Need a Solar/Batteries expert in the North West

[RustyRuss]

Hi boys n girls, we have an Autotrail Apache 632 with 3 120w solar panels, a lithium leisure battery & MPPT charge controller. But both vehicle and leisure batteries seem reluctant to get to full charge even when I’ve got the EHU plugged into the house. I’m sure I’ve got some kind of a drain going on, but I’m miles too busy at the moment to hunt for the problem myself. Can you recommend me an expert in the Chester, Runcorn, West Manchester, Widnes, Liverpool area that you have had dealings with please? I need the Moho to be fully operational again by the end of March.

Thanks in Advance peeps!

Russ

 

[Tombola]

What sargent charging unit do you have on the van, its possibly that, they are woeful sometimes. Im in st helens (in USA atm though) and am no means an expert but I completely re wired my autotrail to cut out the sargent charging system and added b2b/solar etc..

Get yourself a lithium 3 stage charger and give then a full blast every month or so something like this 30a version depedning on how much lithium you have

Blue Smart IP22 Charger - Victron Energy

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As for the cab battery , do you have the switch near the sargent unit to flick from leisure charging to cab battery charging. They are sometimes wired back to front ?

few questions, what lithium battery is it, does it have bluetooth monitioring
what year is the van, smart alternator maybe?
do you have a b2b charger installed, recommended with lithium.

 

[RustyRuss]

Everything standard OEM spec Autotrail. Sargent EC500 I think. After market Epever dual racer mppt 30amp dual charge controller, KS energy 100a lithium leisure battery, standard lead/acid vehicle battery, 3 120w solar panels wired in parallel. No blue tooth. I check the Epever display and most of the time it’s charging the “main” ie leisure battery, but I regularly check the battery state and neither is ever full. Occasionally the vehicle battery drops below 11volts and then the central locking and step don’t work and for some inexplicable reason the bloody radio comes on when I open the hab door!