Vehicle Battery Charge

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Lagotto

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Auto Trail Imala 620
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I have a question regarding my Motorhome, AutoTrail Imala 620 2016. I was under the impression that when on Hook-Up the vehicle battery, in addition to the leisure battery, would be charged. However I am now doubting this as while on hook-up my starter battery has died and the vehicle wont start. I am currently charging the battery using a stand alone charger to determine if the battery is still ok. Am I wrong in assuming the vehicle battery will be charged on hook-up? What is the most simple way to check if it is charging when on hook-up? The vehicle hand book is not very helpful with regard to this subject. Thanks.
 
I think you have Sargent system you have set it up to charge the starter battery. One of the setting it charges the leisure and starter battery in alternate 4 hour blocks.
 
i very much doubt it charges the starter battery when on hook up
 
Lenny HB said:
Apart from very old Motorhome
Click to expand...
And elddis Motorhomes 😏
They had all on installing a charger at all in ours, it was a 13.8v power supply 😆
Model year 2014

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Lenny HB said:
What makes you say that?
Apart from very old Motorhomes they all do.
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Ours is a 2000 model and ours doesn’t .
Use a stand alone charger with trickle facility plugged into 240v socket in van with cigarette lighter plug into permanent live cigarette socket.
Works for us. 😊
 
Captain Yoghurtpot said:
Ours is a 2000 model and ours doesn’t .
Use a stand alone charger with trickle facility plugged into 240v socket in van with cigarette lighter plug into permanent live cigarette socket.
Works for us. 😊
Click to expand...
That's weird what is the van & the charging system?
 
Our old Hymer was a 99 model, and it charged both battery banks when the mains was connected. (y).

Previous older caravans with a Zig system, had a switch for charging the Hab battery from the mains, otherwise it only charged when the car's alternator was running, and the split charger relay kicked in.

Cheers,

Jock. :)
 
mick qc said:
i very much doubt it charges the starter battery when on hook up
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My 2021 Burstner uses a Schaudt ebl to manage the electrics. According the manual when on hook up it charges the leisure battery predominantly but sends a 'float charge' to the starter battery. This will keep it topped up to where it is but will not fully charge it if the battery is already depleted.

When driving both leisure and starter batteries are charged. Interesting it states that even the alternator, when driving will not full charge the starter battery. I am surprised at that.
 
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Lenny HB said:
I'll rephrase my statement-all modern commercially built Motorhomes charge the starter battery on hook up.
Click to expand...
Yes. I knew what you meant

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Lagotto If you go to www.sargentltd.co.uk you can download full operation instructions for the EC176 PSU and EC362 control panel that I think you have fitted. (go to their support/help centre section). I seems that the charger will charge your starter battery but it has to be selected through the control panel , as the leisure battery charging is the default setting when charger is switched on.
If this is correct It would be worth looking at fitting a Vanbitz battery master , as it will keep the starter battery topped up from the leisure battery and is simple to fit.
 
VXman said:
My 2021 Burstner uses a Schaudt ebl to manage the electrics. According the manual when on hook up it charges the leisure battery predominantly but sends a 'float charge' to the starter battery. This will keep it topped up to where it is but will not fully charge it if the battery is already depleted.

When driving both leisure and starter batteries are charged. Interesting it states that even the alternator, when driving will not full charge the starter battery. I am surprised at that.
Click to expand...
Thats the smart alternator for you
 
Lenny HB said:
I think you have Sargent system you have set it up to charge the starter battery. One of the setting it charges the leisure and starter battery in alternate 4 hour blocks.
Click to expand...
My PSU is an EC155 with a EC51 control, I don’t think it’s that sophisticated, no options to program it.

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My Bailey charges both the liesure and vehicle batteries when on electric hook up. However, you have to go into the control male settings to set it to charge the vehicle battery. It’s not a default setting.
 
Lagotto said:
My PSU is an EC155 with a EC51 control, I don’t think it’s that sophisticated, no options to program
Click to expand...
With the vehicle battery manually
selected on the E51 control panel it should charge it.
 
ramsthom said:
With the vehicle battery manually
selected on the E51 control panel it should charge it.
Click to expand...
A bit like the switch on the old Zig units then, ie, you have to make the correct selection manually, ie, Car/Hab.

Regards,

Jock. :)

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ramsthom said:
With the vehicle battery manually
selected on the E51 control panel it should charge it.
Click to expand...
My electrics knowledge is not great, but I think the E51 only controls which battery will be used to supply the 12v equipment and to display its current voltage, I could be wrong.
 
Lagotto said:
What is the most simple way to check if it is charging when on hook-up?
Click to expand...
Look at the voltage of the starter battery. The normal 'resting voltage' will be between 12.8V (full) and about 12.0V (quite low but not flat) when it is not being charged by anything - mains hookup, solar or alternator.

If the voltage is 13.0V or more, then something is charging it. A cheap multimeter from a DIY store will be OK to measure the voltage, always useful to have handy for checking if the batteries are being charged, and general fault finding. The voltage will go up to about 14.5V when being actively charged. It will drop to about 13.5V when charging has finished and the charger is sending out a maintenance 'float' charge.
 
GeoffnDee said:
Lagotto If you go to www.sargentltd.co.uk you can download full operation instructions for the EC176 PSU and EC362 control panel that I think you have fitted. (go to their support/help centre section). I seems that the charger will charge your starter battery but it has to be selected through the control panel , as the leisure battery charging is the default setting when charger is switched on.
If this is correct It would be worth looking at fitting a Vanbitz battery master , as it will keep the starter battery topped up from the leisure battery and is simple to fit.
Click to expand...
I think you may find this also applies to the EC155/EC51 system you have , their operation details are also on www.sargentltd.co.uk
 
autorouter said:
Look at the voltage of the starter battery. The normal 'resting voltage' will be between 12.8V (full) and about 12.0V (quite low but not flat) when it is not being charged by anything - mains hookup, solar or alternator.

If the voltage is 13.0V or more, then something is charging it. A cheap multimeter from a DIY store will be OK to measure the voltage, always useful to have handy for checking if the batteries are being charged, and general fault finding. The voltage will go up to about 14.5V when being actively charged. It will drop to about 13.5V when charging has finished and the charger is sending out a maintenance 'float' charge.
Click to expand...
I did wonder if this was the obvious method to check, but thought maybe I was missing something. I’ve got a good multimeter so can do as you suggest. That will at least tell me if I am getting any charge, if I’m not, I will need to establish if that is as the system was intended or if there is a fault. If the system is not designed to charge the vehicle battery, at least I can then sort out an alternative arrangement.
 
Although you have the option to choose vehicle or leisure battery, that is a very, very basic ECU. Autotrail certainly saved a few quid by specking that version.

Geoff

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