[Lee.]

Hi,
I bought a new 120ah Lion leisure battery 3 months ago and its my first 120ah. I remember using an 85ah before now and it lasting sometimes three days without charging but this one I need to charge every night if I don't charge it then it lasts me the morning only. I only did four hours work yesterday and it was drained. I have a varistream switched onto 3 and no split relay. Is this normal?  Is there a way I can test the battery with a multimeter.  Guess I need some proof evidence before I take it back if it needs to be returned.

Thanks in advance.

Lee

[Spruce]

Hi,
I bought a new 120ah Lion leisure battery 3 months ago and its my first 120ah. I remember using an 85ah before now and it lasting sometimes three days without charging but this one I need to charge every night if I don't charge it then it lasts me the morning only. I only did four hours work yesterday and it was drained. I have a varistream switched onto 3 and no split relay. Is this normal?  Is there a way I can test the battery with a multimeter.  Guess I need some proof evidence before I take it back if it needs to be returned.

Thanks in advance.

Lee

You can test the voltage with a multimeter to determine the state of charge, but this needs to be done 4 hours after the battery hasn't been used. The voltage recorded then will give you the state of your battery's charge.

12.7 to 12.8v equals fully charged, 12.5v = 75% charged, 12.4v = 50% charged etc.

When our last leisure battery failed from age it was showing a full charge voltage wise (12.8vDC) but had no capacity. Again after charging you need to wait for 4 hours before taking another reading.

I would probably fully charge your battery over the weekend and do a reading on Sunday. Use the system on Monday, leave for 4 hours and read the state of charge then.

You should be able to take it back to where you bought it and they should ideally be able to test it for you. They should fully charge it, then put a load test on it and see if it performs as it should. Unfortunately this will take time and they sometimes need to send it away.

If you have the latest Varistream (and it is a Varistream with the built in battery state of charge) then do a search on how to rectify the Varistream draining the battery. It won't be a drain on the battery in days but it will drain 25% of an 85amp battery over the course of a week. Even with it switched off, the unit still consumes power.

[Lee.]

Wow! Thank you Spruce, really appreciate that comprehensive answer. I will Charge over weekend and see. Thanks mate

[Jonny 87]

You should be getting about 16 hours constant use minimum out of your 120 amp battery so something's definitely not right.

[Spruce]

I did omit to say that you must ensure that all of your cable connections are good from the power supply (battery) to the Varistream. As important is the return. Check for faulty connection at the fuse holder. This is a common fault area.

If you are using crocodile quick release clamps then please change them for proper battery terminals. We had endless trouble with those crocodile clamps. Battery failing to charge and no power to the pump were regular occurrences with our trailer unit.

[Lee.]

Thanks again,

My Varistream is now giving me an L code which is the code it gives just before the U code and then stops working. I have look at the battery charge through varistream an it tells me I have a full charge. May not be battery after all. any Idea what L means on varistream? I have proper battery terminals and also my varistream cable is screwed into terminal. I must check fuse. my voltage at the moment is 12.6v after using it for the morning and a job in the afternoon.
Mystery to me,  any help would be appreciated.
 

[Don Kee]

http://www.williamsonpumps.com/ekmps/shops/wpltd/resources/Other/varistream-digital-vsd6-user-guide-may-2011.pdf

That will tell you all the codes on the varistream...

L is low voltage, meaning that it is warning you your battery is low in power
U means under voltage, meaning your battery has no power

Check all your connections and wiring for corrosion
(Mate of mine had this problem last week, swearing blind everything was ok...turns out one of his wires had corroded inside the casing!)

Failing that, get onto the people that sold you the battery as its probably a dud...

[Lee.]

Thanks Don,

I will check wiring .
Just noticed the Battery is 12.6v when not under any load but drops to just over 10v when varistream is switch on and drawing power. Could it be the varistream? or maybe even the pump?

[Don Kee]

Just a hunch but try re calibrating the varistream...

From the voltage figures you've just given, the pump is  drawing alot to dead end...

When mine dead ends the voltage drops, but only to around 11.8...once dead ended it goes back up again

[Lee.]

You guys are amazing!

Problem found but a little to embarrassed to mention that although the positive connection seemed to be on tight the bolt clamp was a little loose. It must of had a connection but just not good enough. Thank your everyone I don't know where I would of been without you.

Thank you so much.
Lee

[Lee.]

Ooops thought that was the problem but I am still getting the L error code and in one clean the varistream has gone from registering fully charged to nearly dead. Any Ideas?

[Spruce]

I'm starting to get the feeling that the battery is a dud.

I would send it back for a replacement.

[Lee.]

Thank you

[Spruce]

I have been thinking about this.

I would definitely return that battery to where you bought it from first thing in the morning. A fellow windie in town has a Lion battery which is 8 months old, no issues. His previous battery was also a Lion battery and that lasted 2 1/2 years and was a car battery. He replaced it as it started to loose capacity and went flat before he had done a day's work.

Each of our leisure batteries has a magic eye. If its green to start with and then black when the Varistream cuts out, then this would also indicate a faulty battery.

We have found that we have got very good service from Numax batteries, although they refuse to honour their guarantee if the complaint is from a window cleaner. They seem to feel that a battery will only last us about 6 months.
The battery in my van is a 110 amp used by 2 of us and is over 3 years old.
The other 2 leisure batteries in the single operator vans are also Numax but smaller 85 amp and they are both also 3 years old and they are all going strong.

If they need to send it back to the manufacturer for testing, then get yourself a length of 20 amp automotive cable , solder/crimp a lug on the end , fit a fuse holder with a 10 amp fuse as close as possible to the van positive battery terminal and run that to the Varistream. Take the neutral where it couples to your leisure battery and earth it to the chassis. This will remove your Lion battery from the circuit and you can use your van battery for a while. you will need to put an isolator switch near the Varistream so you can switch it off and cut power to the Varistream when you have finished your day's work.

The lads both tried to use their van batteries to run their pumps but the van batteries went flat after 4 days as we do very little mileage. You will probably have to put the charger on your vans battery every second evening until you get your leisure battery sorted.

[windowswashed]

New battery should be reading about 14.4 volts when fully charged. Mine reads 14.4 at beginning of day and 12.7 at the end of the day.

[Mike #1]

Might sound like a daft question but are you fully charging the battery overnight , typically it should take possibly 5-6 hours for a full charge .

I know my battery is on its way out when it charges within about an hour and I am only getting 2 days , I then buy a new one as they can start to deplete pretty quickly .

[slap bash]

Lee i am having the same problem what brand is the battery.  got mine of the internet its a 110 ah and made by Advanced the supplier is saying its because we use it for window cleaning. So be forewarned chaps these the supplier say are not for w/c  Is this by any chance the battery

 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171073055139?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[Diamond standard ltd]

Take your battery to a near car garage and have them drop test it. It's puts the battery under full load if the needle stays were it is battery is fine, if it drops battery is scrap.

[Mike #1]

Lee i am having the same problem what brand is the battery.  got mine of the internet its a 110 ah and made by Advanced the supplier is saying its because we use it for window cleaning. So be forewarned chaps these the supplier say are not for w/c  Is this by any chance the battery

 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171073055139?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[/quote

Its in the name Leisure battery any commercial use will potentially void warranty , I either have a caravan or a boat but never had any issues in over 6yrs now .

[slap bash]

My battery dropped from 12.6 to 6,5 underload. But they have replaced already