McLouis Leisure battery problem

[Leisure battery problem]

We think we have drained our leisure battery flat, but it doesn’t seem to be charging when we run the engine. How long should it take before we see any charge? Would it be quicker to connect to our generator? We are wild camping and stuck without it 

[Keithl]

What voltage is the leisure battery showing on your MH display? If no voltage reading then you have possibly blown the main leisure battery fuse that is likely right near the batteries positive terminal.

Alternatively do you have a voltmeter or can you borrow one to measure the leisure battery voltage directly on its terminals?

Keith.

[Brian Kirby]

Your post suggests that you may not be fully familiar with the 12V and 230V systems in your van.

If that is the case, I'd suggest getting the van to the nearest motorhome dealer's workshop for evaluation as soon as possible - even if that means cutting short your trip.  With an unknown cause of the blown fuse, remedy may require a technician competent in both 230V and 12V systems to fully resolve.

By all means if you are able to check the battery voltage as Keith suggests above do that, and tell us the result, but don't take liberties with 12V batteries!

If it is not flat, and you make a mistake while trying to evaluate the problem, a 12V battery can pack a hefty punch - sufficient, for example, to start a cable fire if mis-connected.

Also, if the fuse Keith mentions above is blown, do not try to replace it before whatever caused it to blow has been found and remedied.

[Alanb]

4 hours ago, Keithl said:

What voltage is the leisure battery showing on your MH display? If no voltage reading then you have possibly blown the main leisure battery fuse that is likely right near the batteries positive terminal.

Alternatively do you have a voltmeter or can you borrow one to measure the leisure battery voltage directly on its terminals?

Keith.

May I suggest that for "main leisure battery fuse", perhaps a better alternative would be the main starter battery fuse, for the habitation electrics.  My reasoning is that to discharge the habitation (leisure) battery, should require its main fuse to be intact.   A failure to recharge could also be due to the starter or vehicle battery fuse having failed.

Another possibility is a fault in the split charge relay circuitry.

It should be noted that it will take several hours to recharge a flat battery, whatever method is employed.

If as suggested a 230V generator is available, connecting it to the vehicle inlet, and using the mains charger would be a quick way to check whether or not the battery can be charged, and provide a clue as to where the problem may be.

Alan

[onecal]

Hi

Great advice from all here Why not post a few photos of you charging circuitry in your motorhome I am sure that may be of great help to all here to further assist you out  By the way are you using solar maybe + generator as back up?  ?

Regards

[Brian Kirby]

It would probably also help if you could clarify which model and year your McLouis is, what capacity (in Ah), and age, the installed leisure battery is and, if possible, what make and model the 12V battery charger and associated control panel and electrics (CBE?) are.