Solar Panel / vehicle battery starter

Hoping someone can help or at least help with what to look at. We have a Broadway with a solar panel fitted.  Would it be expected that this should charge the leisure battery and keep the vehicle starter battery topped up or does this need to be set to do so?

If it should keep the veh battery topped up how long for as went to start last week after 6 weeks and it was flat ... is this likely to indicate a fault (appreciate I may need to get the battery tested but just looking to all you good people with lots of experience)
Thanks in advance

Are you leaving your power unit switched on? What power unit do you have (eg EC500)?

I think it may have been left on last time out but turned off now. Sargent EC500 .. does that sound right?

Is that likely to be the problem ie. should it be off?

If you switch it off, the solar only charges the leisure battery. If you leave it on, then put it into 'smart' and the charge will go to the weakest battery for 4 hours and then switches to other battery for 4 hours and then back to first battery etc etc. The only way to keep both batteries charged with EC500 switched off would be to have a separate dual solar controller and not through the EC500.

If the EC500 is switched off, only the Hab Battery is charged by the Solar Panel, I think. With the EC500 on and set for Smart Charging as this thread,  https://www.autosleeper-ownersforum.com/t24904-sargent-smart-charging-systems-ec400-450-500 , it charges both batteries, but the power used by the EC500 can exceed the SP input at this time of year.

Or as Paul says above.

Thanks Paul & Peter ... think I need to take a trip back to the van and switch it on!

Thanks again

Just another quickie we were advised to switch off the power unit as it can cause a spike when connecting to EHU so am I understanding correctly that we should leave it on in smart mode but switch off before connecting to mains then switch back on again when connected?

Not knowing what size solar panel you have fitted, but as peter L states, you will find it could struggle to keep both batteries charged at this time of year, for the reasons he stated. I have this problem with a 120w panel via EC500 and use EHU on a timer twice a week, no problem for me as the van is in the drive.
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Richard

Jfarrell wrote:Just another quickie we were advised to switch off the power unit as it can cause a spike when connecting to EHU so am I understanding correctly that we should leave it on in smart mode but switch off before connecting to mains then switch back on again when connected?

Not heard that one before.
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Richard

Ok thanks Richard .. so ...
a) leave the unit on and
b) in the winter especially take it out for a run every few weeks to keep the battery charged?

Thanks again

Hi Jfarrell, I've sent you a pm regarding starter battery.

Jfarrell wrote:Ok thanks Richard .. so ...
a) leave the unit on and
b) in the winter especially take it out for a run every few weeks to keep the battery charged?

Thanks again

There are many many threads on this forum concerning maintaining battery condition on vans fitted with the standard EC500 power system during winter storage without a mains hook up. I will not repeat the detail, you can search for it, but in summary, always switch off the EC500 with the top left switch plus, if leaving for more than 10 days, disconnect the vehicle battery or it will be flat when you come back to it.

As Peter says there are many discussions about battery maintenance but it also depends on what you have in the van.

A fully charged battery that is not excessively old should store quite happily for six months or more if completely disconnected but not as good otherwise. There are reports of them only lasting weeks if a tracker fitted as they are a continual load. The starter battery will run the perimeter alarm system and can discharge over a month or two even when the chassis electrics go into deep store mode

It has been claimed that problems can occur if you leave the battery off with modern vehicles but in my experience never for people I know, always "somebody" else. Some vehicle handbooks have a section on storage but unless it actually says don't disconnect the battery it should be safe to do so.

Taking it out "for a run" is an option but be aware that to fully recharge the batteries it is going to be a long one as it can take several hours to get the batteries fully topped up

rgermain wrote:

Jfarrell wrote:Just another quickie we were advised to switch off the power unit as it can cause a spike when connecting to EHU so am I understanding correctly that we should leave it on in smart mode but switch off before connecting to mains then switch back on again when connected?

Not heard that one before.
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Richard

The instruction in the AS manual, a repeat of the Sargent manual, does state that the PSU should be switched off prior to connection the EHU. I never have and have not had a problem yet,

Section 2.3 of the Sargent manual for EC500 says.

"2.3 Connecting to the Mains 230V supply and Safety checks
For your safety it is IMPORTANT that you follow these connections instructions each time your Leisure
Vehicle is connected to a mains supply. This section assumes that the system is complete and that a
Leisure battery has been installed (see 3.5).
A) Ensure suitability of the Mains Supply. Your Leisure Vehicle should only be connected to an
approved supply that meets the requirements of BS7671 or relevant harmonised standards. In
most cases the site warden will hold information regarding suitability of supply. If using a generator
you also need to comply with the requirements / instructions supplied with the generator. Please
note that some electronic generators may not be compatible with your leisure system. Further
generator operational information is contained elsewhere in this manual.
B) Switch the PSU internal Power Converter OFF. Locate the green ‘Charger’ power switch on the
PSU and ensure the switch is in the off position (button out) before connection to the mains supply.
C) Connect the Hook-up Lead. Firstly connect the supplied hook-up lead (orange cable with blue
connectors) to the Leisure Vehicle and then connect to the mains supply.
D) Check Residual Current Device operation. Locate the RCD within the PSU and ensure the RCD
is switched on (lever in up position). Press the ‘Test’ button and confirm that the RCD turns off
(lever in down position). Switch the RCD back to the on position (lever in up position). If the test
button failed to operate the RCD see section 3.14.
E) Check Miniature Circuit Breakers. Locate the MCB’s within the PSU (adjacent to the RCD) and
ensure they are all in the on (up) position. If any MCB fails to ‘latch’ in the on position see section
3.14.
F) Turn the PSU ON. Locate the black ‘Shutdown’ button and ensure it is in the on position (press
button to change, button in = on, button out = off). Locate the green ‘Charger’ switch on the PSU
and turn to the on position (press button to change, button in = on, button out = off). The charger
switch will illuminate when turned on.
G) Check correct Polarity. Locate the ‘Reverse polarity’ indicator on the PSU and ensure that the
indicator is NOT illuminated. If the indicator is illuminated see section 3.14. Please note that this
indicator works in conjunction with the charger switch, so will only operate when the charger is on.
H) Check operation of equipment. It is now safe to operate the 12v and 230v equipment."

A 2016 battery should be holding its charge unless, as said above, the alarm etc are draining it. With the recent poor weather, even our Home solar Pv has been struggling to generate some days and we are further south than you!
I would imagine that your batteries are sealed. If not, keep an eye on electrolyte levels.

Also, it's a good idea to check the solar panel for  (shall we say, "deposits") - you have Herring Gulls in your area! We certainly do!