automatic sky dish system

[nannas-boy]

We have an automatic sky dish system on our motorhome, we have found that if we leave the dish up and the sky box on stand by it drains the leisure battery really quickly even if we are on hook up, so much so that the dish wont come down at all , it is supposed to come down when the engine is started, but we are finding if it has drained the leisure battery then it wont even come down with the engine starting. Has anyone else had this problem?

 

[Frankia]

We haven't had this problem but I am surprised that your charger isn't keeping pace with the sat receiver on standby.

1st check that you are in fact charging your leisure batteries when on hook up (is there a switch in your 'van for turning the charger on).

It also seems odd that even with the engine running the dish will not retract - again once the engine starts the relay should open to charge the leisure battery which effectively parallels the engine battery with the leisure which should give more than sufficient juice to run the motors in the sat dish.

It should be noted that when you are not on hook up it is best to disconnect the sky box when it is not in use as, although you may "switch it off," only the a/v out part of the box is powered down - the receiver part continues to work and use power! Having said that (depending on which sky box) the power consumption on standby would be less than 1 amp so should last more than an overnight on a good well charged battery

You don't say which dish system you have - the Oyster should not use any power once the sat has been aquired and therefore can be left up as long as you want.

 

[nannas-boy]

Thanks for your advise Frankia, we are totally baffled what is going on.the only way we have been able to retract the dish is by putting a battery charger on the leisure battery and then the dish goes straight down no messing. Just another thing you could maybe advise us on, when we are hooked up should we have the switch in mains position or in leisure battery position, we have had mixed advise about this question. But back to sky dish problem, why isnt the dish going down when engine starting? Thanks for advise

 

[Terry]

Hi it sounds like your van needs to be in L/Batt position :thumb: can you check if it is charging when switched into that way? you nay or may not have a split relay (engine running to charge batterys?)or it could be a fuse by the relay? again these need checking
terry

 

[nannas-boy]

Hi Terry, we will try that tomorrow, much appreciate your advise. I will update you on our outcome. Cheers

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[johnsandywhite]

Hi Terry, we will try that tomorrow, much appreciate your advise. I will update you on our outcome. Cheers

:Cool: Hi nannas-boy. It would help in future if you mention what Motorhome/RV you have?

 

[nannas-boy]

Yes i think you are right . It is a swift sundance 630L that we have.

 

[Frankia]

If you can easily get to your leisure battery check the voltage with a voltage meter (preferably a digital readout one). A battery in good condition should read about 12.8volts at rest (not being charged and with nothing running).

Now plug the 'van into a mains supply and after an hour check the voltage again - if there is no change try the switch in the other direction.

As you also appear to have a problem with charging from the engine (with the hook up disconnected) fire up the engine - within seconds the voltage at the leisure battery should be around 14+ volts - if it isn't again try changing the switch position - if this doesn't produce the required voltage it is hunt the relay time - sorry I don't know where it is on the Sundance but I am sure someone will be along soon who does.

Good luck

 

[nannas-boy]

Thank you to you all for your much appreciated advise, we think we have sorted the problem now, we have now figured out that when we are on hook up we need to have the switch in leisure battery position, we have done this outside the house for 3 days now with sky dish up all the time and on checking it this morning leisure battery still full and the dish went down no messing. Great stuff. Cheers to you all, I love this site!