Help please - disconnect solar regulator

[Riverbankannie]

Please do not put an AGM back in.

Have you been taken over by Lenny HB - it is nearly Halloween

 

[Nanniemate]

Sorry, I meant it as a sort of joke which backfired, the owner of the build company IH vans is Ian Hartley. No offense to you meant.

I thought you meant were they H from Steps

 

[Riverbankannie]

Right, so the question of the day is, should I reconnect the solar regulator now so as to keep the starter battery charged?
I am really confused about what happens to the solar power now. I know there is a battery master and it keeps both batteries topped up. A fit and forget system fitted by Vanbitz and I promptly did just that.
The starter battery would’nt do its stated job and start the engine when we first had the van after being parked up a week or so. (Before we had the solar fitted)
So now that same battery is 9 years older, I am worried for it.
I have tried Ash Vanbitz but he is busy at NEC.

 

[headlight]

Right, so the question of the day is, should I reconnect the solar regulator now so as to keep the starter battery charged?
I am really confused about what happens to the solar power now. I know there is a battery master and it keeps both batteries topped up. A fit and forget system fitted by Vanbitz and I promptly did just that.
The starter battery would’nt do its stated job and start the engine when we first had the van after being parked up a week or so. (Before we had the solar fitted)
So now that same battery is 9 years older, I am worried for it.
I have tried Ash Vanbitz but he is busy at NEC.

The Battery Master trickle charges the starter battery from the leisure battery so if there is no leisure battery the Battery Master won't work.
If your solar controller only charges the leisure battery then reconnecting the controller will do nothing.
If your solar controller is twin output charging both the leisure and starter battery, such as Votronic controllers do, then yes reconnecting it will charge the starter battery.
If however your controller is twin output you wouldn't need the Battery Master so I assume your controller only charges your leisure battery.

 

[Riverbankannie]

The Battery Master trickle charges the starter battery from the leisure battery so if there is no leisure battery the Battery Master won't work.
If your solar controller only charges the leisure battery then reconnecting the controller will do nothing.
If your solar controller is twin output charging both the leisure and starter battery, such as Votronic controllers do, then yes reconnecting it will charge the starter battery.
If however your controller is twin output you wouldn't need the Battery Master so I assume your controller only charges your leisure battery.

Solar controller - looks like one output?, so otherwise is it safe to connect up EHU does that charge cab battery?

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[Nanniemate]

Will it not charge from the mains .it shouldn't drain that quick.

I think the orginal starter battery is on mine.

Just given that the kiss of death

Ate all the cab lights turning off when the doors are closed ? I'm assuming they run off starter battery

 

[Riverbankannie]

Will it not charge from the mains .it shouldn't drain that quick.

I think the orginal starter battery is on mine.

Just given that the kiss of death

Ate all the cab lights turning off when the doors are closed ? I'm assuming they run off starter battery

Im not sure if the mains charger tries to charge both? Or of the battery master trickles from the hab battery as in the solar system described by headlight.
I don’t know how long it will be until I get a replacement hab battery fitted so just thinking ahead. I do have a jump starter i bought from middle of lidl but I could just drive it of course. Might be best as I don’t want to go down route of repaired airbag ecu again.
So next question, is it ok to drive and the alternator to put out charge with no hab battery there?

 

[headlight]

Solar controller - looks like one output?, so otherwise is it safe to connect up EHU does that charge cab battery?
View attachment 966752

Yes that controller doesn't trickle charge the starter battery.
I dont know your onboard system so don't know if plugging in EHU will charge your starter battery.
On my system it doesn't.
Worse ways until you get another leisure battery can you take the van for a drive once a week or connect a mains charger for a few hours a week ?

 

[Nanniemate]

Im not sure if the mains charger tries to charge both? Or of the battery master trickles from the hab battery as in the solar system described by headlight.
I don’t know how long it will be until I get a replacement hab battery fitted so just thinking ahead. I do have a jump starter i bought from middle of lidl but I could just drive it of course. Might be best as I don’t want to go down route of repaired airbag ecu again.
So next question, is it ok to drive and the alternator to put out charge with no hab battery there?

I was driving mine with no issues down in Dorset when I was waiting for the hab batteries.

But mine is very basic no blue box like yours

 

[carolyn]

Well done Annie getting the battery out. Surely you’re not going to risk putting the same one back in, I know you’re assuming yours was just a duff one but what if they’re just not a very good make?

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[headlight]

Im not sure if the mains charger tries to charge both? Or of the battery master trickles from the hab battery as in the solar system described by headlight.
I don’t know how long it will be until I get a replacement hab battery fitted so just thinking ahead. I do have a jump starter i bought from middle of lidl but I could just drive it of course. Might be best as I don’t want to go down route of repaired airbag ecu again.
So next question, is it ok to drive and the alternator to put out charge with no hab battery there?

As long as any wires that were connected to the battery are insulated then driving without a leisure battery in place will be fine.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Well done Annie getting the battery out. Surely you’re not going to risk putting the same one back in, I know you’re assuming yours was just a duff one but what if they’re just not a very good make?

Well if they send a replacement I will but it will be raised up so going in level. We don’t use that cupboard anyway.

 

[Riverbankannie]

As long as any wires that were connected to the battery are insulated then driving without a leisure battery in place will be fine.

Have tied up the positive end in a plastic bag and taped up to side of cupboard. Shifting the battery about has exposed copper wire on the junction that has yellow insulating tape wrapped around (original fitting), so might have to do something about that!
Have put parcel tape around the end removed from PV junction on controller as that’s what came to hand

 

[carolyn]

Well if they send a replacement I will but it will be raised up so going in level. We don’t use that cupboard anyway.

Good plan. It was a pretty useless cupboard really. I’d just put stuff I rarely needed in it or nothing!

 

[Nanniemate]

Good plan. It was a pretty useless cupboard really. I’d just put stuff I rarely needed in it or nothing!

Stuff really used sum funsters it would be packed full

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[Kannon Fodda]

How can you have an unused storage space in a PVC. If I try and open any cupboard in mine I need a hard hat on and steel toe capped boots for all the stuff that will fall out

 

[Nanniemate]

How can you have an unused storage space in a PVC. If I try and open any cupboard in mine I need a hard hat on and steel toe capped boots for all the stuff that will fall out

I rest my case your honor

 

[carolyn]

How can you have an unused storage space in a PVC. If I try and open any cupboard in mine I need a hard hat on and steel toe capped boots for all the stuff that will fall out

I was being facetious really as we had two IH630RDs so know the cupboard well. It would start our long trips filled with excess Yorkshire gold teabags, coffee Azera, and baked beans. It would end the long trips filled with “nothing”. Or nothing useful anyway.

 

[Nanniemate]

I was being facetious really as we had two IH630RDs so know the cupboard well. It would start our long trips filled with excess Yorkshire gold teabags, coffee Azera, and baked beans. It would end the long trips filled with “nothing”. Or nothing useful anyway.

My under bed storage is usually empty except for a few books waiting to be read and a radiator that I spotted in your van which is perfect . For longer trips spare bedding is added

But I could travel for work for up to 6 months on 1 suitcase.

I never use the attic space and have the approach of if you don't use it loose it. My last house move the removers took 45 minutes to load the truck .

2 hours to unload and put everything away

Coats I find are a nuisance

 

[Riverbankannie]

How can you have an unused storage space in a PVC. If I try and open any cupboard in mine I need a hard hat on and steel toe capped boots for all the stuff that will fall out

You have to get on your hands and knees to reach in, the door opens “wrong” way and the cupboard is just Yorkshire Tea box width and maybe a box of chocolate free cereal which is the other thing I struggle to buy abroad. Besides which the floor in front of the cupboard is usually full of water bottle, dog box, crocs and waste bin which all has to be moved out of the way.

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[carolyn]

You have to get on your hands and knees to reach in, the door opens “wrong” way and the cupboard is just Yorkshire Tea box width and maybe a box of chocolate free cereal which is the other thing I struggle to buy abroad. Besides which the floor in front of the cupboard is usually full of water bottle, dog box, crocs and waste bin which all has to be moved out of the way.

Exactly Annie, minus dog stuff of course!

 

[Kannon Fodda]

You have to get on your hands and knees to reach in, the door opens “wrong” way and the cupboard is just Yorkshire Tea box width and maybe a box of chocolate free cereal which is the other thing I struggle to buy abroad. Besides which the floor in front of the cupboard is usually full of water bottle, dog box, crocs and waste bin which all has to be moved out of the way.

You don't want to see (actually perhaps you do want the entertainment) the contortionist positions I get myself into to be able to extract stuff from some of the storage spaces in my van, and getting out of said positions is even worse.