Control panel any ideas

[Dave Scadding]

Hi folks, my control panel says vehicle battery 5v poor, and step doesn’t work. However vehicle battery is fairly new and starting the van with no issues. Any thoughts?

 

[Spriddler]

First thing I'd do is ignore the 5v reading on the anxiety panel and use a proper test meter directly on the battery terminal posts to verify the battery voltage.
The step failure may be coincidental.

 

[autorouter]

Does the vehicle battery power get as far as the vehicle battery terminal on the distribution/fusebox? Does it have an EM40/50 vehicle interface, if so you could check the fuses there.

 

[GeoffnDee]

There should be a a 40 amp (or thereabouts) fuse near the starter battery positive terminal that could be worth checking along with its connections to the starter battery.
I think there may also be a fuse in the fuse block near your fridge / charging relays which is for the starter battery supply to the control panel / step that would be worth checking for poor connections

 

[Dave Scadding]

The vehicle battery is somehow connected to the Sargent charger and the solar panels, I don’t have a voltage tester with me however the vehicle battery is definitely charged and I don’t think that’s the problem. However the control panel thinks that the vehicle battery is low 5v and I believe cutting power to step and 2 spot lights which normally work without control panel being switched on.

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[Dave Scadding]

There should be a a 40 amp (or thereabouts) fuse near the starter battery positive terminal that could be worth checking along with its connections to the starter battery.
I think there may also be a fuse in the fuse block near your fridge / charging relays which is for the starter battery supply to the control panel / step that would be worth checking for poor connections

Thanks GeoffnDee I’ll check that out tomorrow when the rain lets up

 

[Dave Scadding]

Update: this morning with the sun shining the solar is changing both batteries and the vehicle battery now shows 12.4v and the 2 spotlights work (haven’t tried step as it might stay out). Can’t think why when travelling yesterday the battery didn’t show as charged and also this is just the control panel info. The vehicle battery is definitely charged irrespective of what the controller is saying. It appears that the controller is only providing information from solar and assuming the vehicle battery is flat or charging from solar panels. I’m going to check terminals on vehicle battery anyway but don’t think that’s the issue. Anyway the mystery continues.

 

[Dave Scadding]

I think I’ve sussed out the problem, I think it’s the connection at the Sargent EC 200 charger. When we get home I’ll take it out and check connections. I gave them a wriggle earlier and the display is showing all manner of voltage readings for the vehicle battery, the leisure battery remains constant.

 

[autorouter]

The controller can only measure the vehicle battery voltage if there is a wired connection between the vehicle battery and the controller. Everything you have reported is consistent with a bad connection between the vehicle battery and the controller.

A vehicle is a high vibration environment, so there are a number of likely possible faults, but blown fuse/loose wire connection is at the top of the list, which also includes corroded fuse terminals and mice chewing the wire.

Edit: just seen your post above, looks like you're homing in on the problem.

Also the leisure battery probably won't be charging while you are driving, so may need to charge it when you get home.