Charging Vehicle (starter) battery

[Andyb01]

I have a PV Logic flexible 120w solar panel with built-in charge controller that I use for charging the leisure battery via a 12v socket, this works fine.

I'm told I can also use it to charge the starter battery if I plug it into the 12v socket on the dash - this socket is live when the ignition is off.

This however is not working, as the van battery is still reporting low charge. Van is a VW T6.1 professional conversion.

Any suggestions welcome as I'm told by the original campervan dealership that this should work.

Thanks in advance

Andy

 

[oldiesontour]

If you have a volt meter check voltage at battery then(with panel in good sun plug panel into van battery socket and check voltage again if it's higher than 1 st reading it's charging

 

[oldiesontour]

A fully charged LA battery should be 12.6/8 v off charge around 13.8 when charging

 

[Andyb01]

Thanks, I don't have access to a voltmeter unfortunately.

 

[oldiesontour]

Thanks, I don't have access to a voltmeter unfortunately.

Worth buying one ,a cheap multimeter is under £10...better still a DC clampmeter more but very useful..without either ...it's just guessing

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[Jimbohorlicks]

You could try one of these initially to determine if the battery charges as a cheap check and if it does you can sort out the issue with the existing socket or just wire this in to your battery

Amazon.co.uk

 

[pappajohn]

Chances are if it's live with ign off it's been wired to the hab battery.
Easy check is disconnect the earth from the hab battery then plug something into the dash socket.
If it doesn't do anything then it's on the hab battery.

 

[Andyb01]

The 12v socket in the cab definitely does not charge the leisure hab battery, that only charges through the 12v socket at the rear of the van. I've checked that and it is definitely putting charge into the hab battery.

It's an odd one, thanks for the ideas and suggestions. The van is actually in for a service in a week or so so I'll ask the guys at VW and see what they say.

In the meantime, I've gone old school and taken the van for a half hour spin round the block to put some juice back into the starter battery.

Andy

 

[pappajohn]

In that case there's a problem with either the dash socket or the wiring .
You can't power an item using it but not charge the battery using it

 

[CAB96]

There should be two dash sockets, one above and one below?

Both live on my T6 from the Starter, but may be different on the T6.1, possibly one is on the starter and one on the Leisure depending on the original factory build? Especially if there was a VW installed 2nd battery.

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[CAB96]

Try a search on the T6forum as well.

 

[Andyb01]

There should be two dash sockets, one above and one below?

Both live on my T6 from the Starter, but may be different on the T6.1, possibly one is on the starter and one on the Leisure depending on the original factory build? Especially if there was a VW installed 2nd battery.

There's definitely only one 12v socket in the cab of mine, and two USB C sockets for phone charging. The 12v for the leisure battery is inside a small cupboard near the sink

 

[Jev88]

Have you tried plugging in something with engine off to an make sure socket IS live when engine off?

 

[Andyb01]

Have you tried plugging in something with engine off to an make sure socket IS live when engine off?

Yes a 12v usb charger plug - has a blue light on when socket is live - it also charges my phone when I connect a cable to it - ignition is off.

 

[CAB96]

There's definitely only one 12v socket in the cab of mine, and two USB C sockets for phone charging. The 12v for the leisure battery is inside a small cupboard near the sink



View attachment 1039481

View attachment 1039482

Not one on top of the dash?

What's in the middle above the radio?

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[Andyb01]

Not one on top of the dash?

What's in the middle above the radio?

Unbelievable - hiding deep in a dash recess under the screen (made even less visible by bright sunlight) what do I find but this (look carefully).

Thank you so much for making me look again - I feel like a right Charlie but never mind.

Let's call this one SOLVED.