My inverter is making a continuous beeping and I’m not getting power from it. I read that it’s probably because the leisure battery is low however the control panel says it’s fine. I’m off grid at the moment but will be hooked up tomorrow, hopefully all will be well again. Is it just me or does anyone else find problems every few days? We’re in Spain for 90 days and it’s been one thing after another.
Inverter problem
- Thread starter Hymerboy
- Start date
I would like more info on how to fit 12v sockets please.
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I've fitted a few of these..
Takes a couple of weeks to arrive but much cheaper than UK sellers.
Just drill a 30mm hole and clamp them in. Then wire it back to the leisure battery via a 10 amp fuse or you can fit an additional mini fuse box.
￡1.88 12%OFF | 12V Cigarette Lighter Socket Waterproof Plug Car Charger 24V Motorcycle Marine Accessory Power Cigar Lighter Socket
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MisterB
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- Feb 25, 2018
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- enough to know i shouldnt touch things i know nothing about ....
do a search for CBE sockets, they look so much more professional as if they were factory fitted. you can get a variety of sockets, switches and surrounds. the surround help to cover up any minor mistakes when cutting out.
its a simple job to wire them up - there is a positive and negative wire to each socket - its a bit more difficult to fit them into existing interior woodwork, but with good planning re where the cables will 'run' and where the outlet is best placed, it becomes easier. use the correct size cable, i usually use 10A cable.
i use a drill AND a multitool with small blade to achieve a neat hole. put some masking tape over the area to be cut out and draw the outline of the cut onto the masking tape and cut through the masking tape. it helps to prevent the blade from slipping
just make sure you have checked there are no wires or pipes running where you are cutting.
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Delboyarapaho
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My wife's hairdryer is only 700w. Think about a lower capacity one. Also if you are changing batteries think about Lithium. I would use an inverter with Lead acid batteries they wont last 5 mins
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If you're going to be fitting more than one 12V socket, a good place to start is to install a fusebox. Some fuseboxes are only for the positive wires, but this one is good because you can wire the negatives as well as the positives.
Standard Blade Fuse Box With Positive & Negative Busbars - 6 Way
6 way standard blade fuse box with 2 positive busbars & 1 negative busbar. The -ve busbar is useful to common cables back to the battery -ve terminal.
www.12voltplanet.co.uk
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
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
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Herbyventures
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- Oct 17, 2019
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My OH knows a thing or two about electrics (until recently he looked after Broadcast TV OB trucks) and he said the same thing.
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Kevin R
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We all started somewhere learning about what seems obvious to us now. Surely we must encourage those starting out with this way of travelling.
As mentioned above, there are a few low wattage hairdryers if really needed.
I would recommend a Lithium Iron battery from Super B. Mine is about 150ah which I’ve used for about 8 years, coupled to about 350watts of 4 solar panels. A 1500watt Dometic sine wave inverter gives me enough juice for a Nespresso and 900watt Nutribullet each morning.
We all have different needs and the wattage of appliances must be worked out with the amps before investing In a costly off-grid system.
As mentioned above, there are a few low wattage hairdryers if really needed.
I would recommend a Lithium Iron battery from Super B. Mine is about 150ah which I’ve used for about 8 years, coupled to about 350watts of 4 solar panels. A 1500watt Dometic sine wave inverter gives me enough juice for a Nespresso and 900watt Nutribullet each morning.
We all have different needs and the wattage of appliances must be worked out with the amps before investing In a costly off-grid system.
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Hi Lenny as previously stated I have just had fitted 2 x 130 ah leisure batteries, yesterday the above door control said 13.7 volts and 100% AH, I was on hook up the whole time, Today I have just moved sites and the readings are now 13.7 volts and 7% HA, I've not been using the the 12v system at all so can't understand these readings, any ideas please ?. Jack
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It's difficult to tell what's wrong without further measurements, but if the voltage is really 13.7V then it's unlikely the state of charge is really 7%. Maybe the Ah gauge is faulty, or it's not been wired in properly so it can't measure all the amps flows. More information on the system would help. What is the make/model of the distribution/fusebox and the control panel? A photo of them might help, maybe someone could recognise them.
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Sargent EC 500
The vehicle is an Autotrail Comanche, the control panel is a Sargent EC 500 I'm currently on HU and the AH has risen to 9%
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The EC500 'Power Supply Unit' has mains protection breakers, 12V fuses, and wiring for distribution. The control panel is the small panel with an LCD display and some buttons and LEDs, probably above the door. If it's the EC370 panel. it doesn't have an Ah display, so it might be a later model.
Edit: From your picture just posted I can see it's not an EC370 control panel. I'd say there's something wrong with the Ah measurement - either there's a fault in the measurement unit, or the wiring isn't channelling all the charging amps through the shunt. Or maybe it needs recalibrating/resetting to tell it the new battery capacity, but I don't know how to do that.
Edit: From your picture just posted I can see it's not an EC370 control panel. I'd say there's something wrong with the Ah measurement - either there's a fault in the measurement unit, or the wiring isn't channelling all the charging amps through the shunt. Or maybe it needs recalibrating/resetting to tell it the new battery capacity, but I don't know how to do that.
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Ducatikid It also seems that the EC480 calibration information you may need is in the same Resources section in , Sargent/Autotrail EC500 Dealer guide , put on by tonka
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I'm very gratefull for this link however where it says set the battery size I don't know what to do as I have two x 130 Ah batteries so do I put 130HA or 260 HA ?
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Thanks for your help. I have re-calibrated and now I have 13.8 V and 100% AH. Keeping fingers crossed, Jack.
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