3.5t van conversion and flat batteries

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MyBoyChe

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Does anyone else have this issue? Just wondering if there is anything else to try. 2004 Renault Master van converted 4 years ago, looked after and flew through MOT in August although we did have new alternator as been having this issue for a while. Van is used 3-4 times a week but only does short runs, maybe 6 miles would be the furthest in one go! Every so often the battery goes completely flat, charge up overnight and its fine for a month or so, then it happens again. OH reckons its because it only does short distances so never really charges itself in running, sounds feasable but does anyone else have the same thing happen or can offer any thoughts?
 
I have a 2007 Renault Master. It gets used once a fortnight if it's lucky and my battery never goes flat. It also doesn't go very far either when it does go out. Starts first time.
I would be looking at changing the battery if it dies that quickly.
 
Ask your garage to pop an isolator in. Shouldn't be more than £30/40....and may stop something draining current slowly...cheaper than 2xbatteries...worth a try.
 
i had an isolator fitted as i had this problem but only in winter. I only use my isolator switch from about December to Feb but I use my lorry a lot and do proper mileage.
 
Something could be draining the battery, if I leave the battery connected in my Horsebox it will do a few trips ok. If I remove the negative connector from the battery when parking it up it will run again and again with no problems

I could try and trace what is draining the battery or fit an isolator but to be honest it's no problem just to disconnect the connection
 
Only time I ever had flat battery on my van conversion was cold morning, started it to check would start, turned it straight off and wouldn't start again. OH said yours could be alternator on way out or something could be on in van draining battery.
 
You need to find out what is draining the battery as it could well be a short circuit (in the wireing loom or one of the electrical components).
The issue is that a short circuit could cause a fire.
Get a specialist Auto-electrician to check it out and find out exactly what is causing the problem.
 
It is highly probable that the battery isnt charging sufficiently in the short time you run it. Lights heater and ws wipers use almost all the alternator output so in dark wet conditions you may wind up with the battery flatter than when you started. It is highly unlikely that something is draining the battery (more than the usual unavoidable causes such as damp). In my very extensive(expensive and highly trained) experience ,the most usual culprit is a loose fan belt. When I test a fan belt I use a volt meter and watch to see that a healthy charging voltage is reached (about 15.7 volts). With an insufficiently tight (not even loose) belt ,the volts will rise as you raise the rpm and then suddenly fall off as the belt starts to slip. Modern alternators need to have the belt bloody tight to transmit the power .A 60 amp alternator requires the best part of a kilowatt of power through usually one somewhat foxed v belt. This is well into the limit of what can be expected of such a setup.
 
Thanks everyone x Mike, thats exactly the problem we have with our Isuzu truck, even I can hear the fan belt slipping from time to time and lo and behold, within a day or two the damn thing wont start. We carry a mobile jump start pack in it as it always does it at a really inconvenient time and never at home (We tried to use it on the van but it wasnt powerful enough). A quick tighten up and all is well again. We have a little volt tester thingy plugged into the truck and when fully tightened it shows about 14 .5. Hubby is going to have a look at the van today so we will check everything suggested, tbh apart from a switch in the back which turns the sink on (and which I know is off) and the reversing/box camera which is on a switch on the dashboard, there is nothing else which could be draining it, apart from usual lights, wipers etc. Will report back!
 
I had this with my Citroen - but it was some dodgy wiring from the camera/horse area lights, despite an isolator switch. Well, still has as we've not fixed it yet! Might be worth getting any lights/cameras disconnected, charge the battery up and see how long it lasts then. Short trips shouldn't really be an issue if there isn't anything shorting or taken more than it should.
 
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