New leisure batteries not holding charge

[Calibrator]

Hi, I replaced my two leisure batteries about 2 months ago with Varta LA 80 AGM and all seemed well. I noticed that batteries were draining even though I haven't been camping and using them.
I have hooked up van to charge them a couple of times until they showed 100% but they quickly revert to 90%
Returning from a week away I checked control screen and batteries were showing 30% and -O.2 Amp drain, see photo. Clearly something isn't right.
Any advice?

 

[colintfcolintf]

Do you have anything plugged in within the living area causing a drain ?

 

[WelshGas]

Hi, I replaced my two leisure batteries about 2 months ago with Varta LA 80 AGM and all seemed well. I noticed that batteries were draining even though I haven't been camping and using them.
I have hooked up van to charge them a couple of times until they showed 100% but they quickly revert to 90%
Returning from a week away I checked control screen and batteries were showing 30% and -O.2 Amp drain, see photo. Clearly something isn't right.
Any advice?View attachment 141675

-0.2v is the Control Panel screen consumption. Drops to 0v when screen goes Off.
As mentioned make sure nothing is plugged into any 12v socket.
Lift up flap on the aB pillar inverter socket. Is the LED lite, top L under cover.

 

[Calibrator]

Hi, nothing plugged in anywhere. Which is the aB Pilar inverter socket? Is that the 240v euro socket on side panel trim behind passenger seat?

 

[WelshGas]

Hi, nothing plugged in anywhere. Which is the aB Pilar inverter socket? Is that the 240v euro socket on side panel trim behind passenger seat?

Yes. That’s it.

 

[Calibrator]

Hi, nothing plugged in anywhere. Which is the aB Pilar inverter socket? Is that the 240v euro socket on side panel trim behind passenger seat?

 

[Calibrator]

Hi, nothing plugged into it but there is a green light glowing. Should that be on?

 

[colintfcolintf]

Hi, nothing plugged into it but there is a green light glowing. Should that be on?

Where is the green light ? I don’t recall it on mine

 

[flying banana]

Check you never blew the cube fuse on the rear battery pole. If the batteries were at different states of charge when connected, the imbalance might have blown the fuse, halving your capacity

 

[Calibrator]

Where is the green light ? I don’t recall it on mine

It's under the cover above the socket pins.
It is referred to on page 219 of the main owners manual as follows...haven't a clue what child safety feature is?

 

[Calibrator]

That is possible. I assume I can check this by testing continuity across fuse.

 

[Calibrator]

Check you never blew the cube fuse on the rear battery pole. If the batteries were at different states of charge when connected, the imbalance might have blown the fuse, halving your capacity

 

[Calibrator]

See reply above

 

[flying banana]

That is possible. I assume I can check this by testing continuity across fuse.

Yes. Or check voltage each side of it. Should be the same. If its not. Its blown.

 

[WelshGas]

Hi, nothing plugged into it but there is a green light glowing. Should that be on?

No. It should only come on when a plug is inserted.
Insertion of a plug triggers a microswitch to switch the inverter On.
I would suggest the following.
Use the appropriate plug to trigger the microswitch , hopefully to Off.
If you are never going to use the Inverter then remove the fuse. It is a 30 amp fuse under the Front Passenger seat, in front of the Leisure Battery.

As a test remove the 30 amp fuse and check that the LED goes out. Do the batterries now last longer?

 

[Calibrator]

Many thanks for this advice. I got a shock from the socket when I lifted the cover and inadvertently touched the exposed conductors and couldn't see how this could be in child 'safe' mode.

 

[Calibrator]

Yes. Or check voltage each side of it. Should be the same. If its not. Its blown.

Thanks for this. I think I will give the job to an auto electrician and copy your suggestions to him.

 

[WelshGas]

Many thanks for this advice. I got a shock from the socket when I lifted the cover and inadvertently touched the exposed conductors and couldn't see how this could be in child 'safe' mode.

I don’t understand. There shouldn’t be any exposed conductors.

This is how the Inverter socket should look and the type of plug adapter used.

 

[Calibrator]

I don’t understand. There shouldn’t be any exposed conductors.

This is how the Inverter socket should look and the type of plug adapter used.

View attachment 141687View attachment 141688

Now you mention it, I thought it was odd to get a shock from a socket so have just been out to examine it and discovered what appears to be the ends of an adapter like yours plugged into the socket. We had one and not used it for years and it looks like it could have been broken off when sliding seat back leaving pins in. This explains why LED light is on.
Would this be sufficient to drain the battery in a short time?