leisure batteries Forums

delboy57

hi, i have been a member for some time but even though i recently asked a question on the american rv forum i havnt posted on the newcomers forum.
we are derek & sheila from warrington cheshire (midway between liverpool & manchester). we have just aquired a 28 ft rockwood bayport based on the chevrolet chassis with the 6.5 litre turbo diesel engine (anyone know where i can find any info on rockwoods?). we have never owned either a caravan or motorhome before and yes people have said were nuts to start at this level. we hope to go continental, france through to spain in february. i am having problems with the leisure batteries in that they seem to discharge after about 1 day even though i am only using the interior lights (while i potter about "fixing" bits and pieces). there are 2 85aH leisure batts connected in parallel also a third huge "lorry" battery (apart from the vehicle 2 12v batteries). i've just had the batteries tested and the lorry one is knackered and not sure of the condition of the 2 85aH ones ive got them on trickle charge now. my question is what is the optimum arrangement/size of leisure batteries for this size of vehicle and can you go too big? we visited the york show a week last sunday and there were no maps left when we arrived, we looked for the mhf section but couldnt find it but i know you were there. since coming back ive been told that there was a company there selling 2 120aH batteries for £70, does anyone have the name/contact details for this company? cheers, derek

johnsandywhite

Hi delboy57 (derek & sheila from warrington) welcome to MHF. I am afraid that the Rockwood is what is termed as an Orphan. The company no longer exists. However. All the Running Gear (Chassis & Motor) are standard and all the fiited services are standard (usually anyway) such as Dometec, Atwood, Norcold, Suburban, Onan, Generac, etc, etc. All the door handles and fiitings. Locks and storage locker fiitings. So there is nothing on the Rockwood that is any different to any other US RV. If there are any specific questions about any of your fitted appliances? Please ask away. There are plenty here to help and offer advice. Wink

ScotJimland

Welcome Derek and Sheila ..

There are plenty of experienced friendly people here to help, I'm sure you will have lots of questions.. this is a great place to ask Very Happy

You can't have too much battery storage, space allowing fit the two 110ah batteries.
I bought my RV early this year and it was the first thing I had to do. Mine has 4 x 85ah and I will probably add another two before I go full time next year.

My next project is fitting solar panels so I can be self sufficient.

All the Best

Jim

BillD

Hi Derek,

Welcome to the site.
This is the old how long is a piece of string question again.
There are lots of discussions in the forums about battery sizes, solar panels, charging bits and pieces, etc.
However to start you on the right track, it depends on how much elec. you intend to use and what your means of recharging are going to be.
For example, short stays and plenty of movement or hook-ups and not a huge amount of usage your 2x 85AH will do.
Conversely, lots of usage (washing machines, television, air con, etc, etc) you can fill your 'van with batteries !!
I am sure you get the message.

delboy57

hi all and thanks for the welcome (sorry for delay in replying i had to go out)

johnsandy white - thanks, yes it is a norcold fridge/freezer, suburban furnace, onan generator etc, they all seem to be working ok. there are fidly bits i need like the knobs that hold the vent/inspection cover on the outside of the rv from the fridge freezer, one is missing, the dash air plastic vents are bashed and could do with replacing and the underfloor heating floor vents look like someone has tap-danced on them and need replacing. i've also seen leather covers for the steering column and along the underside of the dash to hide/tidy the wiring, i would like to know where to source all these things.

ScotJimland/BillD - thanks, i see what you mean about the leasure batteries i seem to have a fair amount of space, i could get 4 batteries in there, if i can find the address of the supplier who was at the york show (if they exist) i could get 4 120's.

are the leisure batteries supposed to be getting charged when you are plugged into the mains?

johnsandywhite

Hi delboy57. You see it's not as bad as you thought is it. You should be able to pick up all the little bits and pieces you need from

BillD

Hi Delboy,

I would say they certainly should be.

johnsandywhite

I missed that bit Biil . Embarassed

delboy57

hi all and many thanks for the replies, i've also spotted the goldrv.co.uk has anyone used this?
i'm still having problems with the leisure batteries, i have an "auto-electrician" trying to sort out but up to now after 3 hours he has diagnosed the third leisure battery which was just a huge lorry battery as being knackered. this has now been disconnected leaving the two 85aH leisure batteries.
he has established that 240v ac is supplied via the mains or the generator (onan 4000 genset-emerald plus, although labelled 120v ac), this 240v supplies all the 240v sockets (double in bedroom, double in kitchen, double in lounge) and the tv, this is then stepped down via large "blue-box" under seat by table to 120v which supplies all the 120v sockets and goes to a magic box of tricks in the bedroom which is the "MAGNETEC POWER CONVERTOR WITH BATTERY CHARGER SERIES 6300A MODEL6345". this i believe distibutes the 120v ac and also converts to 12v dc and distributes that. this has the circuit breakers for the 120v mains items and they are labelled
1. MAIN - ? dont know 2. AC-presume roof air conditioner 3.MICRO-presume microwave 4.GFI-dont know 5.RECEIPT-dont know 6.CONV.-dont know.
it also has fuse for the 12v dc items, curbside (lights?), roadside (lights?), ceiling (lights?), furnace (water heater?), and pump (presume water), i can check these by removing them in turn later. in the operating instructions it states that " when 120v ac is connected the battery charger will automatically sense the condition of the rv batteries and bring up to full charge" this is not happening, i charged the leisure batteries up using the engine yesterday and the mains has been plugged in since and now they are completely flat, they cant even light up the display over the cooker which shows the levels in the holding tanks etc., has anyone any ideas, are there common faults with the Magnetec? also with this setup does it mean that if the leisure batteries were fully charged that i would only be able to use the 12v items and none of the 120v or 240v unless i connected up to the mains or ran the generator? sorry for being long winded and asking so