Leisure battery

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Louby

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I was told when I bought my horsebox that the leisure battery needed replacing. The lights in the living worked but werent bright. Well tonight they were barely on. Just wondered if the leisure battery is independant of the wagon batteries, which are both new or should the wagon batteries trickle charge the leisure battery.
Is it worth trying to charge the leisure battery up or do I need to buy a new one?
Thanks :)
 
Thanks, I thought this was how it worked.
Its odd as first time I drove it the lights worked fine, ok a bit dim. It was then stored for us in their barn as the snow was so bad we couldnt pick it up, so we went to pay for it and had another quick look, lights worked ok then. I finally picked it up last week and went in it today and the lights are pretty much dead. The isolator is on so maybe it is connected and isnt getting a charge from the main battery? But it was stored for over a month, not moved as it was blocked in a barn and the lights worked.
Hmmmmm??
 
I don't know if they are linked to the lorry battery, but I'm sure you can just charge the leisure battery - they are designed to be charged and discharged and stand it better than car batteries:)
 
Thank you.
I didnt know if they deteriated and lost charge with age. I would think the battery is the original one, so pretty old now and probably hardly used as it has a generator on it that hasnt been used once, instructions in microwave as that never used either!
 
Louby said:
Thank you.
I didnt know if they deteriated and lost charge with age. I would think the battery is the original one, so pretty old now and probably hardly used as it has a generator on it that hasnt been used once, instructions in microwave as that never used either!
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they arnt that expensive(£60) a caravan place would have one but its worth taking it off and charging with mains charger a cheap small one is fine charge it for about 24 hours on a low setting.. two things to remember one is as the batery gets older it wont have the same capacity, think of a bucket that has a little more mud in it every time you fill it eventuly there isnt any room for water, so you will charge it then find it only works the lights for a few minutes!!!! the other very important thing is if it is set up to charge off the lorry engine it wont put much charge it unless you run the engine for hours as it would take about 12 hours to fully charge any of that type of batery... has the lorry got a hook up to conect it to the mains (a blue plug )??? if it is it should have a built in charger for the leisure battery and then you just plug it in over night to charge it....
Hey and happy new lorry...so at last you got fixed up :D
 
perfect11s said:
they arnt that expensive(£60) a caravan place would have one but its worth taking it off and charging with mains charger a cheap small one is fine charge it for about 24 hours on a low setting.. two things to remember one is as the batery gets older it wont have the same capacity, think of a bucket that has a little more mud in it every time you fill it eventuly there isnt any room for water, so you will charge it then find it only works the lights for a few minutes!!!! the other very important thing is if it is set up to charge off the lorry engine it wont put much charge it unless you run the engine for hours as it would take about 12 hours to fully charge any of that type of batery... has the lorry got a hook up to conect it to the mains (a blue plug )??? if it is it should have a built in charger for the leisure battery and then you just plug it in over night to charge it....
Hey and happy new lorry...so at last you got fixed up :D
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Thank you, I didnt let you know as I ve gone against everything both you and I said :eek::eek::eek: I just hope I dont live to regret it :D:D:D

Im quite happy to buy a new one, just find it odd that it worked in a fashion after standing for ages and now its barely working at all!
Any ideas how I check the brake fluid level??? I think Ive found the resevoir, on top of the cylinder thingys??? :D but with the skirts havent a clue how Im supposed to get my arms up there!!
Oh the joys of horseboxes :D:D
 
Louby said:
Thank you, I didnt let you know as I ve gone against everything both you and I said :eek::eek::eek: I just hope I dont live to regret it :D:D:D

Im quite happy to buy a new one, just find it odd that it worked in a fashion after standing for ages and now its barely working at all!
Any ideas how I check the brake fluid level??? I think Ive found the resevoir, on top of the cylinder thingys??? :D but with the skirts havent a clue how Im supposed to get my arms up there!!
Oh the joys of horseboxes :D:D
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not easy!! if you can drive on to a hump or over a dip you might be able to get under the skirts but be carefull it dosent slip, if it was mine would have someone with a pit give it a check over and a lube job /oil change and check all the fluid levels...
 
perfect11s said:
not easy!! if you can drive on to a hump or over a dip you might be able to get under the skirts but be carefull it dosent slip, if it was mine would have someone with a pit give it a check over and a lube job /oil change and check all the fluid levels...
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After todays attempt I think you are right! I was lay on the floor, arms contorted in an attempt to reach the cap, then the dog stood on my hair so I couldnt move and then proceeded to lick my face ewwww, then water dripped straight down my ear from the skirt. I gave up then :D:D:D
 
Regards the battery you need a split charger which will charge the leisure battery as you travel, when not in use if you can disconnect one of the terminals that will help. Do you know if your lights or halogen or LED as this will have an impact on the energy consumption. I hope this helps
 
Thanks. Its an old lorry so Im not sure what the lights are. I dont think they are LED or Halogen, I could be wrong though
 
The cold weather can kill batteries. I wouldnt waste your money without checking the old one first. Take it to a garage and ask them to put it on charge for you, or get a charger and do it your self. If it works initially and then the same thing happens, then its not charging off the engine, but the battery is good. That is if it has a split charger.

If there is a split charger, the lights should brighten up when you start the engine. If this works, but the battery doesn`t hold a charge when you switch the engine off, then replace it. If there is a split charger it will take a long time to just charge off the engine. They are only designed to keep them topped up... Hope that makes sense!
 
If you have the chance to change the to LED this will help as they use much much less power than any other lights. I work for a company that sell horse box living parts so have used this knowledge to build my own lorry. Split chargers are quite cheap but not the easiest thing to fit unless you know what your doing? (I don't!!)
 
EmmaJaneWilliams said:
If you have the chance to change the to LED this will help as they use much much less power than any other lights. I work for a company that sell horse box living parts so have used this knowledge to build my own lorry. Split chargers are quite cheap but not the easiest thing to fit unless you know what your doing? (I don't!!)
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Neither do I :D:D
Thanks for the info
 
sprite1978 said:
The cold weather can kill batteries. I wouldnt waste your money without checking the old one first. Take it to a garage and ask them to put it on charge for you, or get a charger and do it your self. If it works initially and then the same thing happens, then its not charging off the engine, but the battery is good. That is if it has a split charger.

If there is a split charger, the lights should brighten up when you start the engine. If this works, but the battery doesn`t hold a charge when you switch the engine off, then replace it. If there is a split charger it will take a long time to just charge off the engine. They are only designed to keep them topped up... Hope that makes sense!
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:confused::confused::confused: sort off :D:D
I will try the lights tomorrow when I take it for a run, then I wil know if it has a split charger, is that right? If it has and the lights work but then die quickly after turning the engine off, then Im presuming I need a new battery??

If I can get the battery off, damn skirts in the way! then its worth charging it to see if it holds a charge before buying another??

Im just confused as to why on both occasions I viewed the lorry, the lights worked, ok a bit dim but after one week of being stood, it is almost dead. The lorry had stood inbetween me viewing. Why would this happen?
 
Every lorry is diffeernt when it comes to leisure batteries. Mine for eaxample is free standing and I just take it out and charge it at home when I need to. If you have a 3 way fridge there is a pretty good chance it will be connected to your lorry battery, but you have to run the lorry to charge them and also normally flip a switch to get it to charge.

Go Outdoors sometimes have good deals on leisure batteries
 
Thanks. Ive only had it a week. The previous owner never used the living apart from making a brew so they didnt know how anything worked. There is a fridge, seperate pump which works from a switch.
Sorry if this sounds thick but what is a 3 way fridge? And where would I find the flip switch if there is one?
My last lorry was really basic so didnt have any of this. They told me where the leisure battery was, said it needed changing, would probably be ok if I wasnt staying over anywhere but its almost dead.
 
Louby said:
Thanks. Ive only had it a week. The previous owner never used the living apart from making a brew so they didnt know how anything worked. There is a fridge, seperate pump which works from a switch.
Sorry if this sounds thick but what is a 3 way fridge? And where would I find the flip switch if there is one?
My last lorry was really basic so didnt have any of this. They told me where the leisure battery was, said it needed changing, would probably be ok if I wasnt staying over anywhere but its almost dead.
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Um nother surgeestion!!!! find someone who services caravans get them to check the gas and the fridge also they could go over the electrics and show you how things work!!!! oh on a three way caravan fridge means it can work of , gas, mains electric, or the charging circuit when the lorry engine is going...
better to just use gas TBH....
 
3 way fridge is powered by

12v battery - for when you are driving down the road, fridges use a lot of power so you only ever want to use your leisure battery when driving - as long as it is hooked up to your lorry battery.

Gas - for when you are staying away - the most efficient and cheapest way of running your fridge if you don't have electric hook up. Always use this method when you are staying in it - it means you will still have lights.

240v - is a normal plug for when you have access to electricity.

I was reading last night that 12v will only keep you fridge going really, you would want to run it off gas or 240v to get it cold.

On the front of the fridge there is normal a switch that you can use to choose your power supply. You should also have some sort of box (really sorry don't know what to call it - fuse box?) which would give you the option of connecting your leisure battery to the lorry battery. This would normally be inside the living somewhere - maybe in a cupboard.

Do you have any relatives that like caravans? They should be able to show you how it all works as it should be roughly the same. A caravans leisure battery is connected to the car when they are driving.
 
:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o
Whispers....... we bought a caravan last summer :eek::eek::eek: and yes it has a 3 way fridge :o:o:o:o:o:o:o
I just didnt know thats what they were called:o:o:o. Right today Im going to have a good look round it.
TBH I wasnt looking for a lorry with all the mod cons so I wasnt really bothered what worked and didnt work in the living but I need lights :D
I have to admit I am now getting intrigued though to find out what everything is for. It has 2 gas bottles in in, maybe the fridge is gas powered? Hmmmm, at least I have a better idea now, Thanks :)

Thanks again everyone for replying
 
I think the fridge is gas, where the 3 way switch is on the caravan fridge, is a dial with an ignition flame symbol, so I think thats sorted.
Got underneath and I dont think I will get the battery off without a pit to give me more room, so I think I will just buy a new one and take it to mechanics to have the brake fluid checked and ask him nicely to put the battery on too.
Why do some horsebox builders make things so unaccessible?
 
Friends mum can get me a new battery from work a bit cheaper. I asked for a 12v but she also asked what amp????
Any ideas :D
 
sprite1978 said:
The amount of power is measured in Amp hours, i run 2 at 90Amp hours.
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Thanks
So does that mean the higher the Amp the better or do I need to buy a specific Amp. Theres only one battery on this. I tried the lights today with the engine running and they dont work so it looks like it doesnt have a split charger.
 
sprite1978 said:
Its not specific. The higher the better.

If there is no charger, how are you going to keep the battery charged? Especially as you cant get to the battery?
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God knows :D:D
I reckon I could just about get to it but it wouldnt be easy, The damn skirts are in the way. Its an old wagon so theyve managed for a good few years. Maybe it has a split charger but its broke???? I need to get under it with a torch. How can I tell if it has a split charger?
Sorry for the daft questions.
 
The easiest way would be to call the people you bought it off! Its quite hard otherwise, as the charger could be anywhere on the wagon. Does it have a 240v hook up? It might charge off that.
 
sprite1978 said:
The easiest way would be to call the people you bought it off! Its quite hard otherwise, as the charger could be anywhere on the wagon. Does it have a 240v hook up? It might charge off that.
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Its pretty embarrassing really as I know nothing about what works, what anything is etc etc. I wasnt bothered about a fancy living as I'd probably never use it, just wanted a good horse area but I need lights. The people I bought it off were the same. They'd used the cooker a couple of times but thats it. It has a brand new never used generator on it, he said he didnt know if it worked as he'd never tried it. It has cava heating, never used. Microwave, brand new, never used. My last horsebox had day living only so Im totally clueless. I havent found a 240v hook up anywhere. God how embarrassing :D:D
 
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