Another Leisure Battery Dilemma

[EuropeanVanderlust]

We are on the road- have been for the last 4 weeks- still have 4-6 weeks to go on this trip. We are noticing that the leisure battery is no longer lasting until the morning- which seems insane!

We have taken the GC on several multi week trips in the past- and normally when we wake up 6-7am the leisure battery will have 20-40% charge left.

Over the last 2 weeks we have been waking up to 10% or “Battery Critically Low”

Nothing has changed in our internal usage- 2 cell phones on USB charger, some interior lights before bed, refrigerator on night mode

Our leisure battery was replaced when bought our van used at the end of April 2023. When we are home and parked we turn off the mains switch, and then 2 days before travel we turn on and plug in at home. When traveling we charge while driving, sometimes using the booster switch if only driving a short distance and 1-2 times a week we stay at a campsite and fully charge on EHU. When we park for the night without hookup we are normally 80-100% charged.

We are just not sure what maybe the cause in this change of performance. Any thoughts? We welcome all thoughts and ideas, as we hate having to start the engine in the morning to be able to was dishes and such- we really don’t want to disturb our fellow campers at the park up.

 

[GordonH]

24hr - 36hr is pretty normal if you started with the battery at 100% but sounds like you you seeing significantly less so either battery starts <100% or its not in good shape or you have something taking a fair amount of power.

1. Have the battery checked to ensure it is good condition
2. The alternator will only fully charge the battery if on boost, when not on boost it will only charge to 80% independent of how long you drive for.
3. There are constant consumers on the leisure circuit even when the van is not in use less if the main red switch is off but still some. Typically with the switch on draw is 4.5Ah/day and with it off 2.7Ah/day so the battery will be flat in around 30 days even with the switch off so if it has been left for an extended period beyond 4-5 weeks unused the battery may be in poor shape.
4. Do you have solar?
5. If you are looking for off grid camping for more extended periods consider a lithium power station power source, lots to choose from with a wide range of price points and capability and between this forum and the various facebook groups lots of advice on ‘how-to-integrate’.

I’ve attached a document that I posted to the VW GC UK Facebook group in December that may be of help/interest.

 

[EuropeanVanderlust]

Thank you @GordonH

This one is very strange for us- we’ll have the battery checked- as that is all we can think that it is. We left it for 4 weeks with red mains switched off, we guess that could have done it. Brand new battery 7 months old at the time.

We are very used to the 24-36 hours on a full charge, but to now be draining in 12-14 hours is a bit crazy.

We will travel on and manage until we can get it checked.

 

[GordonH]

Battery testers are fairly inexpensive although I don’t know if these cheaper ones are as effective/accurate as the ones the dealers would have.

TOPDON Car Battery Tester BT20, 12V Battery Tester with Voltage Test, Load Test, Unlock Cranking and Charging Test in App, 100-2000CCA Battery Analyzer for Cars Trucks SUV ATV Boats Vehicle https://amzn.eu/d/htozq8T

 

[ChrisGC]

We had a similar experience 18 months ago and it turned out to be the fridge that was at fault. It started just as you had mentioned and then we noticed the fridge temperature was dropping lower and lower even when we thought we had night mode on. Ultimately ended up with the fridge being replaced and battery problem was resolved.

 

[EuropeanVanderlust]

We had a similar experience 18 months ago and it turned out to be the fridge that was at fault. It started just as you had mentioned and then we noticed the fridge temperature was dropping lower and lower even when we thought we had night mode on. Ultimately ended up with the fridge being replaced and battery problem was resolved.

Good to know! Once we check the battery out we’ll look to the fridge next. We will likely be due for oil change by the time we get home in 4-6 weeks so we will have the dealer take a look at everything- just trying to make it through the trip now!

 

[Glynn]

Are you also using your heating overnight? With the fridge and heating/hot water overnight, the battery will soon drop from 100% to 25% by the morning.

 

[DLCALI23]

Re ChrisGC comments above, we had same issue too, it was the fridge running all the time, it is a common occurrence on the fridge that directly under the freezer compartment the slide out tray (not the mesh one) moves out of position, this causes the thermostat not to read correctly and the fridge keeps going!
We didn’t even realise there was a slide out tray under the freezer compartment but hey, check its pushed right back, turn the fridge on to no.1 and see if that helps.
its easy to spot as your fridge food will be ‘very’ cold if it’s not in place.