G4 Owners Club

Battery help pls

https://forum.g4ownersclub.com/Topic8068.aspx

By Superlightr - 3 May 2008

Ive installed a leisure battery in my G4 with a link charger from the main battery via a switch.

The leisure battery came fully charged and linked to a 1000w plug socket which worked fine about 3 mths ago - ie 700w drills.

Tried it today and it cuts out, even with a 100w light bulb.    Am I right in thinking the battery may be discharged?

and if so how do I test it to confirm its discharged (apart from plugging in things if there is a way) ?

I dont understand why the link charger has not topped up the leisure battery.    Any views.   I do mainly short journeys but the link should charge up the leisure battery ( as it does the main started battery)  the link stops the main battery discharging but allows both to charge).   Im using a thinner wire from the switch to the leisure battery - perhaps this should be the full heavy duty battery wire - although the instructions indicated it would be ok.

any views...

By Superlightr - 3 May 2008

Just got a charger and the battery has discharged.  I thinbk its the short journeys I do and the fact the leisure batter has been sitting for 4 mths over winter with a low use on it.

I think the journeys I do is fine for the main battery but not enough left over for the leisure one as well.  Im off to Scotland next month for a tour in the G4 so will give it a good run out.  In anyevent a full battery will be enough for what I need - rechargers for phone/satnav/small microwave/toaster/heated blanket.

By Superlightr - 6 May 2008

Hmmm

so how long should it take to charge up a battery?   Its been on charge from 5pm Saturday and the red charging light is still on?

Does this sound like a faulty battery?

By Erasmus - 6 May 2008

Probably not a faulty battery, if it wasn't being charged properly it sounds to me as if the battery has discharged so much that a normal Halfords style charger won't be able to get it running again. Apparently the chargers that the AA/RAC have might be able to kick a battery like that back into life, but it may be easier to get it replaced under warranty.



How have you got the charging circuit wired up? A piccy or a diagram would help.



Cheers,
By Superlightr - 6 May 2008

bought a one way switch.

Main bat + & - to the switch which is earthed and then + to 2nd bat then + & - to inverter and earthed.

Followed the diagram & Instructions right Im 95% sure.

If it hasnt charged by tonight 5pm - 72 hrs then I will take the bat back to halfords.

By Erasmus - 6 May 2008

Hmmm, not sure that would work correctly TBH. The main battery will probably take all the charge with the second one getting virtually nothing. Think you need to add in a split-charge unit, something like this



If you have a "normal" battery charger it won't kick the battery into life, you need to give it a kick with a professional charger to make it work. Easiest is to take it back under warranty and get it replaced.



Cheers,
By Superlightr - 6 May 2008

Good news- its now charged.

Thanks for the info.  - The switch is very similar although it wont allow a drain on the main battery just a one way charging to the leisure battery.  Trying to find the link but it is designed just for this application type.

I presume the problem is/was that im driving long enough to top the main and the spare battery, just the main battery.  Perhaps this thinking is wrong.

With a staight split, Im worried that I may flattern the main battery if half or part of the charge is being split and there is not enough for both?