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Nick-St



Member Since: 23 Apr 2013
Location: Surrey
Posts: 267

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Corris Grey
lightning wrote:
What's the "low battery" issue they are all going on about? l've used our new Defender for camping trips where it's not been started for days, and l've been in and out of the vehicle multiple times to get stuff.

l've never had the "low battery" warning.

They are saying that the vehicle powered up for 15 minutes when you open the door. Mine doesn't do that, the screen does come on and you can hear a motor running but it all stops after a minute or two if you don't start the engine.


PowerfulUK have some YouTube videos on this - when it powers up (by opening a door / unlocking etc) it draws a fair amount of current for about 10 mins when not appearing to be doing anything...
Post #1006787 7th Sep 2023 7:25am
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BruceT



Member Since: 01 Nov 2010
Location: South Africa
Posts: 517

South Africa 
correct but to add if you leave a door open or at least un latched (so closed but not latched) the system shuts down completely and you can open and close the other doors without it starting up. "Overlanding With Bruce" - Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@OverlandingwithBruce
11MY Defender 130
23MY Defender 110 D300 HSE X-Dynamic

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzrHKcjA-LJ470_H4QwPgVA
Post #1006788 7th Sep 2023 7:29am
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BruceT



Member Since: 01 Nov 2010
Location: South Africa
Posts: 517

South Africa 
Here is an example of what im talking about, while camped in Southern Zimbabwe. Please note the drivers door.




Click image to enlarge
 "Overlanding With Bruce" - Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@OverlandingwithBruce
11MY Defender 130
23MY Defender 110 D300 HSE X-Dynamic

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzrHKcjA-LJ470_H4QwPgVA
Post #1006790 7th Sep 2023 7:51am
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LR Nuts



Member Since: 10 Aug 2022
Location: UK
Posts: 1087

 
Yes I camp with my vehicle. And I too leave all four 'on the latch'. Can't do that with the tailgate door .... as it has 'self close'



Click image to enlarge
Post #1006792 7th Sep 2023 8:16am
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Moo



Member Since: 01 Oct 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 1338

Ukraine 
BruceT wrote:
correct but to add if you leave a door open or at least un latched (so closed but not latched) the system shuts down completely and you can open and close the other doors without it starting up.


That's useful to know. Thumbs Up Eiger Grey MY23 D250 SE with bits. Known as Noddy.
Post #1006796 7th Sep 2023 9:26am
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WizzardPrang



Member Since: 05 Nov 2020
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 153

England 
Interestingly, Lucky8 have just posted a video showing how to make the loadspace 12V socket always on. https://youtu.be/we29ShUfaWM?si=FF-SlROixU9haYmH

To be used with caution. Wink Current vehicle: 2020 Defender 110S
Gone: Defender 90 HT 200Tdi, Discovery Sport, Freelander 2

Insta: wizzardprang
Post #1007302 11th Sep 2023 9:32pm
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BruceT



Member Since: 01 Nov 2010
Location: South Africa
Posts: 517

South Africa 
Why would you want to do that? That's just risking a flat battery on a battery that is already under strain just from opening and closing doors. "Overlanding With Bruce" - Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@OverlandingwithBruce
11MY Defender 130
23MY Defender 110 D300 HSE X-Dynamic

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzrHKcjA-LJ470_H4QwPgVA
Post #1007321 12th Sep 2023 6:07am
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lightning



Member Since: 23 Apr 2009
Location: High Peak, Derbyshire
Posts: 2703

United Kingdom 
The battery is 110Ah

lt should last a while before becoming depleted if it's fully charged. And as all the interior lights are LED that shouldn't cause a problem.
Post #1007420 12th Sep 2023 7:50pm
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BruceT



Member Since: 01 Nov 2010
Location: South Africa
Posts: 517

South Africa 
I have got low battery warnings on both my D240 and D300 while camping and opening the doors too much (ive since learnt to overcome this) and that is after a few hours of being parked without a fridge running.
We also dont ever park for days on end when on a trip and drive every day on game drives etc.

It is also widely known that it's a really silly feature of the entertainment system and dash starting up every time a door is opened and then staying on for 5 minutes plus. Every time this happens it draws up to 15amps IIRC. A fridge runs at between 5 and 8amps depending on the brand, some even more, up to 15amps on startup.

If it's a 110ah battery and it is lithium (which I doubt) you can go down to about 20% capacity. If it's a normal high cycle battery then you will damage it if you continually go below 50%. That leaves 55ah available if your battery is 100% perfect and charged. That means at best you have about 3 hours before your battery is flat if nothing else draws power, if your battery is 100% condition and you only draw 20amps an hour.
Also note that continually depleting the battery to its lowest levels actually shortens the life of the battery significantly, so after doing it a few times im willing to bet you have less than 100ah capacity in the battery.

With my experiences I would not risk it especially on a power hunger defender unless help is nearby.

Rather get a stand alone battery pack that can be charged off of the cigarette socket when driving or a proper auxiliary battery fitted. If you dont want to do that then get a fridge that can run off of shore power and be sure to use that when you can. "Overlanding With Bruce" - Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@OverlandingwithBruce
11MY Defender 130
23MY Defender 110 D300 HSE X-Dynamic

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzrHKcjA-LJ470_H4QwPgVA
Post #1007447 13th Sep 2023 5:14am
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lightning



Member Since: 23 Apr 2009
Location: High Peak, Derbyshire
Posts: 2703

United Kingdom 
Ah yes the built-in fridge, l forgot about that.

A solar charger may help, although an average 100w panel will only charge at around 5A so won't keep the fridge going.
Post #1007449 13th Sep 2023 6:55am
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RDR



Member Since: 27 Apr 2018
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 592

United Kingdom 
I don't think interior lights are the root of the problem its the ECUs and other gadgetry, when you open the door after its gone to sleep and listen near the engine bay you can hear clicking and whizzing. It's as if its priming itself for a full startup. A software update to add a new feature allowing you to put the car in "Camp mode" a bit like the Valet mode with a pin would be a great move. 110 MY23.5 X Dynamic HSE
RR MY23 HSE PHEV
D5 MY19 HSE - Now Sold
D4 MY16 HSE Luxury - Now Sold
D4 MY12 HSE - Gone
D3 MY06 S - Gone but not forgotten
Post #1007453 13th Sep 2023 7:20am
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J.Christopher



Member Since: 24 May 2021
Location: London
Posts: 9

United Kingdom 
I watch ASW’s videos now and again for a laugh mainly, he borders on demented when talking about the defender. I use my 110 for work (like a Van basically) some days I must open the doors 20 or more times a day, especially the boot getting tools, materials out. If you use the tailgate button, Pivi and dash doesn’t fire up, and as mentioned before, if you leave a door open, everything turns off after a minute or so. I’ve had doors open and boot all day as my dog is sometimes in the back whilst I work nearby, never had low battery warning in nearly 3 years of owning it.
Post #1007543 13th Sep 2023 10:42pm
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BruceT



Member Since: 01 Nov 2010
Location: South Africa
Posts: 517

South Africa 
It would be interesting to see if you guys and the USA guys have the same batteries as we do. If im not careful I honestly get warnings all the time. We recently camped with a mate in his D240 and he and his wife also constantly opened and closed doors and about halfway through the day he got a warning on his dash too.

The guy in the US (Lucky8) who has just made the rear cigarette socket permanently live says he runs a ARB fridge off of that and never has problems with flat batteries.
This I find hard to believe but maybe there are different spec batteries for different markets. I dont know. "Overlanding With Bruce" - Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@OverlandingwithBruce
11MY Defender 130
23MY Defender 110 D300 HSE X-Dynamic

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzrHKcjA-LJ470_H4QwPgVA
Post #1007551 14th Sep 2023 5:04am
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G&T



Member Since: 13 Jul 2021
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 38

United Kingdom 
BruceT wrote:
correct but to add if you leave a door open or at least un latched (so closed but not latched) the system shuts down completely and you can open and close the other doors without it starting up.


I enjoy your videos Bruce and that action is one of life’s great little hacks. Great finding.
Post #1033058 27th Apr 2024 4:18pm
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lightning



Member Since: 23 Apr 2009
Location: High Peak, Derbyshire
Posts: 2703

United Kingdom 
J.Christopher wrote:
I watch ASW’s videos now and again for a laugh mainly, he borders on demented when talking about the defender. I use my 110 for work (like a Van basically) some days I must open the doors 20 or more times a day, especially the boot getting tools, materials out. If you use the tailgate button, Pivi and dash doesn’t fire up, and as mentioned before, if you leave a door open, everything turns off after a minute or so. I’ve had doors open and boot all day as my dog is sometimes in the back whilst I work nearby, never had low battery warning in nearly 3 years of owning it.


Same here, 90 Commercial in and out of the vehicle all day, sometimes several times at one customer (although only the tailgate)
Also touring with the caravan, the Defender can sit for days without being driven and l open it several times a day as we use the rear for storage. Never had a low battery warning

Would a solar panel help to reduce the "low battery" warnings? An average sized one will charge at 5A in the sun, which should make quite a difference.

Well, not in the U.K. as we don't get any sun. But certainly in Tanzania
Post #1033243 29th Apr 2024 12:22pm
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