Transformer and Battery indicator ...

[Dorsetway]

Hi, we have owned our van for a few weeks now and have had two short trial trips, all pretty good and we have already learned several "lessons" as I am sure most people do at the outset !

We have a Ducato Swift Mondial - 2002 low miles and clean. It has a battery / tank indicator, and we select the source of battery when not hooked-up. On 230v hook-up we found that we can leave the battery switch "off" and the transformer will automatically provide all power incl 12v - which I hadn't realised was the way these things worked. All good, however after a recent Hab-check we went away and found the transformer did not seem to be working as before (had to switch to battery option to get 12v system working). A friendly camper had a look at the fuses and it seemed that the small glass fuse which sits in the top of the transformer was sitting proud, and when we removed it and put it back the fuse holder went down (and seated properly) when pressed and twisted.
This got it working properly on 230v and all was well. The only question now is that when using say the lights on 12v through hook-up even when the battery-option switch set to "off" - the battery condition gauge shows Full Charging (in the green) ? I could have sworn that before this, the battery condition gauge (needle) stayed at zero whenever we were using 12v on 230v hook-up and battery feed left off ?
So did I just get it wrong or does the gauge showing battery condition in green (when on transformer) mean I have a problem somewhere ?
Thanks !

 

[pappajohn]

I could be wrong but I think what you are seeing is the charger voltage, not the battery.
With the switch in the same position unplug hook up and see if the needle returns to zero.
If it does then my thoughts are correct.

 

[TheBig1]

you dont have a problem from what you describe, yet. i say that because when on hookup you use the battery selector switch to choose which battery to charge

 

[two]

I’m not familiar with your van, so I may be wrong:

Your charger/transformer may have overheated and ‘popped’ the fuse. Pressing it in again later will have reset it.

I think you should have your habitation battery ‘on’ while on EHU. The battery will get charged that way and provide a more stable supply to your 12V services in conjunction with the charger. The charger should not overheat that way and ‘pop’ the fuse.

The battery condition will always look good when on EHU (and battery switched on) because the voltage is being maintained by the charger. You will only get a meaningful measure of the battery state when off EHU and the battery has had time to settle.

 

[Dorsetway]

I could be wrong but I think what you are seeing is the charger voltage, not the battery.
With the switch in the same position unplug hook up and see if the needle returns to zero.
If it does then my thoughts are correct.

If I am not on hook-up then the indicator returns to zero (If the rocker is set to neutral / off position).

I did read that I should select either cab or leisure battery for charging on hook-up, but I felt sure that first time out I did not do that and left the rocker "off" and the needle stayed at neutral ? I believe that the indicator is supposed to reflect battery condition, and so I was worried that if I don't select a battery then if the indicator is at 100% green then what the hell is it charging ? I do wonder if the fuse was not sat properly before and so was not giving me a indicator value on H/Up ? I will have to dig out the gumpf and see if there is any guidance in there ....

Thanks all !

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[two]

Yes, try and determine what function that three-way switch is supposed to perform. Maybe, also how battery charging is achieved.

I guess it simply selects leisure or starter battery, to show condition but it might also instruct the which battery should be charge on EHU (though I doubt that). I see no harm in that switch being left in the ‘leisure’ position.