Losing Battery Charge -Traxide problem?

[Hawc]

All,

Seeking some wise counsel to help identify and fix a problem with my battery and possibly traxide system. For a number of months now I have been losing charge on both my cranking and auxiliary battery at a concerning rate -see attached charts. I have a relatively new cranking battery (less than twelve months old), which has been tested by my Indy and I am told is fine and a three year old auxiliary (Optima Yellow top), connected by a Traxide DBS. The only accessories that I have fitted are a CB radio (powered by an ignition-activated circuit), a Redarc brake controller, driving lights and BM2 Bluetooth battery monitors on both batteries.

Whilst I had originally assumed that Covid-induced lack of use was to blame, I have been putting the car on regular C-Tec charge to compensate for this, and it doesn't seem to make any difference.

You can see in the attached that both batteries appear to be fully linked, with charging and the dropping of charge appearing to happen together, although occasionally one or the other doesn't quite follow the other. My Indy has suggested that the Traxide system is causing the loss of charge, but I can't see how. There is nothing that I can find that is drawing on either battery.

I can't for the life of me find what might be the cause. Any assistance and advice greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

PS 2014.5 Discovery 4.

179151179152179153179154

[Tombie]

D34s are notorious for being unreliable.

[drivesafe]

Hi Hawc, and based on your chart, my guess is that your batteries are pretty badly sulphated.

Your alternator is trying to recharge the batteries but you need to do some serious Maintenance Charging.

Have a look at the link below and see if this helps.

BUT before you do anything, do a LOAD TEST on your cranking battery.

This is for two reasons.

First off, the Load Test will tell you if your cranking battery is still good. ( which I suspect it is ).

Second, if you carry out a load test at the beginning and at the end of a full week of Maintenance cycles, your will also see if the Maintenance charging has worked.


To carry our a Load Test, first disconnect the Negative ( - ) battery lead on your AUXILIARY battery.

In your case, use your Bluetooth Battery Monitor to keep track of your cranking battery voltage.

Next, note the voltage of the cranking battery.

Now turn your ignition on DO NOT START YOUR MOTOR.
and turn your headlights on.

Note the voltage every minute for the next 5 minutes.

Regardless of what the voltage is, as long as it only drops for about the first two or three minutes and then levels out, your battery is good.

If the voltage continually drops over the 5 minute period, then your battery is probably on its way out.

After the 5 minute test, turn every thing off and reconnect the Auxiliary battery’s Negative leads.


Now over the next week, follow and carry out the Maintenance procedure described in the link bellow.

This should rejuvenate both battery ( but I also agree with Tombie's post )

After the week of Maintenance cycles, carry out another Load Test and see if the voltages are now higher.




Scroll down the page till you get to “Battery Maintenance”
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/the-verandah/246755-line-auto-electrical-info-8.html