Charger question

Heres a question for the "Techies"
My Santara has 50 amp electrics but it seems that on 16 amp hook up the charger won't charge the leisure batteries.:Sad:
It works fine on main engine and works fine on genny
I'm told it's something to do with Megahertz , has anybody experienced this problem

 

Hi Tony,how long have you had the van.How old is the van .Is it manual changeover from mains charger to cab charger or is it automatic.Is there a blown fuse on the mains side or is there an MCB triped.Sorry Just a few questions to start:thumb:

 

Hi Tony

the yank charger is 60hz, UK supply is 50hz, I suspect the charger isn't reaching it's full output, but you know that already..

I changed my charger, which was useless, for a Victron 70Amp charger / 1600 watt inverter. Not a cheap solution but I was lucky a got mine second hand.

Phoenix MultiPlus 12 / 24 / 48 Volt / Phoenix MultiPlus Compact 12 / 24 Volt - Victron Energy

Also look at Sterling
Sterling Power Products: Battery Chargers

 

hi tony,

if its the original charger, that may be the problem.........uk leky is 50hz....us leky is 60hz. not sure if it would affect your charger though.
your usa built genny may be chucking out 60hz so it will run the charger ok.
engine alternator will bypass the charger anyway and feed the batteries direct.

have a look <<here>>

john.

 

My transformer hummed and finally stopped charging and had to upgrade to a UK spec one via Linda.

 

Hi I had to change the charger on the winnie, just didn't work right, got a 50amp prodigital from sterling, not a cheap solution but its solved the problem.

Not sure the Hz is anything to do with it, as its the ratio between the primary and secondary windings which determine the voltage output of the charger transformer, and this is obviously set when its built. But maybe some of the associated electronics don't like it.

Modern ones like the sterling and I believe the Phoenix, work over a wide range of Hz.

Just a thought tony is anything else not working on EHU? aircons, heaters?

Olley

 

Hi Olley

everythings working ok on hookup , just not charging the house batteries

 

A silly question but have you got a 240 volt circuit breaker point hidden away (a house style one) this happened to me and just remembered it

I know most 240 volt things are working.

Just a trip switch on off, would be worth a thorough search Tony, might well be nothing

 

Your not running a huge telly by any chance Tony, probably nothing left for the batteries
you might as well just hand it over mate, you just know its going to be the cause of every fault you getoh:
Geo

 

A silly question but are you sure you are getting a 110/120 volt feed to the mains charger when on hookup?

I don't think that the Hz would be a problem just maybe cause a humming noise, as asked earlier how does the mains charger get it's feed is there an automatic change over trip from the generator or do you have to change a switch or plug manually?

Regards Pat

 

hi pat,

an exert from my link........

Larger motors or transformers are only made for a specific amount of Hertz, so either 50 or 60​

What happens if you connect a 60 Hertz motor to a 50 Hertz mains:

The motor turns 17% slower

The internal current goes up by 17%
The power (watt) goes down with 17 %​

Please note that the same problem also exist in transformers as I explained, they also burn out after a while, also a transformer is made for either 50 or 60 Hertz.
​

 

I'll have another look John :thumb:

 

Hi Pat
yep appears to be getting 240 feed i can hear it humming, and automatic changeover

 

Geo you've got nowt to come,,,

 

That's 'cos I'm having it, ey? ey? That's right, innit Tony?

 

Noooowa