How to replace leisure batteries.

[pat12]

New batteries are on the way!

Thought i'd break my next set of questions into a new thread

Is there a procedure for changing them?

Will disconnect the mains obvs.

Do i need to isolate the solar panel?

then just neg- off first then pos+ then the oppsite to connect new ones?

Remember to switch my CBE516 to the gel setting.

Cheers

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Disconnect the solar from the controller first . So you don't damage the controller. While your doing that if there is no inline fuse ,best to fit one.

 

[activecampers]

Disconnect the solar from the controller first . So you don't damage the controller. While your doing that if there is no inline fuse ,best to fit one.

Yes, some controllers need solar disconnected first, and the same in reverse. Power first then solar. Some can fail if you do it wrong.
I'd also disconnect any connection you have to vehicle battery. Depending on what kit you have, you may have a complex B2B which could get confused when LB vanishes.

Turn everything off.

Disconnect -ve first, then +ve. Reverse order to fit.

If changing battery type, consider solar, engine and mains charging. Just check what settings/profiles they have and match with batteries.

 

[TOAD on Tour]

Fair play to you. As I can barely change a light bulb……my action would be using the telephone to pay somebody to do it! best of luck

 

[rod_vw]

If you have two leisure batteries be aware that the +ve on one leisure battery can still be live from the other! If possible (and they are fitted) remove the output fuses fitted in the +ve line from both batteries before starting the job. As above with the connections to the solar if fitted.

I fit individual fuses in the +ve cables for both leisure batteries as close to the battery as possible.

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[pat12]

thanks when you say isolate at the controllor i assume you mean the solar controller?

From what i can tell mine is a sunsaver6

The other parts in my system i've identified are....

CBE 516 - battery charger
CBE DS300EL - Distribution box

Looking at the controller it seems to have an inline fuse

Also it still has the jumper fitted which the manual linked above tells me its for sealed batteries, which my current ones are not!

Do i leave it as is for the gels?

 

[sonar]

I removed the fuse on mine every time while I was fitting the hab batteries and the engine battery.
never had a problem

 

[pat12]

The main part i'm now confused about is the altenator fits in?

How does this charge the battey via the CBE516 or some other method?

does this need to be modified for Gel batteries?

 

[Manic]

Cover the solar panel before disconnecting or do at night , they shouldn’t be disconnected whilst under load as it can damage the regulator.

 

[GeoffnDee]

pat12 The alternator will charge the leisure battery through the DS300EL box ,looking at the manual the battery charger CBE516 seems to have the switch internally that can be altered to allow it to charge a gel battery so you will need to remove its cover to do this.
The fuse in the photo of your controller looks to be for the battery feed out off the controller, not the solar supply into the controller.

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[pat12]

Thank you, i was hoping that alternator would use the cbe516.

Good point about the fuse on the solar controller. Can i just cover the panel then unscrew the wires from the contoller?

Speaking of the controller. Can't really workout if it has a profile for gel, so been looking at others, even a cheap one like this seems a bit better and you can plug a phone directly into it.

Amazon product ASIN B097PPKTWR
Is there a goto brand/model for these things?

 

[GeoffnDee]

I dont think that the alternator charging will be a problem if a gel battery is fitted (but I may be wrong) , Covering the solar panel will be ok and there would not be any need to disconnect the wiring at the controller, unless you are changing it , as there will not be any power from the solar panel to worry about , while it is covered , so you can leave it as it is until the new battery is fitted and then remove the solar covering. (The battery side of the controller will still be live while the battery is connected but you could remove the fuse if needed)
I do not know anything about the best controllers but Votronic seem to be a recomended brand.
If you do decide to replace the solar controller, after fitting the battery , connect the battery wiring to the controller before fitting the solar panel wiring and then removing the cover over it.