Victron charger tripped-why?

[Ingwe]

Van fitted with 2x110ah lithium batteries, Victron IP22 30a charger, Smart shunt and battery master. Van is kept in a secure, indoor workshop that has no daylight so there’s no solar to keep leisure batteries charged.

I have connected the van to the mains but have a timer fitted so that the mains is limited to two hours once a week. After three weeks, today was the first chance I had to go and check the batteries and was surprised to see that the state of charge was down to 66% and that the starter battery voltage was 12.4.

It was apparent that there had been no power despite the timer. I checked the timer programme and it was correct. I then checked the charger and found that it had tripped. I reset the MCB and advanced the timer and the charger started charging. I waited 30 minutes and the charger did not trip again.

So I checked the timer again, and left the van with the timer set to come on for 2 hours on Monday. We plan to use the van from the 16th Jan for two months so am wondering why the charger tripped over the Christmas period.

I’ve attached screenshots of today’s shunt reading and history in case it tells something I don’t understand. Thanks in advance.

 

[StillGoing]

Could your timer be tripping the circuit breaker? Is it a good quality one?

 

[AdrianChen]

So it was the MCBO that tripped?

 

[Ingwe]

Could your timer be tripping the circuit breaker? Is it a good quality one?

It is a reasonable quality timer (HBN, photo attached) and I’ve been using it successfully since 2021, with no tripping.

 

[Ingwe]

So it was the MCBO that tripped?

Yes.

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[St3v3]

Yes.

MCBO doesn't exist. Is it an MCB or an RCBO? RCBO easily identified by having a test button where MCB does not.

 

[AdrianChen]

Yes.

Then I guess the cable/sockets etc might not be perfect, or perhaps there was a spike, perhaps following a power cut?

Is there any chance the contacts in the timer are getting dirty/arcing.

Not much help sorry...

MCBO doesn't exist. Is it an MCB or an RCBO? RCBO easily identified by having a test button where MCB does not.

Yes I meant to type MCB as that's what is in the original post - my mistake and humble appologies!

 

[Ingwe]

MCBO doesn't exist. Is it an MCB or an RCBO? RCBO easily identified by having a test button where MCB does not.

Ok, my mistake. What tripped is the item marked with a red arrow. It was in the OFF position when I checked.

 

[Ingwe]

Then I guess the cable/sockets etc might not be perfect, or perhaps there was a spike, perhaps following a power cut?

Is there any chance the contacts in the timer are getting dirty/arcing.

Not much help sorry...

Yes I meant to type MCB as that's what is in the original post - my mistake and humble appologies!

Both propositions are possible, thank you. The storage facility shut completely over Christmas so it’s possible they turned off all power over the period. If that is the case, there could have been a voltage surge when they turned the power back on. I’ll check with them on Monday when I go to check the van again. I think it’s unlikely that they did turn the power off (as there is a number of vans there all hooked up).

And yes, the timer is, I suppose, getting old at least three years old, given the poxy quality of most electronic stuff imported these days.

Thanks for your input and certainly no apologies required regarding the tiny typo.

 

[St3v3]

Yes I meant to type MCB as that's what is in the original post - my mistake and humble appologies!

Just clarifying to try and help point in the right direction, no apology necessary

MCB only trips when it sees a current higher than it's rating.

RCBO does the above and trips if there is a (potentially very small) leakage current. I.e something wet might cause it.

Or, either may trip if faulty.

Ok, my mistake. What tripped is the item marked with a red arrow. It was in the OFF position when I checked.
View attachment 995851

That's an MCB. So, unless it's faulty it's tripped because of a high current. Possibly as the power has come back on but I'd think it unlikely with the victron as it's a better charger. Cable/timer possible as mentioned. See how it goes but it wouldn't hurt to get a spare MCB, for sale here:

NBSe 6AMP DOUBLE POLE MCB DZ47-63 | eBay

6 Amp, C Curve, Din Rail Mounted. Double Pole MCB'S provide overload and short circuit protection on the live & neutral wires and disconnects both circuits under fault conditions.

www.ebay.co.uk

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[Gromett]

MCB's can age out and become trigger happy.
If you have a large victron say a 3000 Multiplus it is possible for it to cause a small surge when first powered up after no use for a while as the capacitors charge? Although I have not experienced this myself.
The combination may cause this effect. Where it trips the first time but is then fine for a while.

MCBs have a lifespan of between 10 and 20 years.

If this is a one off event I wouldn't worry too much. But if it starts happening regularly I would suggest it may either be a fault in the van or the MCB is aging out.

Double Pole MCB (DZ47-63) 6amp - Camper Select

Double pole MCBs provide overload and short circuit protection on the live & neutral wires and disconnects both circuits under fault conditions. DZ47-63

camperselect.co.uk

 

[Ingwe]

I’m hoping it’s a one-off. But we’re away in a fortnight so will monitor it more closely as we’ll be in the van. Had the RCD replaced during the 2023 habitation check as the response times in the old RCD were too slow. It was more of a task than I’d hoped and, although I will buy a replacement MCB as a spare, not sure fitting it is within my capabilities.

Thanks everyone for their kind help, information and advice.

 

[St3v3]

I will buy a replacement MCB as a spare, not sure fitting it is within my capabilities.

Much easier to find someone who can fit it rather than trying to find the part

Camperselect is quite expensive when you add the £7 delivery though Free on that ebay link.

 

[G1969]

MCB's can age out and become trigger happy.
If you have a large victron say a 3000 Multiplus it is possible for it to cause a small surge when first powered up after no use for a while as the capacitors charge? Although I have not experienced this myself.
The combination may cause this effect. Where it trips the first time but is then fine for a while.

MCBs have a lifespan of between 10 and 20 years.

If this is a one off event I wouldn't worry too much. But if it starts happening regularly I would suggest it may either be a fault in the van or the MCB is aging out.

Double Pole MCB (DZ47-63) 6amp - Camper Select

Double pole MCBs provide overload and short circuit protection on the live & neutral wires and disconnects both circuits under fault conditions. DZ47-63

camperselect.co.uk

Topical, as ours tripped a couple of times recently but when I put alde heating on 3kw, I am not sure if it gets overloaded or is starting to develop a fault

 

[Gromett]

Topical, as ours tripped a couple of times recently but when I put alde heating on 3kw, I am not sure if it gets overloaded or is starting to develop a fault

With any device that involves water it is more likely to trip the RCD due to leakage. Whenever I saw a fault when I was helping at Jasmin, it was usually always either the water heater, electric kettle or other water related device tripping the RCD not the MCB.
MCBs age and can trip at well below their rated current load over a shorter time period.

You first need to check if it is the rcd or the mcb tripping. If it is the MCB then it is likely to be aging. If it is the RCD then it is possible the water heater has developed an earth leakage fault that is close to the rating or in combination with other earth leakage causes it to go over the total cumulatively.

I hope that makes sense?

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[G1969]

With any device that involves water it is more likely to trip the RCD due to leakage. Whenever I saw a fault when I was helping at Jasmin, it was usually always either the water heater, electric kettle or other water related device tripping the RCD not the MCB.
MCBs age and can trip at well below their rated current load over a shorter time period.

You first need to check if it is the rcd or the mcb tripping. If it is the MCB then it is likely to be aging. If it is the RCD then it is possible the water heater has developed an earth leakage fault that is close to the rating or in combination with other earth leakage causes it to go over the total cumulatively.

I hope that makes sense?

OK thanks, yes it does