General battery display

[lazarus]

hi i have just fitted a 220 amp leisure battery and the display is saying it is flat but have been using it for the last month the previous battery was 85a and the read out was ok all i have done is put a larger battery in any advice would be most welcome thanks
lazarus

 

[toyogran]

You may have to reprogramme your leisure battery control panel to accommodate the new 220Ah battery. Have a look in your handbook or google the manufacturer of your electric system (Electroblock/Sterling etc).
You need to make sure that your onboard charger (when on hookup) is capable of delivering enough amps to charge your leisure battery up. If the leisure battery get too discharged you may blow a fuse on the charger when it replenishes the discharged battery (or make it overheat).
A discharged 220Ah battery can pull a lot of amps initially (20A plus).
You need to check also that your engine alternator has sufficient output to give enough current back into the battery when it is being charged when you drive along. Just check that the split charge relay fuse is adequate.
The original 85Ah leisure battery may have been the capacity specified by the manufacture.
Have a look on any of the motorhome forums online - someone will have been there before!

 

[lazarus]

thanks for that TG, my van is a 2004 swift kontiki and i believe the alternator puts out 160 amps although i am not 100% on that.as i said i have been using it for the last 4 weeks with no problems, the longest i used it without recharging was three days including a tv and when i put a voltmeter on it,it had hardly used any juice which surprised me, having said that i will take your advice and check it out, i also would never let it discharge more than 50% thanks laz