Caravan Battery we think is dead even though we have solar

[Saxo Appeal]

I was sure (sure) we switched everything off when we put the caravan into Storage…. hmmm very odd!

So leaving that black button in the down position (ON) would drain the battery?

If everything is working then all good I suppose.

 

[birdman101]

With the button off, the Alarm Battery if it gets low, then gets a charge from the Leisure Battery. If you go into the Alarm control box and go through the menu, if it is charged it should read 5 volts. There should be instructions for the Alarm in the Wallet supplied with the caravan
If this reads 5 volt as charged it should not draw from the leisure Battery. If it is below 5 v it will draw some power. I would go back and check things again next week.

 

[birdman101]

If you look through the Alarm menu it will show log of number of the times the Alarn has actuated. If this is excessive it may have pulled the Alarm Battery volts down enough to have required a charge and each time it went off would have pulled volts to actuate the lights flashing. Make sure the 4 corner steadies are down to prevent the Caravan rocking in the wind ,as this will keep setting the Alarm off and using power.

 

[Saxo Appeal]

Just as a note

We also do have the Trutrak device (TruTrak Pro 4G - FMT100 4G GPS Tracker) which connects straight to the battery in the compartment.

I was told by their team it hardly uses any power and only wakes up now and again to send the location. So I have a record of when the last signal was sent 20/11 and the battery was at 7.5V

Quote from TruTrak
‘The device has its own internal battery so shouldn’t take any drain from your own vehicle battery as the device only ‘wakes up’ every 6 hours when parked to ensure nothing has changed and the device hasn’t moved, etc’

I have now disconnected this device as it looks to be faulty, as Trutrak can’t see it powering back up, they want me to send it into them for checking.

Note: When I was back down at 14:40pm and since 12pm checked again and the battery has went from 12.48 to 12.41 and the charge LED on the Truma controller was off and the MPP green light was blinking, charge led was probably off as sun was going down.

 

[Saxo Appeal]

Down at the caravan again this afternoon and tested with the Multimeter, battery connected to caravan / panels. It’s now as follows

12.59/60v at 16:48 - 08/01 after full Smart Charge

12.55v at 10:55 - 09/01 sitting in living room

12.52v at 19:42 - 09/01 sitting in living room

12.48v at 11:17 - 10/01 sitting in living room

12.41v at 14:38 - 10/01 battery was connected to caravan / solar at 12pm, TruTrak disconnected to send off an hour later.

12.32v at 15:42 - 11/01 battery connected solar

Does anyone think I’ve actually got a faulty battery, surely the charge should be kicking in a little to keep it topped up…even a little

 

[birdman101]

I would check it after a couple of days in the caravan. As when you took it from home and put in a cold Caravan would expect a small drop due to lower temperature than at home. And at 15,42 there would have been little charge from the Solar due to light levels dropping. Next check it in Caravan around midday,

 

[Saxo Appeal]

I’m away tomorrow for 2 weeks, then back on the 28th, so I’ll pop down on the 29th before the storage closes all Feb

 

[borderbilly]

Why does the storage shut 🤔

 

[Saxo Appeal]

The couple who own it go on holiday, it’s a bungalow attached to a field where the caravans are stored. Security fence all the way around and barrier at the front.

We don’t mind it’s closed as we only start heading out for holidays around the April / May if booking

 

[borderbilly]

The couple who own it go on holiday, it’s a bungalow attached to a field where the caravans are stored. Security fence all the way around and barrier at the front.

We don’t mind it’s closed as we only start heading out for holidays around the April / May if booking

hope they dont charge you for storage in february

 

[AndrewAventura]

The couple who own it go on holiday, it’s a bungalow attached to a field where the caravans are stored. Security fence all the way around and barrier at the front.

We don’t mind it’s closed as we only start heading out for holidays around the April / May if booking

So much of your caravanning experience keeps mirroring mine!
I've got a 2024 Swift, with similar setup to yours. I startled myself last winter by accidentally leaving the 12V system 'on' when I put it into storage, and after just a few weeks finding the battery voltage frighteningly low. My self-installed tracker (Buckman called it cheap and tacky, I recall. But I like it) informed me of that, and it seems like I was in OK time to save the battery.
Incidentally, when I installed and hid my tracker in a genius place, which I don't think anyone will ever find, I accidentally blew the solar panel fuse within the Sargent PCU box that everyone's been talking about.
My secure storage site also locks its gates and prohibits access during February.

 

[Saxo Appeal]

hope they dont charge you for storage in february

We certainly don’t bother as the yearly cost is very good, compared to other places 😊

 

[Saxo Appeal]

I'll be testing the Battery when I'm back home on the 28th, and will see what the level is at

After speaking with our Caravan service guy, he was going to put a load test on it but he also thinks it's goosed.

Hopefully not but we will see...

I was thinking of upgrading the Truma controller and leaisure battery (not lithium due to warranty still on caravan). Can anyone reccoment any of the above if this decision comes?

 

[otherclive]

Banner, Bosch, Varta are good makes and some get good service from Numax. Your battery went US because it flattened so not a reflection on Banner. A good indicator of quality is weight when comparing like for like. Heavier is better.

 

[Tobes]

I'll be testing the Battery when I'm back home on the 28th, and will see what the level is at

After speaking with our Caravan service guy, he was going to put a load test on it but he also thinks it's goosed.

Hopefully not but we will see...

I was thinking of upgrading the Truma controller and leaisure battery (not lithium due to warranty still on caravan). Can anyone reccoment any of the above if this decision comes?

You could use a drop in lithium with a decent BMS (battery management system) that behaves like lead acid. We have one from Kepworth via amazon that charges just fine on the built in charger and solar charger.
However - I see its no longer available:-(

 

[birdman101]

We have a Numax Battery ,a brand we have used for years and with the 100W Solar factory fitted panel and the Truma regulator the same as yours in the pictures, have never ever needed any other charge to keep topped up. The only time is is connected to mains is when on a site ,and the day before going away solely to run the Fridge to get cold before travelling,

 

[Saxo Appeal]

Thanks

Will have a look at the Numax, do you have a link for this mate?

 

[birdman101]

Thanks

Will have a look at the Numax, do you have a link for this mate?

Have a look on Tanya Batteries web site. They normally deliver by courier next day

 

[IanB1485]

another for Tayna batteries

 

[JTQ]

Banner is also a very respected brand, and an actual maker, not just a reseller. Their Energy Bull leisure battery being very good IMO, but only for those who understand it is not a maintenance free battery. If "used", ie a duty where it gives out power and needs recharging, then it needs the "water" level keeping topped up. Its chemistry and physical design means it can lose water as it "works".

Again I highly rate Tayna as a vendor. Batteries, are a product I would not buy from other than a major battery supplier.

 

[otherclive]

Banner is also a very respected brand, and an actual maker, not just a reseller. Their Energy Bull leisure battery being very good IMO, but only for those who understand it is not a maintenance free battery. If "used", ie a duty where it gives out power and needs recharging, then it needs the "water" level keeping topped up. Its chemistry and physical design means it can lose water as it "works".

Again I highly rate Tayna as a vendor. Batteries, are a product I would not buy from other than a major battery supplier.

The battery that the OP has/had is Banner Energy Bull but its problems were nothing to do with the quality of manufacture. Earlier posts discussed this one.

 

[JTQ]

The battery that the OP has/had is Banner Energy Bull but its problems were nothing to do with the quality of manufacture. Earlier posts discussed this one.

Yes well aware, the battery here is a Banner Energy Bull, and as a user of them myself know they are very good, but as said the users need to be aware they are not sold as maintenance free. Great longevity available for those who maintain their batteries, not for those than don't.

 

[otherclive]

I had one too

Yes well aware, the battery here is a Banner Energy Bull, and as a user of them myself know they are very good, but as said the users need to be aware they are not sold as maintenance free. Great longevity available for those who maintain their batteries, not for those than don't.

I had one too and we discussed it. 🤔