Why does my bus eat batteries?

[treacleminer]

Ok, I don't use my bus as much as I would like but... it seems I cannot get a battery to last much more than a year. For the first 6-9 months it is fine , starts every time, no probs. Give it about a year and if I leave the bus for more than a week it will not start without a charge. This is at least the 3rd battery now in as many years. Any one got any ideas please

 

[oneday!]

must be a current some were do you have amp fridge etc whats in running to? you shouldnt have to charge it after a week
im running amp etc and it never dies touch wood check the obveious

 

[treacleminer]

Got a fridge, but it runs via a relay so only works when engine running. No hefty amps etc , just a normal cd player.

 

[Trikky2]

Check to see if anything is drawing current.

With the vehicle parked as you usually leave it, disconnect the earth connection on the battery and put a volt meter from the battery neg terminal to earth terminal you just took off.

It should read nothing. If you dont have a volt meter you can use a small wattage bulb like one from an interior light.

If you have any current flow then find what it is by disconnecting things one at a time. Prime suspects are stereo, clock, alarm, voltage regulator and accessories.

If the test shows no current flow at all then re connect the battery and get the charging circuit checked since under or over charging can kill a battery. If you have a volt meter then you can check it yourself. Measure across the battery teminals. It should read close on 12 volts stationary and with the engine running (revs at around 2000 ish) it should read 14 to 14.5 volts.

 

[ant]

This will not cure the route cause but will help

http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail....lectrics&frostSubCat=Battery Care&subCatID=26

 

[maybee]

do as trikky suggests it good advice if you bntook it a garage it s what they would do and charge you for it!

 

[treacleminer]

I will try these at the weekend, dont get much time of an evening.

 

[Tofufi]

For what it is worth, I've found that the smaller batteries don't last that long, even if you keep them in good condition. My bug went through a small new battery in 2 years. I've now had a large battery in my van (larger than standard) for 2.5 years and it seems to be going strong. In my experience it is worth buying a slightly larger battery as they seem to last longer.

 

[faux]

How is the stereo wired in? is it to a permanent live and do you leave the face plate on?

If it is to permanent live it may be worth fitting a switch so you can have it on when stationary and also take the face plate off, often they draw current even when switched off.