Battery Failure.
Submitted: Sunday, Jul 18, 2010 at 12:52
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OREJAP
Following up on my recent post 80101. The auto elect. seems to think brake controller all OK, however something is slowly draining the start battery. If I leave the vehicle sitting for 2-3 days it is slow to start with slow cranking. I recently left the vehicle sitting for 5 days & although showing 12.11 volts on the H/held voltmeter the vehicle started to crank slowly & winding down to nothing!!! I do not know (neither does the auto elect at this stage) what is draining the start battery. I have a ARB dual battery system, Anderson plug with switch & solenoid, tow plug, winch & brake controller. I suppose it's element of elimination. If anyone else has experienced this problem with a vehicle I would be grateful for suggestions & thanks to all those who replied to my previous....much appreciated.
Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Sunday, Jul 18, 2010 at 13:45
Sunday, Jul 18, 2010 at 13:45
I have all the things you have except my isolator is a Redarc and I dont have a solenoid on either of my two Anderson plugs.
I dont have a winch.
I would disconnect one thing at a time and leave each for several days and see.
Also if you go to a Battery World they can
test the circuits for leakage and perhaps find it that way.
A battery has to be tested under load to be sure of its condition. They can show fully charged but fail under load.
I had my batteries checked last week after 2 years of use and they are in excellent condition.
AnswerID:
424383
Follow Up By: OREJAP - Sunday, Jul 18, 2010 at 16:43
Sunday, Jul 18, 2010 at 16:43
Hi Graham, Thanks for your help with the Brake controller & no haven't fixed it the auto elect. thought it was that but I believe he has ruled it out but still testing. Thanks again
FollowupID:
694836
Reply By: Shaker - Sunday, Jul 18, 2010 at 14:21
Sunday, Jul 18, 2010 at 14:21
What vehicle & where is it parked?
There has been reports of the electricity measuring devices such as 'Cent a Meter' installed in house meter boxes causing battery discharge in vehicles parked in their vicinity.
Apparently, they prevent the vehicle's computer from going to'sleep'.
There was a recent post on this subject at the Australian Land Rover Owners
forum.
AnswerID:
424387
Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Sunday, Jul 18, 2010 at 16:16
Sunday, Jul 18, 2010 at 16:16
Should be bread and butter for an auto electrician.
Did he measure the current being drained when the vehicle is turned off??
If so, he just needs to disconnect each of your accessories one by one.
If its none of these, then it might be something like a stuck brake light switch.
AnswerID:
424400
Follow Up By: OREJAP - Thursday, Jul 22, 2010 at 15:14
Thursday, Jul 22, 2010 at 15:14
Yes he checked when everything turned off....drawing 2.5 amps maybe up to five!!! If brake light switch stuck will b/lights stay on?
FollowupID:
695348
Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Thursday, Jul 22, 2010 at 20:47
Thursday, Jul 22, 2010 at 20:47
Yes if stuck on
If he was a decent sparky he would disable one thing at a time till he found it
FollowupID:
695384
Reply By: CraigB - Tuesday, Jul 20, 2010 at 11:30
Tuesday, Jul 20, 2010 at 11:30
Hi,
I note that you have the ARB Dual Battery system.
Question:- Is it wired so that you have a switch to connect the batteries in parallel in case of failure of your cranking battery?
If so then this is most likely your problem.
I had exactly the same thing happen to
mine.
Very frustrating to locate the problem.
Eventually tracked it down to the "smart Solenoid"
ARB advised me that they are aware of this problem with the Sure Power models 1314 & 1315.
Simply unplug the wire at the centre pin of the battery separator solenoid leading to your switch.
Regards
Craig
AnswerID:
424599
Follow Up By: OREJAP - Tuesday, Jul 20, 2010 at 23:31
Tuesday, Jul 20, 2010 at 23:31
Hi Craig, There is no switch both batteries are suppose to start the car with a cut off or prevention diode to stop the start battery going flat when I use the auxillary which I did use to run an item & subsequently forgot about it sending the auxillary flat.....I think something else is draining the start battery OR the ARB system failed because the start battery was 12.11. I would think the battery should start the vehicle at 12.11 but it didn't.
FollowupID:
695149
Reply By: Keith_A (Qld) - Tuesday, Jul 20, 2010 at 13:26
Tuesday, Jul 20, 2010 at 13:26
Hi Orejap - Any chance you have an inverter fitted in the back?
When turned on- but no 240V device connected,
mine draws about 0.4 amps.
Over 24hrs, that amounts to 9.6 ah and over 5 days almost 50ah.
The idle current in some 12V devices can mount up over several days.
Just a thought........................Keith
AnswerID:
424609
Follow Up By: OREJAP - Tuesday, Jul 20, 2010 at 23:25
Tuesday, Jul 20, 2010 at 23:25
Hi Keith, No inverter fitted. I will
check out the ARB dual battery system & see if I can locate the problem. Thanks to everyone trying to help with advice....much appreciated.
FollowupID:
695148