Compactliner
Free Member
- May 30, 2020
- 204
- 185
- Funster No
- 71,224
- MH
- Carthago Compact 138
- Exp
- 11 yrs
I have a Carthago Compactline i138 and a solar panel of 100w with a dual output PWM controller which is fitted without going through any of the CBE systems.
Although I've never had a problem keeping leisure and vehicle batteries charged while the van is kept on the drive, this winter (we are usually heading for Spain) seems to have been pretty dull and grey and I do check levels every few days.
I did find recently that, following several thick cloudy, rainy days, the leisure batteries were at 12.3v and the cab battery at 12.5v....not tragic but the lowest I can remember.
I put the van on EHU for a day or so and everything back up where they should be.
When the van is on the drive I normally have the control panel turned on and the '12v' systems button on in case I need lights etc.
In the past when I've been checking charging levels I've never seen the controller putting out more than 13v, more usually 12.8 or so...looking at typical charging profiles I thought this was low and should be seeing a float of 13.8v or so.
For some reason, I thought it might help the weak input if I turned off the control panel, in fact I did that and turned off the main habitation systems using the isolation switch.
On checking the controller output I was surprised (and delighted) to see 13.8v going into the hab batteries and 13.2v to the cab battery.
I've left this for a day or two now and batteries are all full even in sporadic winter watery sunshine...although a bright start today.
I know there is a small drain for alarm/immobiliser on the cab battery and I am also guessing that there is a small drain on the hab batteries and removing this (by using the isolation switch) has had an effect on the solar controller.
Obviously any drain is going to offset the benefit of the solar input and here in winter that effect is noticible, but should this be shown in a lower input solar charge level.
I can understand if the solar charge level was at 13.8 but other stuff draining the battery slightly, I couldn't understand why the solar charge would be lower due to a small drain....this is where I am confused. It's like a different controller with the hab systems isolated.
even when in Spain in bright sunshine, I never saw the controller putting in 13.8v to the hab batteries as it is now (always around 13v or so) but the batteries were always charged, obviously despite a small hab drain.
It looks like there is a drain which I will try and investigate.
I will get a clamp meter and measure drain with system as now...isolated...should be zero.
Then I will turn on the isolator to activate 12v but keep the control panel turned off.
Then turn on the panel but leave '12v systems' off
Then turn on '12v systems'
Then I guess it's looking at the various 12v systems by pulling fuses to find any drain.
Any comments on the above.
Although I've never had a problem keeping leisure and vehicle batteries charged while the van is kept on the drive, this winter (we are usually heading for Spain) seems to have been pretty dull and grey and I do check levels every few days.
I did find recently that, following several thick cloudy, rainy days, the leisure batteries were at 12.3v and the cab battery at 12.5v....not tragic but the lowest I can remember.
I put the van on EHU for a day or so and everything back up where they should be.
When the van is on the drive I normally have the control panel turned on and the '12v' systems button on in case I need lights etc.
In the past when I've been checking charging levels I've never seen the controller putting out more than 13v, more usually 12.8 or so...looking at typical charging profiles I thought this was low and should be seeing a float of 13.8v or so.
For some reason, I thought it might help the weak input if I turned off the control panel, in fact I did that and turned off the main habitation systems using the isolation switch.
On checking the controller output I was surprised (and delighted) to see 13.8v going into the hab batteries and 13.2v to the cab battery.
I've left this for a day or two now and batteries are all full even in sporadic winter watery sunshine...although a bright start today.
I know there is a small drain for alarm/immobiliser on the cab battery and I am also guessing that there is a small drain on the hab batteries and removing this (by using the isolation switch) has had an effect on the solar controller.
Obviously any drain is going to offset the benefit of the solar input and here in winter that effect is noticible, but should this be shown in a lower input solar charge level.
I can understand if the solar charge level was at 13.8 but other stuff draining the battery slightly, I couldn't understand why the solar charge would be lower due to a small drain....this is where I am confused. It's like a different controller with the hab systems isolated.
even when in Spain in bright sunshine, I never saw the controller putting in 13.8v to the hab batteries as it is now (always around 13v or so) but the batteries were always charged, obviously despite a small hab drain.
It looks like there is a drain which I will try and investigate.
I will get a clamp meter and measure drain with system as now...isolated...should be zero.
Then I will turn on the isolator to activate 12v but keep the control panel turned off.
Then turn on the panel but leave '12v systems' off
Then turn on '12v systems'
Then I guess it's looking at the various 12v systems by pulling fuses to find any drain.
Any comments on the above.
