Sterling BB1270 B2B Charger only Charges for 15 Seconds

[Jim]

On a journey yesterday with my LiFePO4 batteries sat at about 70%, I put my shunt app on permanent display and noticed that about every minute, the B2B would kick in and start putting 40+ amps into my 600AH bank. It would only charge for about 15 seconds and then drop off. A Five hour drive and I'd put 10% in, and that, I'm sure, was from solar. I've since observed the light tell-tales on the B2B during this 15 second cycle, no faults showing.

Any ideas?

 

[Millcourt]

I am not sure if this is correct, but…..

Someone told me a while ago that if you run with your headlights switched on (dipped, I presume) there would be a sufficient draw from the engine battery to fool the alternator to continue to provide current and thus with the B2B continue to feed a supply to your house batteries.

Perhaps worth a try. Doubtless someone more knowledgeable than me can offer better advice.

 

[Pausim]

Does the B2B have an ignition feed connected? If you have a smart alternator and the B2B is relying on voltage sensing it will only power up intermittently, when the alternator chooses to raise the voltage. The ignition feed would be best powered by a D+ signal. I think some of the Sterling B2Bs have vibration sensing too but the D+ is generally reckoned to be best.

 

[rwg]

Turn it off and on again? Sounds silly, but whatever little computer is in there controlling the B2B may have got itself into some weird state, and that will be running all the time since it has continuous 12V power. Disconnect the 12V on both sides so it has no power, leave it a bit, reconnect and try again.

Robin

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Not what you want to hear but I recently replaced my Sterling B2B for a Victron Orion XS. Sterling rarely gave full output for long throttling back for getting too hot.

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[headlight]

Not what you want to hear but I recently replaced my Sterling B2B for a Victron Orion XS. Sterling rarely gave full output for long throttling back for getting too hot.

I must admit that my experience with a Sterling 60amp B2B is the complete opposite.
Recently drove back from a site and B2B output started at 55.4 amps and 2 and a half hours later when I reached my storage compound it was still out putting 48 amps and was cool to touch.