Interesting Electrical Problem - could be costly!

[Abacist]

I have a twin Sterling Lithium Setup with a Sterling BtoB charger professionally installed by VanBitz. Last week I heard an alarm in the motorhome which turned out to be the BtoB. VanBitz told me to remove the fuse to stop it beeping.

I had it checked out by VanBitz a few days later with consultations with Sterling and everything is working fine and the beeping had stopped when the fuse was put back in, probably due to the charge put into the battery from the drive up to Taunton. However as the cab battery is original and over 10 years old it was felt worth replacing as the first option in case it cannot hold a charge and the BtoB did not like a low power scenario.

The van is booked in for a new cab battery on Monday.

Today the alarm on the B2B started beeping again so I again removed the fuse and, concerned that if the cab battery goes flat I won't get it started I thought I'd put in on charge. For some reason the CTEK would not go into charge mode so I disconnected it. I fired up the engine which pretty much started instantly so the cab battery did not seem to be down on power.

I have been out the rest of the day so am wondering what else could be at issue to consider tomorrow.

On the trip to Vanbitz I realised that the dreaded airbag light has come on which is a further complication to sort out or will this resolve itself once the new battery is installed or will it require dealer intervention or a new unit.

I now need to check the CTEK as well to see why that would not start up!

VanBitz felt that a secondary issue could be the alternator though unlikely as the van has only done 24k miles and the battery replacement was the best first option.

Has anyone else had anything weird like this and what was the solution?

 

[Jays2]

When I have in the past had a chat with sterling power tech support, it always reverts to voltage.
The voltage coming into the unit , the voltage going to the batteries. That tends to show problems up.
I did from this experience replace the busbars to make a beefy system.

 

[Abacist]

When I have in the past had a chat with sterling power tech support, it always reverts to voltage.
The voltage coming into the unit , the voltage going to the batteries. That tends to show problems up.
I did from this experience replace the busbars to make a beefy system.

Thanks for the response and I will get my voltmeter out tomorrow to see what is going on. The B2B is high power to charge the Lithiums quickly so one would have thought the they would be interested in the Amps as much as the voltage.

Apart from original N & B electrics everything has been done by VanBitz so I am sure that everything on that front is OK. Everything is either Victron or Sterling so decent quality stuff and has been there for about a year without trouble until now.

 

[TerryL]

In my experience with motor vehicles over the years, when encountering strange electrical problems I've always gone first to the (engine) battery and in the majority of cases replacement has sorted it.

Even the best maintained battery is doing incredibly well to last 12 years!

 

[L' Hobo]

Thanks for the response and I will get my voltmeter out tomorrow to see what is going on. The B2B is high power to charge the Lithiums quickly so one would have thought the they would be interested in the Amps as much as the voltage.

Apart from original N & B electrics everything has been done by VanBitz so I am sure that everything on that front is OK. Everything is either Victron or Sterling so decent quality stuff and has been there for about a year without trouble until now.

If it's not the equipment, have you checked the simple, often overlooked, things like the EARTH connections.

I see from your Avatar that you have a Mercedes and not a Fiat, but with all the wet weather we have had, they still might be worth checking? Good Luck!

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[jongood]

If it's not the equipment, have you checked the simple, often overlooked, things like the EARTH connections.

I see from your Avatar that you have a Mercedes and not a Fiat, but with all the wet weather we have had, they still might be worth checking? Good Luck!

Its a Fiat, Arto's were never available with a Merc chassis. But yes could still be worth looking at chassis earths and starter battery, modern vehicles do some strange things when battery is knackered.

 

[L' Hobo]

Its a Fiat, Arto's were never available with a Merc chassis. But yes could still be worth looking at chassis earths and starter battery, modern vehicles do some strange things when battery is knackered.

If it is a Fiat, even more important to check the earth connections, especially the braided one under the air filter from engine to chassis.
I have fitted a second earth strap from that same chassis earth point to the gearbox.
Hope that helps?

 

[Abacist]

Many thanks for the suggestions to check the earth straps. I didn’t get anything done today apart from confirm that the CTEK charger has packed up as the Bosch washing machine decided to pack up and that took priority! The motor has died on that so that’s another job to do!

 

[Spriddler]

A propos of nothing in particular my washing machine is branded Bosch but on the back page of the 'Bosch' User Manual in small print is a 'Hotpoint' address.

 

[treblid]

Or is it the same service provider?

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[jongood]

A propos of nothing in particular my washing machine is branded Bosch but on the back page of the 'Bosch' User Manual in small print is a 'Hotpoint' address.

As if that were not enough, Bosch took over the well-known manufacturer of household appliances in Turkey, PEG Profilo based in Çerkezköy, in 1995. As a result, the company now produces household appliances of other brands in Turkey, including Bosch, Siemens, Balay, and Gaggenau.

 

[DandG5515]

As if that were not enough, Bosch took over the well-known manufacturer of household appliances in Turkey, PEG Profilo based in Çerkezköy, in 1995. As a result, the company now produces household appliances of other brands in Turkey, including Bosch, Siemens, Balay, and Gaggenau.

Yup spent the last few years dealing with customers that have bought very expensive badges on average appliances.

Ps. That's why I don't buy the German products are better now.

 

[jongood]

Yup spent the last few years dealing with customers that have bought very expensive badges on average appliances.

Ps. That's why I don't buy the German products are better now.

Every Bosch power tool, drill etc seems to be made in China.

 

[AlanandMayya]

Every Bosch power tool, drill etc seems to be made in China.

And in the manual for my EcoWorthy inverter (which packed up after a few days) most of the references to the actual manufacturer are replaced with “EcoWorthy”. But not all.

 

[Abacist]

An update:-
Cab Battery replaced with a new one with 5 year guarantee from Halfords.

CTEK 25 Amp battery charged sent off for repair to Rotronics who are CTEK repairers who reported that the circuit board was unserviceable. It was bought in 2018, had little use and the only solution was to buy the latest new model. They were very competitive on price however. Maybe I should have asked Applejacks first to see if they could repair! CTEK's are now made in China!

No alarm from the B2B since - yet - so hopefully OK.

Still have the airbag warning light on and have asked my garage for advice but no response yet!

So was it the charger going kaput that finished the battery off or vice versa - who knows? Anyway the Sterling B2B did not like it whichever way it was!

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[Abacist]

Spoke too soon - the B2B started to beep again today! So now need to check those earth straps and get the airbag unit out and sent off for repair.

 

[MisterB]

One thing after another ..... You must be so frustrated!! Adding a new vehicle battery isn't a bad thing and easy to do, adding an additional (or two) earth straps is a simple thing to do if you have the ability/mobility. Neither may resolve your current problem on their own but sometimes it helps to eliminate one potential cause at a time if the cost of doing so is greatly reduced. Think of it as vehicle maintenance...and it might prevent future issues ?