Why do my batteries keep dying?

[nomad2022]

Complete newbie here on my first trip don’t know what I’m doing wrong- before I set off installed 2 x 100w Lithium batteries, 340wh Solar and 2000w Victron inverter which I thought would be enough to keep me alive offgrid but for some reason keep flattening the batteries - first night lost all power around 5am but was probably using too many appliances- have been off grid for 3 days now - batteries seem to be charging ok during day but still dying overnight- what am I doing wrong?

 

[Lenny HB]

If you are in the UK 340 w of solar will do sod all this time of year. If you are lucky you will get probably 5-10% back into your batteries in a day proving it is bright sunshine and crystal clear skies all day.
If you are relying on solar for recharging, don't use the inverter, restrict TV viewing to a couple of hours a day, use minimal lights and see how it goes & don't run the heating overnight.

 

[nomad2022]

Thanks Lenny I’m in Spain now but was running heating overnight on my drive down through France as well as fridge as couldn’t get level enough to run fridge off gas - wasn’t a great deal of sun through France but hopefully now I’m in Spain should get more! First night was using TV but since then have tried to minimise using anything electrical! Am learning the hard way Thank god for my little power pack which has kept my phone and satnav alive!

 

[JockandRita]

Thanks Lenny I’m in Spain now but was running heating overnight on my drive down through France as well as fridge as couldn’t get level enough to run fridge off gas

And there is the possible culprit, ie, if an absorption fridge/freezer, it'll be pulling around 14 - 16 amps initially.
If a compression fridge, I'm not sure what their draw in amps is.

Did you not fit a B2B when you did your installation?

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[nomad2022]

Sadly not it’s a thetford 3 way fridge

And there is the possible culprit, ie, if an absorption fridge/freezer, it'll be pulling around 14 - 16 amps an hour initially.
If a compression fridge, I'm not sure what there draw in amps is.

Did you not fit a B2B when you did your installation?

Cheers,

Jock.

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[nomad2022]

So I need to find some level parking spots to stop running fridge off battery- I’m finding that’s easier said than done! It’s been hard enough finding a spot to park up for the night let alone level! A lot of places closed this time of year and being on my own haven’t had the confidence or energy to dig out the levelling ramps! But good to know the fridge is the likely culprit

 

[nomad2022]

Looks like I’m going to pig out on burgers and bacon Tommorow

 

[Lenny HB]

So I need to find some level parking spots to stop running fridge off battery- I’m finding that’s easier said than done! It’s been hard enough finding a spot to park up for the night let alone level! A lot of places closed this time of year and being on my own haven’t had the confidence or energy to dig out the levelling ramps! But good to know the fridge is the likely culprit

Why are you having trouble finding places to stop that only happens in the UK.
Unless you are rolling out of bed or the wine glass is sliding off the table the van should be level enough for the fridge to work.

 

[2x2camper]

So I need to find some level parking spots to stop running fridge off battery- I’m finding that’s easier said than done! It’s been hard enough finding a spot to park up for the night let alone level! A lot of places closed this time of year and being on my own haven’t had the confidence or energy to dig out the levelling ramps! But good to know the fridge is the likely culprit

Ours has always worked no matter what the slope.

 

[Tombola]

Your garage can be your fridge for now if you haven't got too far south yet.

Do you have a b2b charger installed ? To charge while driving

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[JockandRita]

Why are you having trouble finding places to stop that only happens in the UK.
Unless you are rolling out of bed or the wine glass is sliding off the table the van should be level enough for the fridge to work.

nomad2022. Those are exactly my thoughts too.

When travelling down to Spain, also using tonka's Western Route, we always manage to level off for the night, without levellers of any kind.
I won't use them if wild camping, thereby giving me an instant escape if need be....................but never had to leave in a hurry yet.

Do you have a b2b charger installed ? To charge while driving

Did you not fit a B2B when you did your installation?

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[DavidG58]

So I need to find some level parking spots to stop running fridge off battery

That looks like your problem , I would never run fridge off battery

Not sure if it’s more efficient on mains via inverter , but I would say do not use 12V for fridge while parked

As Lenny says, not level has to be really severe to stop the fridge working , something else is wrong with the gas part of the fridge

 

[Lenny HB]

Not sure if it’s more efficient on mains via inverter , but I would say do not use 12V for fridge while parked

Far worse on mains from an inverter e.g. My fridge is 190 Watts on 12v, 250 Watts on mains + 10 - 15% for inverter inefficency.

 

[the1andonly]

You need to concider a Battery monitor to be able to check all apects of whats happening to battery Amps in/ out SOC etc. For Li Victron products eg Smart shunt or BMV712.

 

[nomad2022]

Thanks for all comments looks like I have problem with the gas side of fridge which I’ll need to sort out - only had van for 6 weeks and in my hurry to escape winter didn’t fully check out all operations without EHU! As for B2B assumed it was part of installation when I fitted victron inverter/charger but new to this so I’m probably wrong

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[autorouter]

as well as fridge as couldn’t get level enough to run fridge off gas

The way the fridge works, there's a coolant circuit that is powered by a small heat input. The heat input can be gas, 12V element or 240V element. But it's the coolant circuit that needs to be level for any cooling to happen.

So if the coolant circuit is off-level enough to be a problem, it doesn't make any difference which heat source you're running from.

Maybe you're thinking of compressor fridges, that are much less affected by level problems, and only work off electricity (12V or 240V).

 

[Suenliam]

I know nothing of 'lectrics but I do know that in all the years we had a 3 way fridge it always worked on gas. If we could sleep without rolling out of bed then it was level enough for the fridge to work.
Sue

 

[L' Hobo]

I know nothing of 'lectrics but I do know that in all the years we had a 3 way fridge it always worked on gas. If we could sleep without rolling out of bed then it was level enough for the fridge to work.
Sue

Like you, I know very little about electrics and thought mine, (on my 2007 Murvi Morello), were pretty basic but, both my hab & starter batteries get charged when travelling and also on EHU.

If it's level enough for me to sleep in my bed, my 3 way fridge works all the time on gas and even 12V (or gas), when travelling?

If I had travelled through France every day, I would have expected both my batteries to have been topped right up every night.

 

[nomad2022]

PS nothing wrong with fridge or anything else - another newbie error I’ve been off-grid through France and Spain now hooked up at El Jardin Camping in Alicante and all it was is that I had blown the main fuse on my first night in France! Steep learning curve