Answer- a lot. It's been raining for a few hours at work and the van was perfectly fine this morning, now my indicators don't work when I break(constantly on) wipers practically stop when I break, handbreak got stuck on when I stopped to drop my bike off at my mates, jumped back in it 2mins later and it wouldn't start, the starter just clicked a few times, I got a bad feeling my battery isn't being charged?! Any suggestions?

Yep,
you've 'braked' your voltage regulator or alternator brushes, maybe even the alternator belt...

When you've tracked down the problem and fixed it, it would probably a good idea to fit a voltmeter so that you can keep an eye on how it's charging.

ken

Oh shh... I was holding it was something to do with water getting somewhere it shouldn't so i could dry it and all will be fine :'( better see if I've got a spare alternator 1st

put a multimeter on the battery, record what it is, then start the car and put a multimeter on it, should be charing about 14v IIRC
realistly you should fnid an increase in power as the alternator kicks in..

as ken suggests voltmeter wouldnt go a miss, ive got the wiring on mine somewhere as my loom came out a charlie (kind curtisy of mr rythm thief) and going to hook that up with a volt meter, just cant decide wha type to go for or where to mount it
good luck!

Yea I'm trying that in the morning, fingers crossed

If you can start the van in the dark and gently rev it with the lights on, you should get the lights to brighten then dim, as the alternator puts more charge into the battery. That's one of the quick "tell tales" I tend to use, not fool prove, I grant you, but a handy tip none the less.

my motor bike used to do that, on idle the headlights flickered and more u revved the more they brightened, i would imagine full beam will be more of a tell tell, and against a wall (not too close) would help?

Good plan but the poxy thing won't start, I'll try in the morning maybe it will have enough juice then

oh wont it turn over? check the voltage on the battery before you try, if its low, then you have a start in problem finding, then push start it or hand crank it then test voltage

ken would i be wrong in thinking that the contant indicatoring being on would be the low voltage geting to the indicator flasher thingy (voltage being lowere by depressing the brake pedal thus the brake lights drawing power)
infact thinking about it, it sounds like its not charging, for all you know the alternator could of packed up a few days ago, and then youve used the remaining power (probably mostly on cranking up) and now youve run out
alternativly if you dont have an alternator, either stick the battery on charge over night, and see how it is in the morning, and if you have the same probelm after a few days, then hey presto, alternator
is there a fuse in the alternator? did i see adrian righting about a 30 amp in your amp thread in the flea market? maybe a starting point after checking belt tension?
sorry if what ive typed is useless, thought id type it anyway

Well I was gonna fit my old alternator and see what happens, I txt my dad were it was, turns out it's knackered tried new brushes, no use