Smug, or mug!
Smug or mug?
Having just returned from a 3 month holiday in new Zealand I was smug that the batteries on my auto trail V-line would be in tip top condition upon my return.
This smugness was short lived as I found the fiat vehicle battery completely flat, with not enough charge to unlock the doors. The alarm had drained the battery.
The leisure battery was ok but not as healthy as it could have been.
Before I left I came up with the idea of hooking up the electrics to charge the batteries while I was away, However I didn’t want to continually charge them for three months, so I bought a timer, the sort you would use for turning a security lamp on and off, And programmed it to come on for three hours a day.
I also left the solar panel on to charge the leisure battery. Smug!
Why did my idea not work?
Well newish as I am to the campervan experience I didn’t realise that I needed to switch on the control panel, and select the relevant battery I wanted to charge.
I actually thought it would do both, charging the vehicle first and then the leisure battery once the voltage in the vehicle battery was high enough.
Also once the timer had clicked off for the first time, I wouldn’t be there to switch the control panel back on. Mug!
Since being back Both batteries have been recovered, by using a separate bench charger to charge them.
I’ve also bought a solar panel that fits in the windscreen and can be connected via the obd2 port to charge the vehicle battery and now use the roof mounted panel to keep the leisure battery topped up.
Moderator Edit:
Moved from Story Section.
Comments
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Does your solar panel have the option to charge to cab battery as well? Alternatively you can have a Battery Master fitted which will push any excess charge from the leisure battery to the cab battery.
David
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surely the panel would have remained on powered by the leisure battery?
the issue is that, like a lot of converters, the simple process you desire iisn't designed in...
stick the EHU in and it 'ought' to charge both batteries...
however, why the need if the solar panel 'ought' to also charge both batteries.
drive the van and the alternator 'ought' to charge both batteries.
you, the user, just wants this to happen automatically whether in EHU, van not hooked up and using solar or when being driven.
its as easy for the converter to do it 'properly' as it is to do it poorly...
some forums are full of similar stories...
if, with the panel off, the SP only charges the leisure battery then a simple battery to battery unit can transfer charge to the vehicle battery.
alternatively, a dual channel solar controller can direct charge to both at the same time...
if you can't tackle this yourself, a sensible dealer or auto electrician should be able,to make these simple changes.
my SP,is set up this way and keep both batteries fully charged when it's parked up.....it will also be very useful if you do any off grid camping.
good luck.
edit.....Snap, David.
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DD, whilst you're right this is a V line from AT, the AutoSleepers forum is full of threads like this one when using the same kit from Sargent...
when the unit is 'shutdown' (not just switched off...) which it would be if the OP had set it so while away, then there is no 'smart' capability and the SP ony charges the leisure battery...the default....hence the flat cab battery issue.
so, as you say, with EHU plugged in and the control panel and ECU turned on, smart charging should do the job on both batteries.
similarly, with everything turned on, the SP should also do this, as it would if the unit were being used away from EHU.
the issue is that users often feel the need to shutdown their van electrics while away, the exact thing that stops the ECU doing its thing...
a dual channel SP regulator or a B2B type system would work even with the Sargent unit in shutdown.
the op has a few options now but I agree that EHU and the electrics ON is a cure for this particular situation.
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no, agreed...keep it simple...
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This is evidently part of the British Spec that you get on Uk Motorhomes. The NCC have a lot to answer for. They are the ones that say you cannot have the electrics on in the back when travelling. It is also something to do with the manufacturers not having to comply with some legislation or other.
Motorhomes from over the water do not have restrictions like this so our Laika will keep its batteries charged using the solar panel even with the electrics off.
You could of course add a twin solar controller and do away with the one that is part of the wiring. Get a twin output one and that will charge the habitation battery and when it's full it will charge the vehicle battery. It's not a complicated job and will work far better than what you have.
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