EC 325 not working batteries dangerously low

Gilliangled
Gilliangled Forum Participant Posts: 2
edited December 2018 in Motorhomes #1

we have a 2008 autotrail Cheyenne. It has a Sergent EC 325 electric unit with a solar panel (two leaisure batteries). Yesterday we hooked up at home as the battery reading was 8.7 ( dangerously low)  and nothing would work, within minutes it was up to 11.8. Today my husband checked and again the batteries were down but when we plugged in the EHU the EC 325 unit would not switch on. We have rebooted the control panel over the door, but don’t know what else to do. The EHU is fine and we can hear the unit clicking as it is trying to switch on. Any suggestions?

Comments

  • ForestR
    ForestR Forum Participant Posts: 326
    100 Comments
    edited December 2018 #2

    We had a similar problem with a different power supply controller in our 3 year old caravan last year and I had to fit a new unit. I have searched for problems with the Sergent EC 325 on the internet and the first entry was about one in a autotrail Cheyenne! Indications in that and other entries suggest there have been problems with this unit. 

    Suggest you do a search as I did.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,499
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    edited December 2018 #3

    Sounds more like you battery has had it.

    peedee

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited December 2018 #4
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited December 2018 #5
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  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Club Member Posts: 10,224
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    edited December 2018 #6

    If checking the voltage output on a solar panel at this time of year, I would suggest parking on a very steep south facing hill if you want to see an output above 14v. Mine our just about managing 13.6v parked on the level as the sun is so low in the sky

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited December 2018 #7
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,886
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    edited December 2018 #8

    56 degrees north, less than an hour to sunset, it's raining, and my panel is doing 13.6 volts.  Some do - some don't.

    To identify the Op's problem, it would be simplest to swap out the battery for another one to prove the charger unit is the trouble.

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2018 #9

    A battery at 8.7 volts is definitely scrap.

  • Guysdad
    Guysdad Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited December 2018 #10

    It may be the batteries are gone and if you’re not careful, could take the charger out. I haven’t used them so can’t recommend, but there’s a lot of useful information on this site about chargers, charging and the different types of battery. They have a section on your charger unit and solar panels;

    http://www.aandncaravanservices.co.uk/sargent.php

    Good luck 

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