[colley614]

Hi Guys,

Been out doing first cleans this week. I'm using a car battery at the moment on my system but I'm finding that the pump keeps cutting in and out and flashing 'BAT'. If I turn the pump to 0 it reads 12.5 volts but when the pumps running it reads 11.1. I'm presuming that the battery is not powerful enough to run the pump but just after confirmation from someone in the know before I replace?

[lozsing]

Yes replace needs 12.8 v min to run

[colley614]

Thought so, thanks! I'll get myself a deep cycle and a split relay as soon as possible.

[Spruce]

11.1v indicates that the battery is flat.

I understand that the new Spring controllers have reset their cutout figure to 10.5v without issue.

Before replacing the battery ask:
What has changed recently? In other words, did your battery used to last but it doesn't now? If so, are you doing something different to before, such as not charging your battery as regularily as you used to?
How old is the battery? What size is it (amp hour rating)?

Our Shurflo pumps will draw between 3 and 5 amps per hour depending on what our controller settings are. If we are working our pumps for 5 hours working time, then we are going to use 25amps of charge from our battery. If we do this for 3 days an 85 amp leisure battery will theoretically last us 3 days before going flat.

However, if I have been hammering the battery like that I would recharge it every night.

When a nearly flat battery is left to stand, it will show a higher voltage on your tester and will drop voltage the moment it has any load put on it. Years ago, working a battery, letting it recover, and working it some more was a sure way of killing it off quickly.

Sometimes a battery's capacity also drops off. You can recharge a flat battery, shows fully charged on the tester or battery charger, but won't last long. In the case, best to replace the battery.
Most car batteries aren't 'sealed'. They have screw caps which enable you to top up the water. If you take all the caps off and find any chambers have low water, top them up - water must be just over the plates.

If I had to replace a battery, my personal choice is a leisure battery.

Spruce

[Spruce]

Yes replace needs 12.8 v min to run

My battery is a 110 amp Numax Leisure battery. When fully charged with a Numax Intelligent leisure battery charger, it reads 12.8 volts. As I switch the pump on and start to run it for a few minutes, the voltage across the battery drops to 12.1 volts. Once the pump is switched off, the battery voltage will slowly recover to 12.8v.

[colley614]

Spruce,

Yeah was kind of thinking that the battery was reading full until I put the load on. Then it was hitting 11.1 straight away. This is an old battery now and is a sealed one so I can't top if off. The auto electrician who tested it for me said it had passed but recommended that because its sealed I would have to drill a hole in it to check the water level. He then said I'd need to buy DI water from him until I pointed at my tank and said no thanks I've got 250 ltrs of it there  

I won't be tampering with my battery and drilling holes in it. I think its time to replace with a new one, a deep cycle leisure battery and hook it up with a split relay charger. Probably buy a charger just to trickle charge it overnight now and again if its not fully charging.  

[Spruce]

Spruce,

Yeah was kind of thinking that the battery was reading full until I put the load on. Then it was hitting 11.1 straight away. This is an old battery now and is a sealed one so I can't top if off. The auto electrician who tested it for me said it had passed but recommended that because its sealed I would have to drill a hole in it to check the water level. He then said I'd need to buy DI water from him until I pointed at my tank and said no thanks I've got 250 ltrs of it there  

I won't be tampering with my battery and drilling holes in it. I think its time to replace with a new one, a deep cycle leisure battery and hook it up with a split relay charger. Probably buy a charger just to trickle charge it overnight now and again if its not fully charging.  

Agree, just replace it. I certainly don't believe drilling holes in the top of a battery to check water level is good advise - infact its a no no. We are dealing with 2 dangerous products, electricity albeit at a low voltage and acid.

We top up with an intelligent leisure battery charger every couple of days as we don't do enough miles per day to replace what we have used via the split charge relays.

Spruce

[colley614]

Thanks spruce, you have confirmed what I was presuming. I'll probably have to soldier on this week with a crap battery so I can earn the dosh to replace it....The trials and tribulations of starting out 

[Ian101]

Thanks spruce, you have confirmed what I was presuming. I'll probably have to soldier on this week with a crap battery so I can earn the dosh to replace it....The trials and tribulations of starting out 

errr sorry to dash your hopes but it never ends always summit to spend ur dosh on 

[colley614]

I know Ian, I'm ordering more leaflets, new battery, charger, split relay, resin, sign writing van, leaflets,resin,membrane,leaflets, resin..New poles, new van.

I know the list is just gonna keep going

[Window Washers]

colley, the digi controls always do this, very annoying, I am seriously thinking on going back to manual ones

[colley614]

Funny you should say that. The lads I used to work with used to leave the vans running to stop this from happening with the Digital one I've got but the old twist ones where fine

[Window Washers]

Funny you should say that. The lads I used to work with used to leave the vans running to stop this from happening with the Digital one I've got but the old twist ones where fine

I have this very issue with one on my vans and it drives one of my guys nuts, yet there is nothing wrong with the batteries as there is two of them connected together

[Spruce]

As I mentioned earlier, I understand that the lastest Spring controllers have their cutoff at 10.5v and according to them, cutting the controllers out at this new lower level hasn't caused any battery damage at all.

But I'm sure that Ian Sheppard will confirm this when he see the thread. Maybe kick start the thread on Monday morning if he hasn't replied.

Spruce

[colley614]

spruce have you got any ideas where to get a deep cycle battery and charger? and also the split relay

[Mike #1]

have a look on www.cleaningspot.co.uk    good guys really helpful when i bought my streambox last year . MIKE

[rah]

spruce have you got any ideas where to get a deep cycle battery and charger? and also the split relay

I was chatting to a member on here the other day when he dropped off a tank, some of the controllers act as a split charger, therefore removing the need to have a separate relay fitted.

I've never used one in the 8 yrs I've been wfp as I was connected to the vehicle battery, thou I'm now setting out a second van, Looking of going this way, could always fit a relay later if the controller doesn't work!

Rob

[Spruce]

spruce have you got any ideas where to get a deep cycle battery and charger? and also the split relay

Our local motor factors ordered our batteries especially for us - it was next day delivery. If you need one straight away, caravan and leisure suppliers should have them ex stock. I would always recommend you buy a good quality one; ie., Lucas, Numax etc.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Numax-85-amp-Leisure-Battery-Caravans-Motorhomes-/180845712424?pt=UK_Cars_Parts_Vehicles_Other_Vehicle_Parts_Accessories_ET&hash=item2a1b3e9428

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NUMAX-TWIN-POST-12V-110-DEEP-CYCLE-LEISURE-BATTERY-MOTORHOME-CARAVAN-BOATS-/200759276439?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2ebe2f7397

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Numax-Connect-and-Forget-12V-10AH-Leisure-Battery-Charger-/190583290276?pt=UK_Campervan_Caravan_Accessories&hash=item2c5fa639a4

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SPLIT-CHARGE-RELAY-12V-30AMP-INTELLIGENT-SELF-SWITCHING-/110882240915?pt=UK_Campervan_Caravan_Accessories&hash=item19d118b993

or

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-30AMP-SPLIT-CHARGE-RELAY-KIT-SELF-SWITCHING-/180885340901?pt=UK_Campervan_Caravan_Accessories&hash=item2a1d9b42e5

We have got 2 vans with 85 amp hour Numax batteries - single operator and my van has a 110 amp Numax which is a 2 man operator although its mainly me on my own.

We top the batteries up every couple of days on 2 of the vans as we do very little mileage. The third van does an 18 mile round trip home each night and that seems to keep that battery pretty much fully charged.

The charger comes with a cable that you can bolt onto the positive and negative terminals of the battery which makes it easier to couple up on dark winter nights.

The split charge relay is an intelligent type and comes with easy to fit instructions. It only needs 1 fused wire from your vehicle's battery positive post to the SCR (Split Charge Relay) and then another from the relay to your leisure battery - fused again. 15amp fuses are fine as the leisure battery won't except anything more than a 10 amp charge, even when 1/2 charged. The other SCR that they sell is triggered by the vehicles alternator warning light circuit - they are a pain to fit to be honest and I would stay away from them.

The SCR will need a wire earthed to the body and you will also need to put another earth from the leisure battery negative post to the vehicles body.

Hope that helps.

Spruce




 

[rah]

Spruce,

Have you fitted the split relay yourself, I've literally just been looking at the ones you posted?

I need to sort mine, but a little apprehensive, thought it had to go from the alternator? If it's just a case of attaching to the cables and making a negative, might pluck up the courage :~)

Rob.

[colley614]

From what I've read, there's two types. One that goes from battery to battery. The other from alternator to battery. I'm going to steer clear of the alternator because knowing me I'll turn my flow controller on and my engine will start and I'll turn the key and my pumps will come on.