Hab electrics working with hab battery disconnected...

[Barclaybasher]

Not used my van for a couple of months, both engine and hab batteries dead. Charged the engine battery, engine started. Disconnected the hab battery and put it on charge - the control panel now works, lights and pump work - with no hab battery??? How ?

 

[Kingham]

Just a guess, but my panel splits the solar or EHU charge to whichever of my batteries needs it most, therefore both batteries must be connected to the control panel. Is yours not similar and running from the starter battery.

 

[andy63]

Hi Vic..
Its obviously getting a feed from your vehicle battery.. There is most probably a relay that links the two batteries when the engine is running.. It may be voltage sensitive and if your vehicle battery has just been charged its thinking the engine is running..
Give it a while or load the battery for a bit and see if it still feeds the hab side..
Andy

 

[bigtwin]

The mains powered battery charger is providing the 12V dc supply.

When mains is connected the battery is just another load which, in your scenario, has just been disconnected.

Ian

 

[andy63]

The mains powered battery charger is providing the 12V dc supply.

Vic said he disconnected the hab batteries to charge them.. So I assumehes not using the vehicle mains charger?
Andy

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[Barclaybasher]

Thanks everyone, the hab stuff only works with engine running and hab battery disconnected

 

[bigtwin]

Vic said he disconnected the hab batteries to charge them.. So I assumehes not using the vehicle mains charger?
Andy

I didn’t assume that disconnecting/removing his hands battery for charging meant that he wasn’t using mains supply but I agree that this aspect of his post is unclear.

In either case he has had responses for both scenarios.

Perhaps he can clarify this point.

Ian

 

[Barclaybasher]

I had no hook up cable and charged engine battery directly with a mains charger.
Don't know why both batteries were completely flat as I have solar...

 

[two]

Thanks everyone, the hab stuff only works with engine running and hab battery disconnected

Thanks for the feedback.
It seemed unlikely that you had discovered a source of free power!

 

[andy63]

Thanks everyone, the hab stuff only works with engine running and hab battery disconnected

In that case it is the relay that allows the hab batteries to charge off the alternator that I mentioned above...
It will feed the wires that connect to your hab battery ...so even if the hab is disconnected the wires that connect to it will be live when engine runs.. Just make sure they don't short out while you are running the engine..
Andy..

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[Dorwyn]

The mains powered battery charger is providing the 12V dc supply.

When mains is connected the battery is just another load which, in your scenario, has just been disconnected.

Ian

I think this could explain a scenario that happened for me recently when I changed the hab. battery, where the lights stayed on after I disconnected the mains. Was puzzled why, then they cut out after a few mins. I assumed that it had tripped the rcd. Happy now!

 

[funflair]

This thread could be a timely reminder that when you disconnect the tab batteries you should keep the terminals separated and wrap the +ve in something insulating, bubble wrap is good.

Martin

 

[bigtwin]

This thread could be a timely reminder that when you disconnect the tab batteries you should keep the terminals separated and wrap the +ve in something insulating, bubble wrap is good.

Martin

Good point, well made.

Ian

 

[Dorwyn]

This thread could be a timely reminder that when you disconnect the tab batteries you should keep the terminals separated and wrap the +ve in something insulating, bubble wrap is good.

Martin

That's just what I did, shoved the +ive in a bag, tucked the –ive out of the way. Plus I turned the isolation key to be sure.