Leisure Battery Not Charging Well?

[james13009]

Hi All I'm mid way through my Europe trip currently and until December, and I have a concern with my leisure battery.

Currently I get some BIG difference between how long my fridge(Waeco Cdf-11 - 2.5amps) lasts when the van is not moving (With out hookup). I've had it working for 30hours without charge in 28C heat (about 60 days ago) and two days ago I had it working for only 3 hours before it konked out for lack of power, in similar heat (Both at 4C) and this was at the end a day after 8 hour drive. Strange? Or does it need a longer charge from dead?

I had the battery test 2 weeks ago (2 X Hatchi 85amps - I think Jap spec) and both where fine. And I have a zig CF9 split relay charger (It also does hookup).

Anyone have any ideas?

[james13009]

So this is strange (For me anyway, I might learn something)

Bongo has not moved for 1hour and I put a multimeter across all batteries
Starter is 12.6v then after 2 minutes (Of doing nothing) it rose to 14.5v
Leisure battery did the same
Bear in mind the bongo was not running, no electricity plugged in. How am I getting 14.5v??
Residue charge after an hour???

So I then turn it on and I am getting 14.3v from the alternator and similar results on the batteries.

[bigdaddycain]

It sounds to me like you'll need Geoff (G8HDE) to remedy this one... On the whole it sounds like something is powering up intermittently causing battery reading fluctuations... I bet it's fridge related somehow.

[james13009]

Hmmm I would agree but the fridge was unplugged At the time

[missfixit70]

I can't see how a battery with no engine runnning or other electrical input can be outputting over 14 volts after an hour of doing nothing, are you sure the meter is not a bit iffy? Worth checking it with a different meter? Have you got solar panels fitted? or maybe a wind turbine?