Do solar panels on modern Burstners charge only the hab battery?

[Essgeebee]

My 2021 Burstner has been parked without EHU for almost three weeks. I check the batteries about twice a week using the vehicle’s control panel. The hab battery remains fully charged but the starter battery has dropped gradually to 12.2v.
The last time it was parked for a while the same happened. There’s been plenty of light for the solar panel.
Does the panel charge only the hab battery I wonder? If so, is that normal? I worry that I might not be able to start it after a longish layover.

 

[BikerGraham]

Check the solar charge controller and see if there are wires for the second battery.

My Bailey had a dual charge controller but it was only wired to the leisure battery. I believe Eldis do the same. So it’s not unusual ( as Tom Jones would say )

 

[RowleyBirkinQC]

You may need one of these…

[Broken Link Removed]

 

[Stealaway]

Yep .
Burstner solar panels are a cheap and cheerful solution for keeping the leisure battery charged while they are on the dealer's sales pitch.
But fitting a dual battery solar controller and particularly finding a route to the starter battery is a challenge.

 

[Tombola]

Stick a battery master on it

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[GeoffnDee]

You should be able to wire in a battery master at the PDU (Schaut EBL ?) cab and leisure battery connection points which would then keep the starter battery charged from the leisure battery/solar.

 

[Essgeebee]

Seems like a battery master is the way to go. Has anyone got a photo of how it’s all connected at the PDU? That sounds a simpler job than feeding wires between the batteries themselves.

 

[jumar]

Not only New Bursters have this issue..my 2006 was the same...Battery Master cured it....there are a few Threads on here FUN...which will show you the way to go, Use the search function to get all you need.....it's so simple....I could do it, on mine not yours though.....

 

[GeoffnDee]

Essgeebee The www.apuljackelectronics.co.uk web site shows many Schaudt EBL units (which is the type of PDU I think you have) in their Catalogue with the battery connections shown on the rear views (you will need to know your model number).
The Vanbitz website has a section you can download showing the details of the wiring in for their battery master.

 

[tonka]

I would first locate the EBL and solar regulator just to see exactly what you already have.
It may already have something that can do both batteries and just needs a new lead etc.

My Elegance had a Schaudt PWM controller fitted and did both batteries, i ordered the better MPPT Votronic but when it arrived it was only supplied with a lead that just did the Leisure battery. Luckily a fellow Funster donated the correct lead after they also changed.

Maybe post a few pics.

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[Jev88]

First step. Multimeter on each battery in sunshine. Over 13 volts and it is being charged.

 

[IRHP]

Yep .
Burstner solar panels are a cheap and cheerful solution for keeping the leisure battery charged while they are on the dealer's sales pitch.
But fitting a dual battery solar controller and particularly finding a route to the starter battery is a challenge.

You don't need to find a route to the starter battery. Both battery positives will terminate on the charging unit. Negative is common throughout.

 

[Stealaway]

You don't need to find a route to the starter battery. Both battery positives will terminate on the charging unit. Negative is common throughout.

My dual battery controller has two separate battery outs so you can control the priority and monitor individual batteries.. You do need to run separate leads to each one

 

[GeoffnDee]

Stealaway There will be one positive cable coming from the cab battery and another positive cable coming from the leisure battery connected to the PSU ,along with their negative cables , (often this connection point is found on the rear of the unit) and these could be used for the two controller outputs taking one output to to each of the two ,cab and leisure battery connections at the PSU which would then allow the solar charge to go to both the cab and leisure batteries through each of the , already in place , battery supply to PSU cables..
If your leisure battery has a solar controller connection already you could use the cab battery connection at the PSU to connect your spare output from the solar controller.. into the cab battery through the existing cable.

 

[Essgeebee]

Thank you for all the posts and advice. I don’t know one end of a PSU from a two-way relay. Despite all your thoughtful guidance, I probably would end up getting something wrong and damaging something that would cost more to repair than having a battery master professionally fitted.

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[Sapper520]

Thank you for all the posts and advice. I don’t know one end of a PSU from a two-way relay. Despite all your thoughtful guidance, I probably would end up getting something wrong and damaging something that would cost more to repair than having a battery master professionally fitted.

Thought I’d post a picture as I’m always grateful to people when the words baffle me.

Just so you know what to look for………

 

[DT]

I had the same issue with my Burstner, fitted a battery master and so far no problems.

 

[IRHP]

My dual battery controller has two separate battery outs so you can control the priority and monitor individual batteries.. You do need to run separate leads to each one

But you don't need to run it to the battery you only need to run it to a positive from the battery and you'll find that at your charging unit or electro block or whatever you want to call it.

 

[Bessy765]

We have a 2019Iexe 736, the solar regulator is under the front passenger seat, it charged both batteries but only kept the engine battery at around 12.2. Check the voltage at night and around midday. Don’t forget the security system/immobiliser will draw some current so if the engine battery is only down to 12.2 something is keeping it topped up or it would be a bit lower I should think

 

[Stealaway]

But you don't need to run it to the battery you only need to run it to a positive from the battery and you'll find that at your charging unit or electro block or whatever you want to call it.

I chose to keep my solar charging completely separate from the Electroblok. It was cheaper and far less likely to cause any damage to the Electroblok . My solar controller also has a remote MeTer monitor .

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[Stuart]

Yes, our 2019 Elddis came with just the hab battery connected to the solar even though the unit had 2 outputs. Our local motorhome service agents connected the 2nd output to the starter battery, problem solved for about £40 I think. As others have said, check if you have a second output from your unit before spending unnecessarily.

 

[Denis Stone]

Thank you for all the posts and advice. I don’t know one end of a PSU from a two-way relay. Despite all your thoughtful guidance, I probably would end up getting something wrong and damaging something that would cost more to repair than having a battery master professionally fitted.

Burstner install a trickle-charge mechanism so that any excess charge going into the leisure battery trickles over into the cab battery - and charges it. Sounds good, except that in my experience the only time there is an excess charge going into the hab battery is when you are connected to a EHU, which may be on a caravan site or may be at home. If you can keep your van connected to the mains over winter (i.e. at home) then that will solve the problem. This is what I used to do. However, I now park away from home, so over winter I disconnect the negative lead to the cab battery, which is just in front of the passenger seat under the floor. It really is easy, I promise. All you need is a short screwdriver to take up the plastic floor.

 

[IreneAnne]

My 2021 Burstner has been parked without EHU for almost three weeks. I check the batteries about twice a week using the vehicle’s control panel. The hab battery remains fully charged but the starter battery has dropped gradually to 12.2v.
The last time it was parked for a while the same happened. There’s been plenty of light for the solar panel.
Does the panel charge only the hab battery I wonder? If so, is that normal? I worry that I might not be able to start it after a longish layover.

We were excited to know our new Citroen/Pilote motorhome had a solar panel which was really 'hyped up' by the dealer in his sales pitch, claiming it would give us two days of power 'off grid' only to learn that it's next to useless and all it does is trickle charge the leisure battery when the vehicle is stationary. Of course this may be a very helpful source of energy at some point, should any problems occur with hook ups. Every day is a 'school day' though no amount of pre purchase research can ever cover all eventualities. Love our motorhome and what it does for us regardless. Hope you find a soloution.

 

[soppy]

My 2021 Burstner has been parked without EHU for almost three weeks. I check the batteries about twice a week using the vehicle’s control panel. The hab battery remains fully charged but the starter battery has dropped gradually to 12.2v.
The last time it was parked for a while the same happened. There’s been plenty of light for the solar panel.
Does the panel charge only the hab battery I wonder? If so, is that normal? I worry that I might not be able to start it after a longish layover.

I have a 21 plate Burstner, I asked for the solar panel too charge both batteries when I purchased, the dealer said it was a case of changing a wire over under the passenger seat, which was done and I have had no probs with it.

 

[Whizzo]

Battery master for my Burstner. No problems everything just keeps topped up by solar. Connect straight into EBL.

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[stuartforrest]

What is a battery master??

 

[stuartforrest]

Is it this https://www.sunshinesolar.co.uk/Ite...5X5QSYTyyC9_i5kOxGxSZl_2EdeO5SpMaAr7WEALw_wcB

 

[Lemut]

What is a battery master??

[Broken Link Removed]

 

[IRHP]

I chose to keep my solar charging completely separate from the Electroblok. It was cheaper and far less likely to cause any damage to the Electroblok . My solar controller also has a remote MeTer monitor .

Whether you connect your solar at the battery or connect it where the batteries terminate on the Electroblok it’s the same thing. I’m just suggesting you don’t need to find a route for a cable from your solar controller to your engine battery. The cable is already there just use it.

 

[IRHP]

We were excited to know our new Citroen/Pilote motorhome had a solar panel which was really 'hyped up' by the dealer in his sales pitch, claiming it would give us two days of power 'off grid' only to learn that it's next to useless and all it does is trickle charge the leisure battery when the vehicle is stationary. Of course this may be a very helpful source of energy at some point, should any problems occur with hook ups. Every day is a 'school day' though no amount of pre purchase research can ever cover all eventualities. Love our motorhome and what it does for us regardless. Hope you find a soloution.

Either it’s wired wrong or you have a very small solar panel. I’d get it checked out. In summer if you are careful you should be able to replace what you have used daily and go almost indefinitely off grid.