Newbie electrical gremlins

[darkport]

Hi all,

I finally took the plunge and bought a beautiful converted sprinter van a few weeks ago for an off-grid adventure. We took her to Camber Sands for three days to test everything etc, and all was good. On the third day the inverter was beeping to warn of a low battery-fine, we had been using the fridge, charging laptops, cooker, boiler, etc for 3 days.

Yesterday we left the UK and just arrived in Switzerland and had a few electrical gremlins. Notably the inverter was warning of a low battery after an overnight stop and just a few hours use after a full charge.

But now our fridge (Smod 240v and 12v) isn’t working. The light inside comes on but it’s not getting cool on either 240 or 12v. There’s definitely power as the oven is on the same circuit and the pizos fire.

And secondly, we have 3 plugs in the garage area with the inverter plugged in and a battery monitor (CTEK to the right of the batteries in the picture). Yet for some reason they’re now not working, I.e., I’m getting no power from them at all. Other 240v sockets in the van work and can power a hair dryer etc.

The weird thing is everything works fine when hooked up to shore power. It just seems to be when on battery / inverter mode so highly doubt its a fuse or wiring issue?

I’m pretty new and still learning so not quite sure what to check. Any suggestions on simple things?

Thanks! And excited to learn more!

 

[Riverbankannie]

Someone knowledgeable will be along soon. In the meantime describe your battery and solar set up. How much, size and type of batteries etc.
I do feel it is going to be a battery issue and you may have hammered them too much in the beginning.

 

[darkport]

Thanks!

The batteries are 2 x 95amp (Yuasa L36-AGM), a 1000W inverter plus MPPT, 1 x 225w solar panel, and 40amp split relay to charge from alternator.

 

[Lenny HB]

I think your problem is you are using the inverter too much and flattening the batteries.
With just two batteries you shouldn't be drawing more than 40 amps out of them. A 1000 watt inverter running at full power will draw around 90 amps.

 

[Raul]

Batteries well over discharged, that even cteck can’t see them. Multimeter on battery terminal first step.
You are working in deficit without realising, and batteries have taken a toll.

I just seen the inverter, a mpp (pip) copy; that inverter it has a very high idle consumption, 30w over 24hrs it’s 0.72kwh. I doubt your 200w solar makes up for your high consumption, by the time you add the fridge and the rest.

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[andykim]

I think your problem is you are using the inverter too much and flattening the batteries.
With just two batteries you shouldn't be drawing more than 40 amps out of them. A 1000 watt inverter running at full power will draw around 90 amps.

Do you think he's killed the batteries by discharging them too low?

 

[darkport]

Hmm so yesterday we were driving for 8-9 hours. The only power usage was the fridge left on 240v. But my understanding is with the split relay, the batteries will charge from the alternator as we drive and the solar panels. I would’ve thought the charge would out way the usage.

And any idea on why some sockets only work on shore power? They worked before but suddenly stopped working.

 

[andykim]

Have you checked the fuses for the dead sockets?

 

[Raul]

Hmm so yesterday we were driving for 8-9 hours. The only power usage was the fridge left on 240v. But my understanding is with the split relay, the batteries will charge from the alternator as we drive and the solar panels. I would’ve thought the charge would out way the usage.

And any idea on why some sockets only work on shore power? They worked before but suddenly stopped working.

Do yourself a favour, and invest in a battery monitor shunt.

Your inverter has AC in from EHU, if sockets are wired from the output of the inverter, then it’s not pass trough if inverter of. You need inverter on to make use of the EHU, unless you have separate sockets, wired that bypasses the inverter.

 

[Two on Tour]

Hmm so yesterday we were driving for 8-9 hours. The only power usage was the fridge left on 240v. But my understanding is with the split relay, the batteries will charge from the alternator as we drive and the solar panels. I would’ve thought the charge would out way the usage.

And any idea on why some sockets only work on shore power? They worked before but suddenly stopped working.

How old is your Sprinter.
If it is 2015 or later then it is likely fitted with a smart alternator which means that you will be unlikely to get the charge to your hab batteries that you think you would be getting which is why a B2B charger would be a better option for you.

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[Gromett]

Others have covered the electric gremlins pretty well. But one thing that stood out to me from this install is that you electrics on the deck in a location where there is water above.
If any of your pipes leak/burst your electronics will get flooded. I would get that stuff moved onto the wall. The CTEK specifically but there may be other stuff there?
Anything with a connector should also be off the floor.

 

[Lenny HB]

Do you think he's killed the batteries by discharging them too low?

Yes

 

[Lenny HB]

Is the fridge a compressor fridge or is it a 3 way fridge without a gas supply?

You should only run the fridge on 240v when on EHU.

 

[Lenny HB]

And any idea on why some sockets only work on shore power? They worked before but suddenly stopped working.

Maybe some sockets are wired to the inverter and some to the EHU input and previously when you were hooked up the inverter was on.

 

[DBK]

Notably the inverter was warning of a low battery after an overnight stop and just a few hours use after a full charge.

What are you using the inverter for that takes a few hours? Ours runs a hair dryer once a day for a few minutes. We could recharge the toothbrush for a few hours but not any greater load.

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[darkport]

Lots of info!

So it’s best practice to only turn the inverter on if actively using a 240v socket? At the minute it’s constantly on.

The fridge is a 3 way without the gas. The 12v is pretty useless at getting cold tho and can’t see it being usable for multiple days.

And @Grommet he’s absolutely on my list to move that pipe!

 

[Lenny HB]

Yes only turn the inverter on when needed a 3 way fridge should only be run on 240v when off grid you need to run it on gas.

In your first post you mentioned cooker & boiler if not gas but electric you should only run them when on EHU.

If you are trying to run everything electric you will need at least 500ah of Lithium batteries and at least 500 watts of solar plus a least a 60 amp B22. You will need to spend a few grand to upgrade the electrics and even then you will struggle in the winter..

 

[Riverbankannie]

The fridge is a 3 way without the gas. The 12v is pretty useless at getting cold tho and can’t see it being usable for multiple days.

Fridge will not cool on 12v if it is a 3 way absorption. They are designed to run on gas or 240v. 12v is just when driving . It sounds like you should have fitted a compresser fridge if you have electric only. However you would need bigger batteries and more solar as Lenny HB suggested.
If you are already away on your trip, you maybe will have to stick to sites with hookup because I feel you may have destroyed your batteries and they might not recover charge, or if they do, may not hold charge.

 

[GeoffnDee]

Normally a 3 x way fridge would be connected so that 12v from the engine battery is used when under way (engine running) , 240v used when on EHU and gas used when off grid , not on EHU (some Motorhomes are also wired to be able to use 12v from the leisure battery , but only for a short time (ferry crossings etc ) or the battery will be discharged .

 

[Lenny HB]

Fridge will not cool on 12v if it is a 3 way absorption. They are designed to run on gas or 240v. 12v is just when driving .

The modern ones cool quite well on 12v the heating element is not as large as the 240V one so not quite as efficient, big problem is the power usage very high compared to a compressor fridge so need to be run on gas when off grid.

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[autorouter]

big problem is the power usage very high compared to a compressor fridge so need to be run on gas when off grid.

Am I right that the OP is using the 3-way fridge on 240V via the inverter? That is even worse than running it from 12V. The element is more powerful, plus an extra 10% in losses in the inverter.

 

[Mzracer]

You will need to spend a few grand to upgrade the electrics and even then you will struggle in the winter..

Tounge in cheek here Lenny, but for that kind of money you can start to buy some seriously good generators (Honda EU series) and then they can be used for other things/jobs as well.

 

[Branston]

Hi all,

I finally took the plunge and bought a beautiful converted sprinter van a few weeks ago for an off-grid adventure. We took her to Camber Sands for three days to test everything etc, and all was good. On the third day the inverter was beeping to warn of a low battery-fine, we had been using the fridge, charging laptops, cooker, boiler, etc for 3 days.

Yesterday we left the UK and just arrived in Switzerland and had a few electrical gremlins. Notably the inverter was warning of a low battery after an overnight stop and just a few hours use after a full charge.

But now our fridge (Smod 240v and 12v) isn’t working. The light inside comes on but it’s not getting cool on either 240 or 12v. There’s definitely power as the oven is on the same circuit and the pizos fire.

And secondly, we have 3 plugs in the garage area with the inverter plugged in and a battery monitor (CTEK to the right of the batteries in the picture). Yet for some reason they’re now not working, I.e., I’m getting no power from them at all. Other 240v sockets in the van work and can power a hair dryer etc.

The weird thing is everything works fine when hooked up to shore power. It just seems to be when on battery / inverter mode so highly doubt its a fuse or wiring issue?

I’m pretty new and still learning so not quite sure what to check. Any suggestions on simple things?

Thanks! And excited to learn more!

View attachment 807887

Sorry but can't fill your head with technical data. If you can't resolve it whilst away and you happen to live Kent/Sussex area contact Steve at Weald of Kent Caravan Services. He is a "top man". He will come to you and meet you anywhere in his area. Phone him to explain the problem 07522965397. He may give you clues over the phone.