Sargeants EC 500 charging problem (1 Viewer)

[Camper634]

This is our first real weekend away in the new van and just noticed another potential problem.Vehicle battery is showing 12.5 V and good.Leisure battery is showing 11.8 V and fair.Yet the input from the solar panel is showing as being directed into the vehicle battery not the leisure battery.According to the handbook it is all done automatically so I haven't the option to redirect what little power there is into my leisure battery.Doesnt seem right to me but hopefully someone on here will know.I know Sargent used to monitor the forum so here's hoping before I lose my power altogether.Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Gellyneck]

Is there not a button on your EC500 that switches between the batteries? Ours in on the lower row under the Power \ Water \ Light buttons

 

[Camper634]

No but there is an option within advanced settings (which I found 2 minutes ago)which lets you choose which battery receives the solar power.I have just done that so hopefully if the sun stays out I will be ok.It just seems the smart charger isn't particularly smart when it charges an already charged battery and ignores the other one

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[Gellyneck]

Sorry, just realised I was talking about the EC480 Control Panel which is above the door of our Frontier. I've had to do a manual switch on ours on the odd occasion.

 

[Camper634]

Sorry, just realised I was talking about the EC480 Control Panel which is above the door of our Frontier. I've had to do a manual switch on ours on the odd occasion.

No,thanks for your reply,much appreciated.

 

[tonka]

Its best to set solar and ehu charging to "smart" and then it will just swop batteries as needed.. If we are on a long rally I often reset the solar to "leisure" but have to remember to set it back to smart.
I dont think you have a problem just need to understand how the system works and its settings.
Sometimes when on smart, if you turn off the black shutdown switch on the ec500 then back on it makes the battery charge switch over.

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[Camper634]

Its best to set solar and ehu charging to "smart" and then it will just swop batteries as needed.. If we are on a long rally I often reset the solar to "leisure" but have to remember to set it back to smart.
I dont think you have a problem just need to understand how the system works and its settings.
Sometimes when on smart, if you turn off the black shutdown switch on the ec500 then back on it makes the battery charge switch over.

Thanks for your reply.I am puzzled as to why a smart charger thinks it's a good idea to charge an already charged battery i.e. The vehicle battery (12.5 v)rather than the leisure battery which is down to 11.7?

 

[tonka]

Thanks for your reply.I am puzzled as to why a smart charger thinks it's a good idea to charge an already charged battery i.e. The vehicle battery (12.5 v)rather than the leisure battery which is down to 11.7?

The charger is female so it thinks it knows better..

 

[laurieash]

what use is a vehicle if it wont start?

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[laurieash]

It will swop over when its got enough charge, i think its 4 hours.