How long before the battery dies?

[Joolzhutch]

Hi everyone
I am away for a few weeks so my van which is my everyday will be sat on the drive. How long before the battery dies, should I get my neighbour to turn it over from time to time?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Jim Rey]

as long as there is no power drain on the battery it should be OK for a few weeks

 

[DaveD]

It will also depend on the age and condition of the battery.
If your neighbour starts it and only leaves it ticking over for a couple of minutes before switching it off the power used by the starter motor won't be replaced, achieving little.
I'd just leave it and be prepared to charge it when you get home, although you may not have to.

 

[roadtripper]

Having done the calculations a few times on threads like this - about 2 weeks if you are unlucky and have a high sleep drain van, a bit more if it's better than that.

Never run the engine just to charge unless it's an emergency - it's not very effective and diesel engine not under load will start to have issues with bore glazing.

Invest in a decent 5A region maintenance charger from NoCo/CTEK/Victron and keep the battery heathy - start batteries don't like being discharged at all as the plates are very close together and repeatedly dipping them quite low and giving only a moderate charge is a good way to age the battery before it's time.

 

[roadtripper]

See this nearly identical thread

Battery dying

Hi all, looking for some advice. I work away for two weeks at a time and when I get home my battery is dead. There are no lights left on or anything like that so wondering what could be draining it?. I have a usb port and reading light installed with 4 down light in the back. Thats all thats...

www.t6forum.com

 

[roadtripper]

Which reminds me I need to go and put the trailer socket charger on my Caravelle as it's been sitting for a couple of weeks...

 

[Dellmassive]

2-3 weeks in a Standard T6 with a good battery that's driven regularly.

Running it low often will kill it....keep it topped up.

If you look after them they will last I've still got the original AGM starter battery from 2018....I keep asking VW to replace it. But they won't as it still passes the power test. It's 6 yrs old.

[Guide] Battery Maintainer (for Starter battery) -- How I Done It --

[Guide] Battery Maintainer (for Starter battery) -- How I Done It -- Right so its that time of year again . . . . . . . . Winter & (Lockdown 2020) The van might be layed up not being used, which will lead to a flat battery in around 3 weeks. The cold weather doesn't help the battery's...

www.t6forum.com

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[Jim Rey]

Is your van a campervan and does it have solar panel and a DC-DC charger like a Renogy or similar. My Renogy DC-DC charger, after topping up leisure battery trickle charges the starter battery (assuming there is some sun of course)

 

[Joolzhutch]

Is your van a campervan and does it have solar panel and a DC-DC charger like a Renogy or similar. My Renogy DC-DC charger, after topping up leisure battery trickle charges the starter battery (assuming there is some sun of course)

Yes it is a campervan with a solar panel. I don't know about the DC-DC charger, perhaps the conversion company fitted something like this, I'll have to check. I have an ehu cable and intend putting the van on hook up overnight before I leave to help with topping up the leisure battery but I don't think this will help with the starter battery.

Is your van a campervan and does it have solar panel and a DC-DC charger like a Renogy or similar. My Renogy DC-DC charger, after topping up leisure battery trickle charges the starter battery (assuming there is some sun of course)

 

[Jim Rey]

Yes it is a campervan with a solar panel. I don't know about the DC-DC charger, perhaps the conversion company fitted something like this, I'll have to check. I have an ehu cable and intend putting the van on hook up overnight before I leave to help with topping up the leisure battery but I don't think this will help with the starter battery.

If it has a DC-DC charger and solar panel and it is either a Victron, Renogy or CTEK it should trickle charge the battery after the leisure batteries are full. So fully charge the leisure battery with your EHU connected to a battery charger before you go and then hopefully, with a bit of sun, you should be OK. What type of battery is your leisure battery?

 

[roadtripper]

Not all DC-DC chargers trickle charge the starter - I believe the CTEK250s do - what type do you have?

If it doesn't then the AMT-12 is a popular solution as it will trickle charge from LB to Starter regardless of what's charging the LB.

It's unlikely your starter will charge off the EHU, conversion companies tend to put in the most economical systems. Traditionally the 12v socket by the gear lever/selector is wired to the starter so a popular solution is to use a 5A maintenance type charger from NoCo/CTEK/Victron with a 12v plug adapter and plug that into a mains socket in the van while on EHU. The AMT-12 would help here as well.