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sallytrafic · Campsite DB Admin

I wonder how well are batteries are looked after before we get them?

Many, if not most, people experience late delivery of their new van (or at least it seems so from posts on here)

Many people have new vans that seem to drain their batteries excessively.

Many people report having to change their leisure battery before three years from new.

I wonder, are the converters and then the dealers, failing to keep the batteries charged.

a) when received into their stores
b) after fitting to the vans and before all systems are switched on
c) after build and before sending to the dealer
d) after arrival at dealer

how many times do they go (by self discharge or other reason) below 50% or much worse 10% of capacity?

Minerva

Hi Frank

I should imagine that the leisure battery is never charged up at the dealers until some poor soul has bought it but by then it could have lain in a fully discharged state for months/yrs and rendered pretty useless for the new owner, mind you, it should be replacable under the warrantee but what a waste.

Bill

wakk44

How true,

when I bought 2 new leisure batteries from Towsure last year there was about 30 110A/H batteries on display.They were the 'magic eye' type with the green indicator for fully charged.I had to search through them to find 2 charged ones as only around 5-6 of them were showing green Rolling Eyes

Steve

sallytrafic · Campsite DB Admin

Well this thread hasn't had much response but from the above posts I think that there could be a problem in this area perhaps Swift or Johnscrossmotorhomes would care to comment?

GEMMY

When I picked up my new Hymer from Hymer Uk it had been the

showroom model for 6 months.The first thing I had to do was replace the

engine battery.Fiat replaced no problem, followed by the leisure battery,

again no problem,by hymer uk.It is obvious that after delivery,no-one l

ooks after the batteries.

theoldtrout

I bought our MH second hand, it was two and half years old and had been at a dealers for five months over a winter. The single 85AH leisure battery failed after ten weeks of my ownership and in spite of my complaint, the dealer refused to replace as he said these are excluded from warranty! I replaced it with two 110AH batteries; I got a decent discount though.

When looking at MHs - and I looked at a great number - I noticed that the habitation batteries were in situ but disconnected, so no wonder the batteries fail prematurely.

timbop37

The leisure battery on our first van packed in after only a month ans was replaced under warranty. I'm sure this happens a lot and as Bill says, what a waste. It only seems a minor thing to the dealer but it causes a lot of aggravation and frustration for the owner. The front seat had to be removed to get it out each time.

Perhaps members who have had a problem don't see it as such, Frank.

Tim

oilslick

When I bought the second battery for our motorhome (as in we needed 2!) I had to spend about 15 minutes going through the pile of batteries to get to one which did not have a date code older than 2 years. I really felt that one this old just sat on the floor would not last. I also noted that none of them had the green indicator showing. I dont think it even occoured to them that maybe they should give them all a charge. (but I am sorry to say, I dont have a very high opinion of motorhome dealers anyway!) I am also amazed at the price range, we bought an 85 Ah for £39.95, but could have paid nearly twice this.