Thread: Low Battery,start engine.

Originally Posted by LandyAndy

I spose its just as easy to check with the trusty olde multi meter thats lived in 3 Series Landies and the D2 over 25 years
Andrew

Hard to beat isn't it?

While I was away without a multimeter, I used my IIDtool to monitor voltage as it gives live values. A handy option as it always lives in the glovebox.

Cheers,
Jon

If you're still there Tim,,
Is the "buy a charger" thing before or after the software update ??

Hi Pedro, the recommendation to buy a battery charger when you buy a new Landie is because new Landies are having problems maintaining the cranking battery in a reasonable charge state.

While not directly related to the other problems, because so many people are having to use battery chargers on the new Landies, the other problems are showing up.

this is not a Sales advert.

hi Guys, i work for DHL and export about a Thousand or so 'Megapulse' units to Volvo in Sweden, and Mercedes Benz in Germany as an OEM Product. I puchased about 6 of these units for $100.00 each and i have never ever had an issue with a Battery. i have two on the Disco, one on the Main Battery, and one on the AGM in the rear, as well as one on the ride on, caravan, wife's car and the quad. The expected life span of the batteries have now been increased to 15 years plus !

they just dont allow the White harden Sulfer destroy the battery slowly over time

The Megapulse unit Features:

* Green Technology

* RoHS Lead-Free Construction

* 2000Ah Conditioning Capacity

* Auto Sensing & Adjusting To Any Voltage System From 6Volt to 48Volt DC

* Can Be Installed In Series So Banks of Any Voltage & Capacity Can Be Serviced

* New 5 LED Function Display

* Push Button Three Mode Activation

* Made here In Brendale, Queensland, Australia

another Great idea out there to save $$$ on replacing Batteries !!

sure looks like an ad

Hi Muskie and about 10 years ago, the CSIRO carried out extensive research and testing of this style of battery conditioning and found that it did benefit batteries, BUT, only where the batteries were not in use for 3 months or more.

They found little advantage what so ever for normal day to day use batteries or batteries not used for short periods of time.

So for vehicle use, not that beneficial if at all.

Now this is an advert.

Based on over 25 years of use and while it was never originally a design requirement ( just a fluke of the way they operate ), my isolators have proven beyond any doubt, that they do help to both keep the cranking battery in a higher state of charger and extend the operating life span of all the batteries in one of my systems.

Awesome, Great to know, Thanks !!

Originally Posted by jon3950

While I was away without a multimeter, I used my IIDtool to monitor voltage as it gives live values. A handy option as it always lives in the glovebox.

Just to follow up on this, I've been monitoring my voltage over the last few days and have found an inconsistency between the voltage measured by the IIDtool and the voltages across the battery terminals. I've had a few days in the bush being concerned about why my voltage was reading only 11.7V and the Traxide wasn't isolating the second battery from the cranking battery - I didn't have a multimeter with me to read voltages across the battery terminals.

It seems the IIDtool is reading the main supply voltage value, which can also be found in the "PCM-engine" menu. I don't know where this is measured. Since getting home I have been able to measure differences between this value and across the battery terminals, prior to starting the engine, of up to about 0.3V, with the battery voltage always being higher. However when I was away I also had readings of 12.0V which immediately dropped to 11.7V when the fridge kicked in, with no low battery warning and the Traxide still not isolating. The voltages always appear to equalise once the engine is running.

Also since putting the batteries on a charger overnight, the low battery warning seems to have gone away. Just shows there's no substitute for a multimeter.

Cheers,
Jon