Reading another guys problem with 'Turn ignition off or start engine' warning on the display of my Transit Custom when I occasionally get in if baffling me. My van doesn't have the stop/start fitted to it and therefore doesn't have a button to switch it off. Now my van is a campervan. Last week for the 1st time we stayed away in it for 3 nights. Now twice a day I would run the engine just to keep power in the starter battery and the leisure batteries. For some reason on day 2 the starter battery was almost flat and had to jump it. I am convinced it has something to do with the van (maybe) not being locked after it was run, or the side door being open all day. I would appreciate any advice or help with this please. Maybe there is a procedure of turning engine off and locking doors, before re opening doors. All the batteries in the van are new as well. Thank you.

You have a parasitic drain going on somewhere

You need to get it checked out

Just wondering here, but would starting the engine twice a day for several days and running it for a short time on each occasion, take more out of the van battery than it puts in?

We have a static van, but there are campers on our site and I have noted that no-one does that, any charging of the "leisure" batteries when parked up seems to be done by hooking up to the site supply.

I roughly worked out that idling my Golf needs to be done for at least 15 minutes to top the battery up above the pre-start level considerably.  30 minutes tops it up to 'full'.

Presumably a camper has things like fridge & entertainment running for a lot of the time so will use a lot of battery just sitting.  So running the engine for a few minutes here and there probably doesn't help.

Though I'm interested that you say it's the starter battery that's gone flat.  Was there still charge in the leisure battery?  If so, maybe something has gone wrong with the converter so leisure items are draining the starter battery instead.

Personally I'd get a solar panel for the roof to keep the batteries charged up.

Just been having a quick look at various caravan websites that I frequent. Don't normally look at anything about campers as we don't have one.

However, in respect of "off grid" charging using the vehicle alternator, they all refer to doing it by going for a drive, not starting the vehicle and letting it idle for a while.