too far as I dont know how much he would want me to say. Hes Fine
Sir Roger .

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Plotter,

I did wonder if the display you were reading was accurate hence my first suggestion. I'm glad you 've got to teh bottom of it.

 

[emmerson]

The wife will be glad of that,trust you are still involved with the village hall etc and still involved with Royales.
sad the old Gary site died as we all had a great time.
Not heard from Lord Brakwynde or Colin Bridgend

I'd not heard from LB for some time, other than an email to say he was OK, so thanks for that news Prof.
As you know Tony, I project managed the building of the new village hall, saw it up and running, and then retired from all active participation, other than an occaisonal attendee of events there.As for the Royales, well we still have and use our Rangemaster, and are still club members but, like the Hall, we take no part in the running of the club any more.We do spend lots of time in Europe in the Royale though.
Didn't Colin sell his van some time ago, or is my brain getting befuddled again?