EHU - Vehicle Battery Charging

Probably a daft question. I had a 2006 Nuevo and when on EHU there was a simple rocker switch to select which battery to charge - Leisure or Vehicle. I now have a 2011 and it has a digital control panel. The handbook says that when on EHU it defaults to charging the leisure battery but if you select vehicle battery then it will charge accordingly. It is not clear wether you have to have the power switch set to on. Currently I have just selected vehicle battery and left the power switch off - will this work?

You might find your answer if you type battery, in the search box,there is over 400 battery related topics avaible.
I'm sure one of the members will advise you a.s.p, have a nice weekend.
Boaby

When you say "power switch" I presume you mean the one on the control panel which switches on the 12 volt system. The one that automatically switches off when you start the engine.

If so, it does not need to be switched on. My advice would be to select "Engine battery" for most of the time, and switch to "Leisure battery" for a couple of days once per fortnight. If nothing is left switched on in the habitation area the leisure battery will discharge only very slowly, whereas the vehicle battery is likely to have several small drains running constantly.

Apart from any other consideration, if the vehicle battery is flat, you ain't going nowhere!!

The easiest way to find total peace of mind is to install a Battery Master or similar device. Fit and forget - and both batteries will be kept healthily charged automatically.

Thanks for the prompt replies. Gromit, yes I meant that switch. I will leave overnight and see if the vehicle battery charge has improved.

Not sure which PSU/control panel you have, but on my 2011 Gloucester with Sargent 325/328 system, unless the control panel is switched on the battery button is inoperative.

My 2008 panel charges the leisure battery only when it is switched off. If the vehicle battery is selected when the panel is switced off the charge transfers to the leisure battery. You could check the battery voltages with the panel switched off.

Hmmmmmmm. Why so many variations??

I can't comment on the current van because I've had a battery master fitted from new, but on previous Nuevos the power switch didn't make any difference to whether or not the vehicle battery would charge from the EHU. In fact I make it a habit to keep the power switch off at home, just in case I forget to switch off any appliance in the habitation area.

Incidentally, and it may be relevant, I was surprised to find that the main strip lighting on this van can be used without first having to switch on the main power switch on the panel. Again on previous vans, none of the main lighting would work without first switching on the panel.

It would appear that A/S alter the wiring every time the wind changes!!

I have a 2009 and I need to have the control panel left on whilst charging the vehicle battery. You can check by scrolling down the menu and checking the vehicle battery voltage.

There appear to be so many variations listed in previous posts that, in your situation, I would put a multimeter (set to 20v) across each battery in turn and explore all the switch positions.
The evidence obtained would, for your van, be irrefutable.
Keith

I never thought this would be so complicated.

If it's an EC625 unit it has a built in volt meter so you can see the effects of different settings. If the battery is being charged the volts will be over 13v.

Having in the recent past consulted Sargent about this and related matters, I can confirm that Gromit's two posts above are correct:

1. If the Power button & LED on the control panel is off, and the vehicle is on EHU, the leisure battery will charge.

2. If the Power button & LED on the control panel is on, but the Battery button and LED is off, and the vehicle is on EHU, the leisure battery will charge.

3. If the Power button & LED on the control panel is on, and the Battery button and LED is on, and the vehicle is on EHU, the engine battery will charge.

4. If you have a solar panel, then irrespective of all the above, both batteries will be charged simultaneously - though the available charge may be insufficient (depending on weather and size of solar panel). [That's why a Battery Master or similar is useful - ensuring both batteries are always charged and mainatined. In the absence of a Battery Master, I endorse Gromit's advice: "My advice would be to select "Engine battery" for most of the time, and switch to "Leisure battery" for a couple of days once per fortnight."]

Like Gromit's van, mine too can have its LED "mood-lights" siwtched on even if the Power button is off; likewise the step lights. I find that very handy because it's easy to recah their switches before entering, whereas the Power button is out of reach.
Cymro

Thanks to everyone who responded. I feel a little less foolish given how complicated this turns out. Thanks

Don't ever feel foolish.

If you don't know the answer how can it be a daft question - and that's what the forum is all about. Sharing knowledge and helping each other.