Ci cusona leisure battery not charging on hookup

[coliwogs]

Replaced old battery and installed a solar panel on top. Charges fine in summer but these days not so good. Am I right in thinking when on electric hookup this should also stay charged? I only have the water pump that should be draining. All lights are lamps on mains. I have gone from 12.6 down to 11.4 in 2 days of no real use. Any ideas?
Newbie by the way so hi all lol

 

[Riverbankannie]

You need to give us more information. Photos of your control board and any switches would help us identify something like a switch that might be at the wrong setting.

You say your lights are lamps on mains. This is very unusual - do you actually mean you have stand alone lamps plugged into 3 pin 240v sockets? Most motorhome setups run all electrics through the 12v habitation battery.

 

[Phill D]

Hi, your leisure battery should be charged from hook up unless you have blown a fuse or somehow switched the charger off.
Are you sure all your lamps and lights are mains? Mostly they would be 12v.

 

[Tombola]

Make sure the battery charger is turned on and fuse not blown.
the lights arent running direct from EHU mains, they run through your battery that is in turn then charged up by your charger.

easy mistake to make, welcome aboard BTW.
check fuses behind drivers seat, and check if the charger is under there too and switched on.

does this help

Carioca battery charger location

Hi guys was down at the storage (37 miles) checking the C.I. Carioca 5 berth on the Ducato 15 LWB 1.9TD chassis, 2000 model year for any storm damage and lucky all is OK. Started it up and did a few odds and ends - just got it in November- but the one thing I forgot to check was where the 230v...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[coliwogs]

Sorry for the confusion all. I have the usual lights under the cupboards and on the ceiling which I know run on the 12v I just choose Not to use then as I have a free standing bedside lamp of sorts that I use instead.
I have checked the fuses behind the seat but to be honest I never assumed there would be an on and off switch it’s just a black box with wires coming from it. Quite hard to see actually unless I take the seat out. I will investigate tomorrow hen the sun comes up.
Thanks all

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[coliwogs]

Make sure the battery charger is turned on and fuse not blown.
the lights arent running direct from EHU mains, they run through your battery that is in turn then charged up by your charger.

easy mistake to make, welcome aboard BTW.
check fuses behind drivers seat, and check if the charger is under there too and switched on.

does this help

Carioca battery charger location

Hi guys was down at the storage (37 miles) checking the C.I. Carioca 5 berth on the Ducato 15 LWB 1.9TD chassis, 2000 model year for any storm damage and lucky all is OK. Started it up and did a few odds and ends - just got it in November- but the one thing I forgot to check was where the 230v...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Had a look there just now but nothing but a water pump. Think it is the black thingy under the seat.

 

[Tombola]

Had a look there just now but nothing but a water pump. Think it is the black thingy under the seat.

Could be. If you can manage a pic someone here will know.
It may have a fuse leading to it.

 

[Phill D]

the CI i had some years ago had the unit under the drivers seat and it had a battery isolator switch and was fused; if i remember correctly you removed the plastic grid pannel at the rear base of the seat to get additional access.

 

[coliwogs]

Best I can do in this light

 

[Tombola]

Could be the charger that...is that a fuse linked to it aswell ?
Also check all plugs are pushed in and secure

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[coliwogs]

Hopefully these a little clearer. I don’t want to mess too much with wires tonight just in case I blow something. I’m away in it right now

 

[GeoffnDee]

It could also be worth checking that the Motorhome 230v supply internal trip switches are set correctly. (there may also be on / off switches on the 230v supply unit)

 

[coliwogs]

It could also be worth checking that the Motorhome 230v supply internal trip switches are set correctly. (there may also be on / off switches on the unit)

This one ?

 

[scotzsue]

We managed to accidentally switch off the mains charger, had a recessed red, on off button, possibly at the one end of the charger you can't see.

 

[coliwogs]

I’ll have a better look tomorrow but looking at the pics I sent there looks like a fan on the inside. Surely at some point this should go on like a Pc power supply?

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[GeoffnDee]

This one ?



View attachment 995664

View attachment 995665

Yes , if that is the only one (there can sometimes be a triple switching unit fitted for battery charger , mains water heating , fridge etc , depending on type/make of habitation electrics fitted )

 

[autorouter]

I have gone from 12.6 down to 11.4 in 2 days of no real use.

It's worth looking at the battery voltage to tell you a bit about what's going on. A leisure battery that's not being charged and with no loads on it will have a voltage from about 12.7V (100% charged) down to about 12.0V (quite low, as low as you should let it drop without charging it).

If a charger is connected, that will quickly force the voltage up to over 13V. Typically about 14.5V when actively charging, settling down to about 13.5V when charging has finished and the charger is just maintaining it full but not overcharging it.

So if your battery never goes over 13.0V then it's never being charged. You might see it charging from solar if the sun ever shines, but I think your mains charger is not doing its job.

Is there a label on that box to give a clue as to the make/model of the charger? Does the box have some 12V fuses on the front, or are the fuses somewhere separate?

 

[autorouter]

Another quick check is to test the 230V supply is reaching the trip switches. That trip switch is a 16A RCBO ( a combined RCD and MCB). It has a small blue test button. If you press that test button, it should immediately trip to the off position. You can switch it back on, knowing that the 230V supply is present at least as far as the trip switch. If it doesn't trip, the 230V supply is not reaching the trip switch.

 

[autorouter]

It has a small blue test button

Actually it's white, I think - sorry for the confusion. And if you're using a mains light then presumably the mains 230V is getting through OK, so no need to do that test.

 

[coliwogs]

so doing a multi metre test on the battery and on hook up it read 11.9 which is what my control panel was telling me. So I can assume there is no power getting to it from the item under my driver seat. I got a picture of the label so maybe someone has an idea? defo no on and off switch. The thick wire coming out and going to the isolator key on the passenger seat before the battery has no fuse that I can see. Back home now and solar will get it back up to charge over the next few days but really need sorting before next trip. The only thing I can think of is add a trickle charge but that just adds more wires

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[GeoffnDee]

I think you will find that it is a Arsilicii AL C20 combined battery charger and 12v power supply unit and it may not have an on/off switch but there should be a separate 12v fuse module elsewhere for the charging and other items linked to it. (The 12v power supply side seems to be working if the 12v lights, water pump etc are operating ok)
If you say the exact year and model of your Motorhome someone may have the same system and be able to help with the fuse location.
www.apuljackelectronics.co.uk show/describe the AL C20 in their catalogue / Arsilicii section.
A separate remote battery charger may be the answer when on EHU but is the leisure battery being charged from the alternator when the engine is running ?

 

[autorouter]

In the pics from your post #11 there is a small black plastic box thing with wires going to each end of it. I thought you might not realise that's a fuse. It's a Midi link fuse, held in place by two nuts and bolts that act as the terminals too. It's one of these:

Midi/Strip Link Fuse Holder

Single midi/strip link fuse holder with protective cover. Fuse & cable are secured via 2 x M5 studs. Cable size for this holder is 16mm² max.

www.12voltplanet.co.uk

The lid snaps closed, and needs to be prised open, look at the pictures to see where the plastic catch is located. Replacement fuses are available, here for example:

Midi Link Fuses

Midi link fuses used for protecting larger current circuits in automotive, marine and leisure applications. Available in current ratings from 30A to 150A.

www.12voltplanet.co.uk

The fuse value is stamped on the fuse. Obviously get the same value for the replacement fuse, if needed.

I'm pretty sure it's a Midi fuse, not a Mega fuse which looks the same in the pictures but is bigger. I think the Midi fuse is 19mm between the hole centres, and the Mega fuse is 25mm.

 

[coliwogs]

I think you will find that it is a Arsilicii AL C20 combined battery charger and 12v distribution unit and it may not have an on/off switch but there should be a separate 12v fuse module elsewhere for the charging and other items linked to it. (The 12v power distribution side seems to be working if the 12v lights, water pump etc are operating ok)
If you say the exact year and model of your Motorhome someone may have the same system and be able to help with the fuse location.
www.apuljackelectronics.co.uk show/describe the AL C20 in their catalogue / Arsilicii section.
A separate remote battery charger may be the answer when on EHU but is the leisure battery being charged from the alternator when the engine is running ?

its the 2006 model and yes the alternator charges although today it was only a 30min drive to home

 

[coliwogs]

In the pics from your post #11 there is a small black plastic box thing with wires going to each end of it. I thought you might not realise that's a fuse. It's a Midi link fuse, held in place by two nuts and bolts that act as the terminals too. It's one of these:

Midi/Strip Link Fuse Holder

Single midi/strip link fuse holder with protective cover. Fuse & cable are secured via 2 x M5 studs. Cable size for this holder is 16mm² max.

www.12voltplanet.co.uk

The lid snaps closed, and needs to be prised open, look at the pictures to see where the plastic catch is located. Replacement fuses are available, here for example:

Midi Link Fuses

Midi link fuses used for protecting larger current circuits in automotive, marine and leisure applications. Available in current ratings from 30A to 150A.

www.12voltplanet.co.uk

The fuse value is stamped on the fuse. Obviously get the same value for the replacement fuse, if needed.

I'm pretty sure it's a Midi fuse, not a Mega fuse which looks the same in the pictures but is bigger. I think the Midi fuse is 19mm between the hole centres, and the Mega fuse is 25mm.

I did look at that but not being electrical minded it looked nothing like a fuse to me lol. thanks will look tomorrow and get a replacement and see what happens

 

[coliwogs]

its the 2006 model and yes the alternator charges although today it was only a 30min drive to home

at least i think it does.

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[GeoffnDee]

at least i think it does.

Disconnect the EHU and put your meter across the leisure battery terminals with the engine running and check the voltage reading , it should be about 13.5v + (with the solar disconnected/ covered / in the dark)

 

[Tombola]

You don't want that battery at 11.9v for too long

 

[coliwogs]

In the pics from your post #11 there is a small black plastic box thing with wires going to each end of it. I thought you might not realise that's a fuse. It's a Midi link fuse, held in place by two nuts and bolts that act as the terminals too. It's one of these:

Midi/Strip Link Fuse Holder

Single midi/strip link fuse holder with protective cover. Fuse & cable are secured via 2 x M5 studs. Cable size for this holder is 16mm² max.

www.12voltplanet.co.uk

The lid snaps closed, and needs to be prised open, look at the pictures to see where the plastic catch is located. Replacement fuses are available, here for example:

Midi Link Fuses

Midi link fuses used for protecting larger current circuits in automotive, marine and leisure applications. Available in current ratings from 30A to 150A.

www.12voltplanet.co.uk

The fuse value is stamped on the fuse. Obviously get the same value for the replacement fuse, if needed.

I'm pretty sure it's a Midi fuse, not a Mega fuse which looks the same in the pictures but is bigger. I think the Midi fuse is 19mm between the hole centres, and the Mega fuse is 25mm.

No fuse there just a metal strip

 

[B+W vanman]

No fuse there just a metal strip



View attachment 996077

Err fusible link?

 

[autorouter]

No fuse there just a metal strip

Is it one of these? ANL strip fuse

Strip Link Fuses

Strip link fuses used for protecting larger current circuits in automotive, marine and leisure applications. Available in current ratings from 30A to 100A.

www.12voltplanet.co.uk

If it is, it looks like it's OK, ie not blown.

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