Rapido Battery Charging System (1 Viewer)

[Sheddy]

I have been trying to understand the battery charging systems on my 2011 Rapido, perhaps some nice folk can shed more light on what type of system is fitted.

We have twin 100ah Banner leisure batteries, a 200w solar panel and the mains charger fitted by Rapido is a CBE CB516.

Last winter while away in Spain we were on continuous hook up for close to three months, during this time the vehicle battery was slowly discharging and seemed to be getting little or no charge. I resorted to trickle charging it from a separate mains run battery charger.

The main drain on the vehicle battery is the alarm system, we do not use the radio or media equipment.

Recently back in the UK we have been away for several nights and with no hook up the leisure batteries are are showing voltages of 14v or slightly higher and the vehicle battery has been charged well up to 13v, it also now remains the same while parked up on the drive.

The Rapido fitted mains charger limits the charge voltage to a maximum of 13.5V.

My theory is that within the Rapido system there is a split charge facility which is effective only in excess of 13.5 volts and that in the winter in Benidorm there was little input to the system from the solar panel to raise the voltage past the split charge threshold.
Now at home with significant input from the Solar Panel the split charge system is operating, charging leisure batteries to a voltage of 14v or more, and subsequently the vehicle battery is reaching 13v.

Does this make sense, and if so is there another device other than the mains trickle charger that I can use to maintain the vehicle battery charge in the winter.
Cheers

 

[Deleted member 29692]

A Battery Master is all you need and you'll be sorted. http://shop.motorhomefun.co.uk/product/battery-master/

 

[iandsm]

I would take professional advice on the battery master, I have read on here, I think it was, that they do not sit well with the CBE system installed by Rapido. Why not speak with Wokingham motorhomes/caravans Rapido. they are experts at all things Rapido.

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[Deleted member 29692]

I would take professional advice on the battery master, I have read on here, I think it was, that they do not sit well with the CBE system installed by Rapido. Why not speak with Wokingham motorhomes/caravans Rapido. they are experts at all things Rapido.

It works perfectly on ours

 

[Techno]

The mains charger will charge the starter battery on all Rapido but some offer no charging of the starter off hook up. If you have a CBE relay that charges both on solar you will see the battery parallel indicator on the overdoor panel whilst this is taking place

 

[Techno]

You should consult your individual Rapido manual for what yours does.
This below does not facilitate the starter battery B1 when off hook up.

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[Techno]

If you have this type of distribution panel it will accept either a CBE CSB2 or a battery master quite happily.
Connect to B1 B2 and negative -B2

 

[iandsm]

It works perfectly on ours

Thats interesting, I cannot now remember what exactly was said about incompatibility but its obviously not a problem. Mine charges the vehicle battery on mains but does not appear to charge the vehicle battery on solar. Think I had better have it looked at.

 

[Sheddy]

Thanks for all the info guys, I will check it all out and get back with findings later today,
Cheers
Ed

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[Sheddy]

Checked the system earlier this afternoon, it seems the the B1 (vehicle) battery is being charged by the solar panel as the battery parallel indicator is on, and the leisure batteries are at 14.1v (2 photos)

The controller manual states that the car battery will be charged only when the leisure battery voltage is greater that 13.6v.

The mains battery charger (type CB516) only charges to a max of 13.5v, so combined with a low level of input from the solar panel in the winter, it seems the 13.6v threshold will not often be achieved and the vehicle battery will not get charged, even on hook up and with the solar panel.

It would appear that the option of the Battery Master would work as it functions by charging the vehicle battery based on the difference in voltage between batteries, however will it be OK to install one in the system without causing problems with the current system?
Cheers
Ed

 

[Techno]

I don't think your information about the battery charger voltage is correct.
To my knowledge it charges up to 14.3

 

[Techno]

http://www.cbe.it/en/content/cb516

Lead acid charging is to 14.1 with float charge at 13.5. With CBE relays the transfer of charge usually continues until the leisure battery is sensed to have dropped below 12.6 once triggered at 13.6 so even on float charge there should still be charging to B1. Putting a load on your batteries will drop the voltage below 12.6 but that should trigger the mains charger to raise the output

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[Deleted member 29692]

It would appear that the option of the Battery Master would work as it functions by charging the vehicle battery based on the difference in voltage between batteries, however will it be OK to install one in the system without causing problems with the current system?

Mine was added to the current system (by Vanbitz) and it hasn't caused any issues. I've never had a problem with the engine battery going flat so I assume it's working as it should.

 

[Sheddy]

http://www.cbe.it/en/content/cb516

Lead acid charging is to 14.1 with float charge at 13.5. With CBE relays the transfer of charge usually continues until the leisure battery is sensed to have dropped below 12.6 once triggered at 13.6 so even on float charge there should still be charging to B1. Putting a load on your batteries will drop the voltage below 12.6 but that should trigger the mains charger to raise the output

Thanks, It looks like I need to do a bit more investigation, on and of hook up, checking the voltages on both sets of batteries on and off load. (Reading the manual again the max volts is 14.1 from the charger.)
Cheers

 

[Techno]

When you said last winter it was slowly discharging , discharging to what voltage?

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