EC325 Leisure Battery Charge When Panel Is Off.

[davida71uk]

Hi,

On home mains hook-up with the MCB turned off, should there still be a maintenance charge to the leisure batteries?

I've left the main board turned off in this heat as it was up to 30 degrees in the van and the panel's cooling fan was on a fair while. It's parked up on the drive so nothing needs to be on. I was however under the impression that even with the main board turned off, there should still be a maintenance charge to the leisure batteries, is that a correct assumption? We've got a Battery Master and Sterling b-2-b fitted. The habitation panel has a positive reading for amps to the leisure battery (solar charger) but the voltage doesn't change unless I turn the main board on. The voltage increases by .3-.4 volts with the board switched on.

Have I understood what 'should' happen correctly or does the main board need to be on for the mains to leisure battery charging to function?

Thanks.

 

[GeoffnDee]

If you do not have one ,the operating manual for your EC325 can be found at www.sargentltd.co.uk in the support section /manuals if that is any help. It could also be worth checking with Sargent if it is ok to have a battery master fitted when the EC325 type PSU is in use for battery charging.

 

[davida71uk]

Thanks, I have the PDF manual but nothing in there about my specific question. I've sent a Tech Support message on their website also.

 

[68c]

Surely the main point of the MCB is to act as a safety device whuch can cut of the 240v supply. Switching it off should turn off all power from the EHU so there would be no supply to your charger. There would be no charge to the leisure battery.

 

[GeoffnDee]

davida71uk I think you will find that provided that the solar panel power is connected through the EC325 PSU , and therefor using its inbuilt split charge solar regulator, it should be putting a maintenance charge into both the leisure and starter batteries without the mains power switch needing to be turned on.

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[68c]

What do you mean by 'Solar Charger'. Do you have solar panels?
if you do it may be the solar controller has fully charged the batteries and is in its float state taking very little current if any. The 240v charger may be set at a slightly higher voltage which you see when you turn it on.

 

[davida71uk]

Surely the main point of the MCB is to act as a safety device which can cut of the 240v supply. Switching it off should turn off all power from the EHU so there would be no supply to your charger. There would be no charge to the leisure battery.

I think that's a perfectly reasonable suggestion and was my - limited knowledge - conclusion. The only thing that I doubted was that the 13amp sockets are all live within the vehicle even with the MCB turned off.

 

[davida71uk]

I think you will find that provided that the solar panel power is connected through the EC325 PSU , and therefore using its inbuilt split charge solar regulator, it should be putting a maintenance charge into both the leisure and starter batteries without the mains power switch needing to be turned on.

I would agree and can see that on the habitation panel that there is a +ve 0.4-0.6 amp charge. If I turn on the MCB this goes up to +ve 1.9 amps. On the Smartshunt the solar charge doesn't register on the app but with the MCB turned on, the app shows the same charge as the habitation panel, c1.9 amp positive reading.

 

[davida71uk]

What do you mean by 'Solar Charger'. Do you have solar panels? If you do it may be the solar controller has fully charged the batteries and is in its float state taking very little current if any. The 240v charger may be set at a slightly higher voltage which you see when you turn it on.

Yes, it has one solar panel. The Battery Master should be the main draw from the leisure batteries as it maintains the starter battery. Agreed that with the MCB turned on, the voltage in the leisure batteries rises significantly. So the 230v > 12v charge must be disabled when the MCB is turned off.

 

[68c]

Yes, that makes sense. Good luck

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