new solar and battry master not charging vehicle battery. would a small solar panel help?

[scotzsue]

Hello we managed to get to the van in storage yesterday (essential as i had left some meds in it)
it is a new to us van, new solar panel 160 w new regulator and a 'battery master' but not a van bitz one
Checked levels admittedly on panel not volt meter, leisure Battery (new) is charging ok, but vehicle battery is down on when last checked, bigger difference too between both , than on our last 2 set ups.
I have a small ring RSP 150 solar panel the type you sit on your dash wonder if it would be safe to hook this up to the leisure battery.
don't know make of panel
Battery mater is a Sunshine Solar
controller is a Landstar LS2024B
thanks in advance.

 

[Lenny HB]

I don't think you have a Battery master as Sunshine Solar don't sell one.
Your RSP 150 is only 1.5W it will be totally useless you need a 20 watt panel to be safe.
A cheaper alternative to the Battery Master is the CBE Solar split charge relay, I've been using them for years.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=121946837453

Or if you do a fair bit of off grid camping probably worth changing the regulator for an MPPT type they are much more efficient. The Votronic MPP range are dual output they have a 1 amp feed for the starter battery.

 

[autorouter]

The Ring RSP150 solar panel, at 1.5W, is not going to make a huge difference, but if you have it handy you may as well connect it. It won't do any harm, and at least will spin out the time it takes before the battery goes flat. If you prop it up at an angle and it's in full sun for most of the day it can make a surprising difference for its size. I've used a similar 2.5W one with some success.

But that 160W panel and BatteryMaster should be keeping everything topped up. What voltages are you reading on the panel?

 

[scotzsue]

I don't think you have a Battery master as Sunshine Solar don't sell one.

But that 160W panel and BatteryMaster should be keeping everything topped up. What voltages are you reading on the panel?

think it was 13.4 leisure and 12.6 vehicle the worry is that the vehicle battery seems to be losing charge as it was higher a week ago and we have had brilliant sunshine for quite a few days.

 

[autorouter]

think it was 13.4 leisure and 12.6 vehicle the worry is that the vehicle battery seems to be losing charge as it was higher a week ago and we have had brilliant sunshine for quite a few days.

I haven't got a batterymaster so maybe others can confirm this, but I would expect a voltage difference of about 0.7V between the leisure and starter batteries. That's just about what you are seeing, so maybe everything is working to plan.

0.7V is about the voltage drop across a forward-conducting silicon diode, which is the one-way valve that feeds the current to the starter battery.

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[scotzsue]

autorouter we had a vanbitz battery master on our last van never more than .4 difference in the batteries and there was never a drop of more than .1 or .2 whilst parked up on solar. it's on a 14 plate maybe the vehicle battery is on its way out. or there is a mega drain we don't know about.

 

[autorouter]

we had a vanbitz battery master on our last van never more than .4 difference in the batteries and there was never a drop of more than .1 or .2 whilst parked up on solar. it's on a 14 plate maybe the vehicle battery is on its way out. or there is a mega drain we don't know about.

Probably the VanBitz BatteryMaster has a bit cleverer electronics inside it that reduces the voltage difference. There are a number of ways to do this, I don't know which one is used.

Maybe there are problems as you say, but all I'm saying is that maybe that's how it's supposed to work. The only way to be sure (apart from measuring the drain current) is to keep checking regularly, but that's exactly what is difficult in the present conditions.

 

[andy63]

it is a new to us van, new solar panel 160 w new regulator and a 'battery master

Hi.. I'd give yourself a bit more time before you start worrying about the start battery not been charged..12.6v is good and when you looked at that reading was the battery master actually connected.. 13.4 v is possibly close to the switch on voltage of the device ... and unless you have had problems starting I'd suspect all is working fine.. Just monitor things for a while and get used to the new vans system..
Andy.

 

[eddie]

Hi we do supply the to Sunshine Solar

who installed it?

 

[Lenny HB]

View attachment 372494



think it was 13.4 leisure and 12.6 vehicle the worry is that the vehicle battery seems to be losing charge as it was higher a week ago and we have had brilliant sunshine for quite a few days.

I was only going by their website, if you think it's faulty speak to Eddie nicely.

13.4v on the leisure battery seems a bit low on a float charge should be 13.8v could be why the starter battery isn't getting charged as I think the Battery Master works on a 0.75v differential.

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[funflair]

I was only going by their website, if you think it's faulty speak to Eddie nicely.

13.4v on the leisure battery seems a bit low on a float charge should be 13.8v could be why the starter battery isn't getting charged as I think the Battery Master works on a 0.75v differential.

It's just on solar Lenny, that why a battery master is better than CSB2 as that needs 13.6v to click in and solar might not get it there when the weather is iffy, battery master is 0.65v difference I think.

Martin

 

[Richard n Ann]

I've got a 5w panel in the south facing car windscreen. It only makes a couple hundred milli amps behind the windscreen so half power roughly. But it's enough to keep the battery well charged, goes up to 13v during the day..

 

[scotzsue]

Hi we do supply the to Sunshine Solar

who installed it?

We bought the van from John Charles tht is burlingham caravans, they, as far as I know installed the solar and sunshine battery master themselves. We haven't actualy found the battery master but am assuming it is next to the battery, charger and fuses. you need to unscrew a panel to get to see them apart from the fuses. John wasn't keen on me doing that, and not much chance of doing it now as he is mostly with me so cant go and explore, investigate on my own.
It is stored near one of the supermarkets we use so will be making another trip if no total lockdown in 4/5 days time.

 

[eddie]

Try and find it and i will tell you how to test it without a multi meter

 

[scotzsue]

Try and find it and i will tell you how to test it without a multi meter

Thanks for that John wants to know what the difference between the 2 batteries should be before it changes to charge the other.
Got the levels a bit wrong leisure battery 13.7 vehicle 12.9
Won't be going to the van till tomorrow when we will be doing a bit of shopping.
Really appreciating your help.

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[funflair]

Thanks for that John wants to know what the difference between the 2 batteries should be before it changes to charge the other.
Got the levels a bit wrong leisure battery 13.7 vehicle 12.9
Won't be going to the van till tomorrow when we will be doing a bit of shopping.
Really appreciating your help.

That looks perfect to me

Martin

 

[Lenny HB]

Thanks for that John wants to know what the difference between the 2 batteries should be before it changes to charge the other.
Got the levels a bit wrong leisure battery 13.7 vehicle 12.9
Won't be going to the van till tomorrow when we will be doing a bit of shopping.
Really appreciating your help.

Sounds fine, looks like its all working OK.

 

[scotzsue]

That looks perfect to me

Martin

never had any more than a .3 difference with our last set up that is what is concerning us.

 

[funflair]

never had any more than a .3 difference with our last set up that is what is concerning us.

12.7v would be a resting voltage for the starter battery so 12.9v shows it’s getting a little something from the battery master, 13.7v is the solar regulator holding the leisure on float.

Martin

 

[scotzsue]

12.7v would be a resting voltage for the starter battery so 12.9v shows it’s getting a little something from the battery master, 13.7v is the solar regulator holding the leisure on float.

Martin

thanks, we have been used to both being around 14 when we have brilliant sunshine, as it has been for the last week will see how it is next time we go shopping vehicle battery level though is dropping not staying level.

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[eddie]

If it were mine I wouldn't bother testing it

Your last van was different that's all

If you want to know that it is working OK, turn the ignition on, turn the heater blower on, turn the hazard lights on, turn the head lights on, turn the radio on, everything that will work without the engine running

The LED on the Battery Master should turn red after a couple of minutes, if it does, start the engine and the LED should go Green. Everything is working correctly and who ever installed it, has installed it correctly

If the LED doesn't go red, get someone to "crank" briefly, briefly enough not to start the engine, just move the starter motor a bit (puts a load on the engine battery) whilst you look at the LED on the Battery Master, it should switch from Green to Red as the engine is cranked briefly (not started)

Simple

The invoice is in the post!

 

[scotzsue]

Thanks for that have not dismantled to find the battery master, but today the vehicle battery was at the same level as a few days ago. that was our biggest concern as it seemed to have lost some charge.
Going to relax and chill now and imagine I am somewhere warm sunny covid free and surrounded by helpful funsters.