6.25V from leisure battery?

Hi all - new to the forum (and campervanning!)

We've just got hold of a 1994 Reimo conversion, with the 3L 2.8 engine.

So, problem is a follows.

With the engine running, the interior lights work. With the engine off, they don't.

I put a multimeter across the leisure battery and got a reading of 6.25 volts. This makes me think that the battery is shot, i.e. half the cells are dead.

Am I mis-diagnosing this? Is the battery safe to charge, or am I taking a risk in doing so? I don't want anything to go bang, as the other half is going away in it tomorrow.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Rob

Hi,
It might be worth trying to charge it out of the van- it's possible that the charging circuit isn't delivering the goods and so the battery has just drained. Alternatively, put an ammeter inline with the battery- with the engine running you ought to see current flowing into it and with the engine off, current flowing out but the most likely scenario is that the battery is shot.

Cheers,
W.

Try a slow off vehicle charge, but I think the battery is dead.

A dead car battery will show 11v, not sure if the same rule applies to leisure ones?

Cheers all - I think a new battery is in order.

Hopefully we can source one today, so we can get away tomorrow.

Regards,

Rob

New battery fitted - old one was very dead indeed.

Chap who fitted it (Rock Batteries in Cradley Heath - very good) checked the charging system for us, tightened up lots of loose connections, and then his testing machine came up with "Bad Diode". He re-did the tests, and got the same result. Apparently, the diodes on the alternator are no good and will need checking.

Anyone know whether this is a small thing, or a new alternator?

Cheers,

Rob

Hi,
I don't know how hard it is to get the alternator out but it should be possible to get the diodes replaced by an automotive electrician or specialist alternator place unless they are sealed inside the unit or something wierd....

Cheers,
W.