12v system

[Tugger67]

Hi , I've been given conflicting information regarding our 12v system, just wondering what everyone else does ? . First I was told, when we park up our MH in storage we need to turn OFF the 12v , however, today, I've been told to leave it on so that the solar panel will continue to charge the leisure batteries ?

 

[Lenny HB]

It depends on what distribution system you have.
Most vans it doesn't make any difference panel on or offbut a few with British electrics.

Post a photo of your control panel and distribution unit.

 

[Tombola]

Are you on the Sargent system, what ec does it start with. Ec176 etc

Possibly ec328

 

[LithiumConvert]

We are all different. But, no harm in doing it either way.

Just experiment with what is best for you.

 

[barryd]

I think as said it depends on if your controller is part of your manufacturers onboard system or not. I have a Sargent 400 system on my Swift Esprit but it has nothing to do with the solar which is controlled separately from a Victron MPPT controller. I therefore tend to switch off my Sargent 12v system when the van is stored and not in use although this time of year ill leave it on regardless as there is plenty of solar and not much being used. More info needed on your solar system and controllers I think.

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[Jev88]

When you turn your 12V off does the battery still receive solar charge?

 

[Tugger67]

Hi , I've been given conflicting information regarding our 12v system, just wondering what everyone else does ? . First I was told, when we park up our MH in storage we need to turn OFF the 12v , however, today, I've been told to leave it on so that the solar panel will continue to charge the leisure batteries ?

Ok , we've had two brand new leisure batteries fitted on Friday , I've left the 12v ( Sargent) system OFF , this morning (Sunday) I switched the 12v system ON , it's reading 12.5v , I've just been and switched it off after 9 hours , it's now reading slightly lower ,

 

[Tugger67]

Ok , we've had two brand new leisure batteries fitted on Friday , I've left the 12v ( Sargent) system OFF , this morning (Sunday) I switched the 12v system ON , it's reading 12.5v , I've just been and switched it off after 9 hours , it's now reading slightly lower ,



View attachment 1043425

View attachment 1043426

My question is ? , should it have charged up more today with the 12v system ON and the solar panel working than actually dropping it's charge slightly

 

[barryd]

My question is ? , should it have charged up more today with the 12v system ON and the solar panel working than actually dropping it's charge slightly

Yes it should have charged up really. On the first photo it shows a load of 2amps. Do you know what was running or on in the van at the time as that suggests a fair bit of power is being used by something. The second picture shows a load of just 0.7amps which might be normal for just having the system on but an empty van this time of year during the day should be showing fully charged if your solar is working.

What panels do you have and what controller? Does your solar controller have a display or an app to show its working?

I just happened to check mine earlier when outside on the Victron App and it was showing a float of 13.65v I think which is what I would expect and our Sargent system is on.

It sounds to me like your controller is not charging but its very difficult to tell without more info.

 

[Tugger67]

Yes it should have charged up really. On the first photo it shows a load of 2amps. Do you know what was running or on in the van at the time as that suggests a fair bit of power is being used by something. The second picture shows a load of just 0.7amps which might be normal for just having the system on but an empty van this time of year during the day should be showing fully charged if your solar is working.

What panels do you have and what controller? Does your solar controller have a display or an app to show its working?

I just happened to check mine earlier when outside on the Victron App and it was showing a float of 13.65v I think which is what I would expect and our Sargent system is on.

It sounds to me like your controller is not charging but its very difficult to tell without more info.

The only thing that was on when I took the first pic was the radio ( off the 12v ) , which I turned off as I left . As for what panel ?? , it's a brand new MH auto trail Delaware and it's what was fitted, we have a Sargent control system

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[Tugger67]

The only thing that was on when I took the first pic was the radio ( off the 12v ) , which I turned off as I left . As for what panel ?? , it's a brand new MH auto trail Delaware and it's what was fitted, we have a Sargent control system

The van has been empty and standing in storage, we've got a phantom tracker alarm but I think that is off the vehicle battery, it's also got it's own battery back up

 

[barryd]

The only thing that was on when I took the first pic was the radio ( off the 12v ) , which I turned off as I left . As for what panel ?? , it's a brand new MH auto trail Delaware and it's what was fitted, we have a Sargent control system

Ok so the radio might explain the load of 2 amps as well as the 0.7 amp Sargent overhead. So its a factory fitted panel and presumably then the solar controller is part of the Sargent system and also factory fitted yes? Does the manual show any way of checking the solar input on the screen? Probably a bit late now as there maybe isn't anything going in solar wise this time of the evening but have a look. There should be a way of monitoring input I would think. If its not charging then I might be tempted to have a look at see if it has its own fuse in the fuse box for the solar controller, check and see if its blown.

 

[Tugger67]

Ok so the radio might explain the load of 2 amps as well as the 0.7 amp Sargent overhead. So its a factory fitted panel and presumably then the solar controller is part of the Sargent system and also factory fitted yes? Does the manual show any way of checking the solar input on the screen? Probably a bit late now as there maybe isn't anything going in solar wise this time of the evening but have a look. There should be a way of monitoring input I would think. If its not charging then I might be tempted to have a look at see if it has its own fuse in the fuse box for the solar controller, check and see if its blown.

Ok thanks, I'll have to leave it tonight as van is in storage and we have no access now until 7am tomorrow

 

[Tugger67]

Appreciate the advice and tips to check, thankyou

 

[barryd]

Probably something simple I would think. If its a brand new van then if its not obvious I would be phoning the dealer. Another suggestion might be to (if you haven't already) join the Auto Trail Facebook owners group and ask on there. If its a standard Autotrail system someone else will likely have the same set up. If you don't do Facebook I just checked and for some reason I am a member so could ask for you but the link is here.

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[Tugger67]

Probably something simple I would think. If its a brand new van then if its not obvious I would be phoning the dealer. Another suggestion might be to (if you haven't already) join the Auto Trail Facebook owners group and ask on there. If its a standard Autotrail system someone else will likely have the same set up. If you don't do Facebook I just checked and for some reason I am a member so could ask for you but the link is here.

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Ok I've checked the fuse at the rear of the 12v Sargent EC700 Control panel, it's a 10amp blade fuse and is ok , I'll have to get the wife to ask on FB as I don't do it

 

[barryd]

Ok I've checked the fuse at the rear of the 12v Sargent EC700 Control panel, it's a 10amp blade fuse and is ok , I'll have to get the wife to ask on FB as I don't do it

There should be a bank of lots of fuses though on the front.

I found this for your controller though and on the this page at the top of the screen there should be a little sun solar charging symbol at the top if its working

Sargent EC700 Manual (Page 2 of 18) | ManualsLib

www.manualslib.com

On this page if you scroll through on your panel you should be able to see if there is any solar input (When the sun is shining of course)

Sargent EC700 Manual (Page 5 of 18) | ManualsLib

www.manualslib.com

 

[Carolyn and Kev]

Its something that Autotrail have done. The 12v system needs leaving on to charge the batteries with solar. We had the Delaware and the bugger would flash all sorts of errors if switched off! We were told by Autotrail at Grimsby that if we left the 12v system switched on it would allow the controller to still do its job and charge both leisure and engine batteries. This we did and did not have. a problem from there onwards.
Ours was a 15 plate

Kev

 

[Tugger67]

Its something that Autotrail have done. The 12v system needs leaving on to charge the batteries with solar. We had the Delaware and the bugger would flash all sorts of errors if switched off! We were told by Autotrail at Grimsby that if we left the 12v system switched on it would allow the controller to still do its job and charge both leisure and engine batteries. This we did and did not have. a problem from there onwards.
Ours was a 15 plate

Kev

That's interesting to know , thanks , although I'm now even more puzzled, if you look back you'll see I posted two pics, surely if the 12v is ON and the solar panel is doing it's job, it should show on my screen that it's activated , my pic shows it's not on , the 12v system was switched on at the time

 

[Carolyn and Kev]

Does your solar controller connect directly to the Sargent Main Board? On ours the controller was wired in separately but had to see the Sargent main board in order for it to work independently . Sounds complicated possibly but its not really. The solar controller on ours as you peered through to the back of the sargent unit you could see it flashing away when doing its job. Does yours? If not then as said before its possibly a controller (Solar fault ) or even something silly like a setting that needs updating on the main panel. Possible phone call to Autotrail or even Sargent for advice? Sargent are brilliant for help to be honest. Double check your van security too for when its parked up for pulling too much from the batteries. Ours had to be reprogrammed and reset so it allowed for minimum pull from the system.

Kev

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[starquake]

The British van I have has the solar connected independantly of the DB (Bailey) so works to charge both leisure and vehicle battery with the main switch off.

 

[Tugger67]

Does your solar controller connect directly to the Sargent Main Board? On ours the controller was wired in separately but had to see the Sargent main board in order for it to work independently . Sounds complicated possibly but its not really. The solar controller on ours as you peered through to the back of the sargent unit you could see it flashing away when doing its job. Does yours? If not then as said before its possibly a controller (Solar fault ) or even something silly like a setting that needs updating on the main panel. Possible phone call to Autotrail or even Sargent for advice? Sargent are brilliant for help to be honest. Double check your van security too for when its parked up for pulling too much from the batteries. Ours had to be reprogrammed and reset so it allowed for minimum pull from the system.

Kev

Hi kev , I've rang Sargent and they told me where to look for the fuse for the solar panel , you need to remove the whole Sargent unit and there's a 10amp fuse directly on the circuit board. I'd never have found it otherwise. That Fuse is ok . I have seen the solar panel symbol on the main screen actually lit and showing it's working before now but we we're on EHU at the time. I'll see how it performs this weekend if there's any changes