Leisure batteries discharging

[PhillM]

Hi. Anyone else have problems with leisure batteries discharging? I don’t mean over several months but over a single week. So after a mains charge the readings on overhead control panel were >60hours 10/10bars and 12.8V. Four days later 20hours 30mins, 3/10bars and 12.0v. The batteries charge up ok when we’re driving so that’s not the issue.

Generally we drive the Cali at the weekends and it’s on the drive during the week. It’s a 2020 Ocean. Been to my local Van Centre, multiple times, batteries have been replaced, different checks done, but no solution yet. They’ve just advised me to switch the power off at the RCD breaker when parked for the week (!). There’s nothing, to my knowledge, left connected or running whilst its parked up.

Anyone else experienced this – and if so what was the solution?

 

[dspuk]

Can only think there must be a parasitic draw somewhere - ours just fine, 22 Ocean.

Are you seeing any amperage draw on the screen over and above the 1A needed to power the screen?

Have you checked the batteries at rest for a draw with a multimeter?

Is there a tracker fitted for instance? Fridge on? Light left on?

 

[lr67]

Hi, not sure if it matches your issue, but please see the thread relating to my experience..

NEW T6.1 Ocean: Leisure Battery discharging with nothing (obvious) on.

Hi, first of all thanks to everyone who posts here, I have learned a lot without even using my van! I have trawled through the various forum posts and cannot find a relevant post, so hopefully someone may either know, or be able to point me in the right direction. I took delivery in mid-Jan...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[WelshGas]

Hi. Anyone else have problems with leisure batteries discharging? I don’t mean over several months but over a single week. So after a mains charge the readings on overhead control panel were >60hours 10/10bars and 12.8V. Four days later 20hours 30mins, 3/10bars and 12.0v. The batteries charge up ok when we’re driving so that’s not the issue.

Generally we drive the Cali at the weekends and it’s on the drive during the week. It’s a 2020 Ocean. Been to my local Van Centre, multiple times, batteries have been replaced, different checks done, but no solution yet. They’ve just advised me to switch the power off at the RCD breaker when parked for the week (!). There’s nothing, to my knowledge, left connected or running whilst its parked up.

Anyone else experienced this – and if so what was the solution?

The RCD breaker will have No effect at all. It only works on the Mains 230 v supply when plugged into EHU, so the Dealership have absolutely no clue.
From the figures you have given you have a current draw of approximately 1.5amps / hr.
The fridge is Off, as stated. Do you have any USB chargers plugged into the 12v sockets as they will consume power even if not charging anything?
Any Dashcam connected to Leisure batteries?
If you have USB C sockets then these ? can consume power when not in use, I don’t know on the T6.1.
Lastly the Inverter 230v socket. On the T5/6 there was a small LED under the flap that was green when the inverter was powered up. Putting a plug in tripped a microswitch to turn inverter On and LED On. Sometimes microswitch jammed and the inverter stayed On with no plug in so consumed power.

 

[PhillM]

Can only think there must be a parasitic draw somewhere - ours just fine, 22 Ocean.

Are you seeing any amperage draw on the screen over and above the 1A needed to power the screen?

Have you checked the batteries at rest for a draw with a multimeter?

Is there a tracker fitted for instance? Fridge on? Light left on?

Thanks for the quick response. No the screen only says 1A. I believe the Van Centre checked the batteries at rest - but will defo make sure they did when I take it back in. There is no tracker fitted (although previous owner had one, but assured me that had been removed). and no nothing obvious like the fridge or light left on. I even take out the phone charging cable now as trying to eliminate every possibility.

 

[PhillM]

The RCD breaker will have No effect at all. It only works on the Mains 230 v supply when plugged into EHU, so the Dealership have absolutely no clue.
From the figures you have given you have a current draw of approximately 1.5amps / hr.
The fridge is Off, as stated. Do you have any USB chargers plugged into the 12v sockets as they will consume power even if not charging anything?
Any Dashcam connected to Leisure batteries?
If you have USB C sockets then these ? can consume power when not in use, I don’t know on the T6.1.
Lastly the Inverter 230v socket. On the T5/6 there was a small LED under the flap that was green when the inverter was powered up. Putting a plug in tripped a microswitch to turn inverter On and LED On. Sometimes microswitch jammed and the inverter stayed On with no plug in so consumed power.

Thanks for helpful response WelshGas. ok, note the comment re RCD. I haven't got round to trying that but won't bothe know. will go back to the Van Centre and suggest their may have got that wrong. Re the USB chargers - no I take them out after every journey now to eliminate those as potential cause. and no dash cam in the van. there's no LED on the 230V socket I can see and the flaps long gone. We do have a UK adaptor plugged in , but that shouldn't take any power.
I've got more information now thanks, so can go back to the Van Centre with more questions. They were supposed to be contacting VW for help. Maybe they'll have some new ideas?!

 

[PhillM]

Hi, not sure if it matches your issue, but please see the thread relating to my experience..

NEW T6.1 Ocean: Leisure Battery discharging with nothing (obvious) on.

Hi, first of all thanks to everyone who posts here, I have learned a lot without even using my van! I have trawled through the various forum posts and cannot find a relevant post, so hopefully someone may either know, or be able to point me in the right direction. I took delivery in mid-Jan...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Hi, not sure if it matches your issue, but please see the thread relating to my experience..

NEW T6.1 Ocean: Leisure Battery discharging with nothing (obvious) on.

Hi, first of all thanks to everyone who posts here, I have learned a lot without even using my van! I have trawled through the various forum posts and cannot find a relevant post, so hopefully someone may either know, or be able to point me in the right direction. I took delivery in mid-Jan...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Thanks Liam

Read through your helpful post.

Note your comments about replacing both the batteries. Mine have been replaced twice, so think we can eliminate that as a cause. And Van Centre did tell me there were two! Also the alternator seems to be charging them ok.

Good that you got the problem solved. Mine still dropping out – After a drive on the 1st June was 12.6V, 70% and reading 53h 30m. This morning (4th June) they’re down to 12.1V, 40% and 27h 30m and 1A.

I’ll see what the Van Centre says when I take it in (again) in the next few weeks. At least I’ll be armed with a lot more information thanks to you guys.

 

[KGCali]

Thanks for helpful response WelshGas. ok, note the comment re RCD. I haven't got round to trying that but won't bothe know. will go back to the Van Centre and suggest their may have got that wrong. Re the USB chargers - no I take them out after every journey now to eliminate those as potential cause. and no dash cam in the van. there's no LED on the 230V socket I can see and the flaps long gone. We do have a UK adaptor plugged in , but that shouldn't take any power.
I've got more information now thanks, so can go back to the Van Centre with more questions. They were supposed to be contacting VW for help. Maybe they'll have some new ideas?!

Remove the UK adapter in the 230v inverter socket by the front seat as just having it plugged in can cause the inverter to activate and draw power.

 

[WelshGas]

Thanks for helpful response WelshGas. ok, note the comment re RCD. I haven't got round to trying that but won't bothe know. will go back to the Van Centre and suggest their may have got that wrong. Re the USB chargers - no I take them out after every journey now to eliminate those as potential cause. and no dash cam in the van. there's no LED on the 230V socket I can see and the flaps long gone. We do have a UK adaptor plugged in , but that shouldn't take any power.
I've got more information now thanks, so can go back to the Van Centre with more questions. They were supposed to be contacting VW for help. Maybe they'll have some new ideas?!

The U.K. adapter plugged into the Inverter will switch the inverter On and it will use power as the microswitch will be triggered. It should be removed.

 

[PhillM]

Remove the UK adapter in the 230v inverter socket by the front seat as just having it plugged in can cause the inverter to activate and draw power.

Done. Good call. Thanks

 

[KGCali]

Done. Good call. Thanks

What's your battery current draw with it removed?