HELP....battery drain

[marsden]

andy / manchester

I have had my bongo for about 6 months and been everywhere in it just love them to bits but i have a problem with the main battery.if i leave the van standing for more than 2 days the main battery goes flat and i have to jumpstart off the leasure battery. all the interiour lights are off and i have even taken the radio out but this didnt make any differance so i replaced the battery and i still have the same problem can anyone help

[francophile1947]

Welcome Please read http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=29471 - it really does help us to help you.
You really need to test for a drain by isolating different circuits. I used to have the same problem and it was caused by a faulty interior fluorescent tube - it did take more than 2 days to flatten the battery though. Good luck.

[dreamwarrioruk]

what spec battery did you replace it with.and is the alternator putting out a good charge.

[g8dhe]

To try to identify which circuit is drawing current then you will need a multimeter that has at least a 10Amp current range - do you have or can you acquire such a meter (Maplin do some cheap suitable meters)?

If so using your meter set it to the 10Amp current range, to start with (you might have to move the leads between sockets on the front in some meters) now disconnect the starter battery +ve and place the meter between the +ve terminal on the battery and the +ve connector. It should read a very low value well less than 1 Amp, most likely just a few tens of milliamps. If it is a very low value then that is good, if its more than 100 milliamps then you need to identify what is drawing the current, so start pulling fuses and check if the current drops. When you have identified what is drawing current or at least the fuse number - report back here! If none of the fuses cause the current to drop then you will need the help of an auto electrician !

If the current is only a few milliamps, then it isn't something drawing current - are you charging the battery sufficiently during runs out ? Some one recently, during the cold weather, only popped around the corner a couple of times a day and had the same sort of problem, the battery just wasn't being charged enough.

[marsden]

All

Thank you for the replys.Geoff i will dig my multi meter out this weekend and take a look i will post a reply on sunday.thank you all.

[stilldesperate]

Just to add to Geoffs post, do this test with the engine/ignition off. If you try to start the Bongo like this, you'll blow the fuse in the meter.

Another check (to test the alternator output, is to start the Bongo, and with the meter at 10A DC range, CAREFULLY remove the +'ve batt lead, with the meter in-line. (You don't want to have the battery disconnected from the van at any time when the engines running).

With no lights/heaters etc on, you should be getting a healthy current INTO the battery. Put the lights, heater fan, etc etc etc on, and make sure the charge is still going IN to the battery (ie your alternator is putting out enough to charge the battery with everything on). You might need to rev the engine to see this.

..... Just my Tuppence worth!

SD

[dandywarhol]

Just to add to Geoffs post, do this test with the engine/ignition off. If you try to start the Bongo like this, you'll blow the fuse in the meter.

Another check (to test the alternator output, is to start the Bongo, and with the meter at 10A DC range, CAREFULLY remove the +'ve batt lead, with the meter in-line. (You don't want to have the battery disconnected from the van at any time when the engines running).

With no lights/heaters etc on, you should be getting a healthy current INTO the battery. Put the lights, heater fan, etc etc etc on, and make sure the charge is still going IN to the battery (ie your alternator is putting out enough to charge the battery with everything on). You might need to rev the engine to see this.

..... Just my Tuppence worth!

SD

You could be looking at a good bit more than 10A doing that stilldesperate, depending on the state of charge of the battery. I think I'd be using a larger amp scale.........

[stilldesperate]

Good point, well made, Dandywarhol

(I was in Bike, not car mode!)

SD

[marsden]

Geoff

Thanks for the info.bit of an odd one this i have done as you said and i have a reading of 0.00 no drain that i can detect from the battery.as for doing enough milage per day to charge thats possible as its only going 14 miles per day,i will put the charger on and top it up and see how long it lasts from a full charge.

[g8dhe]

That sounds hope full. Its not so much the mileage that's important but the time spent with the revs above about 1500 RPM, at that speed the alternator will be giving a good charge, but the trouble is if its in traffic or around town then quite often the average RPM is surprisingly low, and of course if you have lights on for driving at night not nearly as much much charge makes it into the battery.

[marsden]

Folks

Turns out it was the bluetooth in the radio that was the problem,wouldnt turn off .put a new radio in and wayhey problem sorted .just like to say thanks you to all who replied top one folks see you at the bongo bashes