Not so smart Smart charger.

[maison]

A couple of trips ago I noticed that, when arriving on site etc after a journey, my vehicle battery would show about 85% to 90% charge. EHU and/or solar panel would then recharge to full capacity before the next journey.

Our m/h dealership carried out a full check of the electric systems, both 230V and 12V, checked both batteries, and checked if the alternator was functioning correctly. They discovered that the fault lies with the vehicle alternator. Apparently it cuts in when the engine starts, switches off when the battery is charged, but does not cut in again when the voltage drops hence the battery running down. They informed me that this is the third one they have seen like this.

The use of EHU and the input from the solar panel had masked the problem until I saw the battery level indication on arrival at a site.

Fortunately the vehicle is covered by warranty but I suspect that I will have to ring FIAT Professional, tell them what the fault is, take the vehicle in for them to check and tell me that the alternator is faulty, then return when they get permission to carry out the warranty repair.

Not such a smart charger after all by the look of it.

 

[Lyrick]

Hi, the alternator is working correctly. Unfortunately as you said when the vehicle battery reaches a certain state of charge , usually around 80% the alternator output voltage is reduced to below 12.8volts. The split charge relay , which charges the leisure battery , disconnects at this voltage so the leisure battery is no longer being charged when the engine is running.

The only way to overcome this is to fit a B2b charger . Your dealer should do this not Fiat.

I had the same problem with my 2020 Pilote and it was rectified by the dealer under warranty.

Patrick

 

[maison]

Hi, the alternator is working correctly. Unfortunately as you said when the vehicle battery reaches a certain state of charge , usually around 80% the alternator output voltage is reduced to below 12.8volts. The split charge relay , which charges the leisure battery , disconnects at this voltage so the leisure battery is no longer being charged when the engine is running.

The only way to overcome this is to fit a B2b charger . Your dealer should do this not Fiat.

I had the same problem with my 2020 Pilote and it was rectified by the dealer under warranty.

Patrick

That is an intriguing answer as I have a battery master fitted. The dealer suggested that it may be that the alternator rectifier is faulty.

You refer to “the leisure battery is no longer being charged with the engine running”. It is the engine battery which is not being charged after the initial start up on my m/h.

I may well have misunderstood your post as I admit, I haven’t a clue. I understand domestic 230v fairly well but the 12v circuitry, including the charger system, is foreign to me.

When I get the definitive answer and all is working correctly I promise that I will post the answer on this thread.