Using to many volts on 12v than EHU? (1 Viewer)

[Jo662]

I am currently on a campsite on the Ile de Re,but last night we were on an aire in Cognac. The leisure batteries went down to 11.9 last night with only a couple of LED lights,tv for a few hours and heating for a few hours. With those on,the Sargent EC450 box said I was using nearly 7amps,but now I am on EHU and with every light on,tv and heating on electric it says I am only using 1.1 amps!
So how can I find out what’s drawing power from the leisure batteries that doesn’t draw when I am on EHU?

 

[bigtwin]

I presume that your references to 7V and 1.1V should be 7A and 1.1A?

Ian

 

[DavidG58]

I think your display will be Amps not Volts being drawn

On mine I would see a net difference

So at night with no hook up and no solar, I think you were drawing 7A which is quite a .lot for what you described

During the day any solar on mine would effectively offset this loss

but if on hook up you are still showing a 1A draw that implies over and above the charger input

something doesn't seem right

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[HandyAndy]

Umm yea I think you need to reword your post there fella, you don't "use volts" as such, you draw amps..
Amps are a measure of current

 

[pappajohn]

I suspect you mean amps rather than volts... You will use 12v no matter what you have turned on.
I think, now you're on hookup, the charger is acting as a power supply and supplying 6amps+ and the 1.1amps is coming directly from the battery whereas last night all your power was coming from the battery.
Your ammeter appears to be in the battery to control panel circuit so will only show amps drawn from the battery.

 

[Jo662]

Yes sorry I meant amps

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[Jo662]

But why would so few lights and tv drain two leisure batteries in an evening. I replaced the leisure batteries last September with Bosch ones.

 

[Vipar]

That’s your answer Germany getting their own back for wanting to leave EC??

 

[HandyAndy]

Might be faulty battery
Might be a large phantom drain
Might not be charging properly
Might be a faulty charger
Might be a faulty solar charger

Needs looking at with a multimeter and amps clamp to see what's actually going in and coming out of battery bank and what voltage they are ACTUALLY at (i.e ignore the control panel and check directly..
Do they charge properly with engine running and or with EHU on.
What voltage are they at after being on charge all night with nothing switched on
What amps are being drawn from the battery bank when nothing is knowingly switched on..

I'm not sure we can answer any of this over the internet TBH.

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[DavidG58]

what is the voltage display now you are on charge?

 

[Boringfrog]

My ammeter shows the draw when on battery but doesn't move when on EHU.

 

[tonka]

You need to look at the wattage label on the rear of the TV. That could be anywhere between 2 - 4 plus Amps. Then if you have the blower on the heating add another 2 amps plus lights. So your 7 amps can easily be reached.

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[pappajohn]

But why would so few lights and tv drain two leisure batteries in an evening. I replaced the leisure batteries last September with Bosch ones.

You forgot the power eater...... The heating fan.

 

[Just smiffy]

Did your fridge turn over from 12v to gas...?

 

[pappajohn]

My ammeter shows the draw when on battery but doesn't move when on EHU.

It would if you draw more than your charger can supply.
On hookup your batteries only there to smooth the charges supply and provide any shortfall the charger can't give.

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[HandyAndy]

But two leisure batteries tonka..
Lets surmise the batteries are approx 90ah each
50% drain to 12,2v so 90ah at most
7 amps draw should last nearly 13 hrs with no charging..(in ideal conditions)
Something is definitely wrong

 

[Jo662]

Might be faulty battery
Might be a large phantom drain
Might not be charging properly
Might be a faulty charger
Might be a faulty solar charger

Needs looking at with a multimeter and amps clamp to see what's actually going in and coming out of battery bank and what voltage they are ACTUALLY at (i.e ignore the control panel and check directly..
Do they charge properly with engine running and or with EHU on.
What voltage are they at after being on charge all night with nothing switched on
What amps are being drawn from the battery bank when nothing is knowingly switched on..

I'm not sure we can answer any of this over the internet TBH.

it chargers fine with engine running and with EHU and the solar fully chargers the batteries. I’ve never noticed this massive drain until now as think the solar was covering it up with lighter nights, and now it’s dark earlier it’s shown up a problem.

 

[pappajohn]

Even a new battery can be faulty.
New only means it hasn't been used.

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[Jo662]

what is the voltage display now you are on charge?

 

[Jo662]

Even a new battery can be faulty.
New only means it hasn't been used.

But they been fitted a year and been ok up to now,including last October half term on the Loire mostly on Aires.

 

[pappajohn]

That's charge voltage, not battery at rest voltage

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[Jo662]

My ammeter shows the draw when on battery but doesn't move when on EHU.

Perhaps that's what mines says but still draining batteries with little being used.

 

[Jo662]

That's charge voltage, not battery at rest voltage

Ok how do I show that,turn EHU off?

 

[Richard n Ann]

Perhaps the grey water tank heater came on?

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[Jo662]

Did your fridge turn over from 12v to gas...?

I did check that last night because I had that problem a couple of years ago.

 

[HandyAndy]

but still.. even 7 amps should last you the entire day with no charging AT ALL..
I think yuou need to be looking into the state of the batteries to be honest, if the charging systems are working ok.
The amp draw probably wants investigating whilst off of any charging infrastructure so you can actually see what's theoretically using the power if you seem to think it's excessive.
turn one thing on at a time and measure the current draw directly from the battery and then confirm that sort of usage is normal by looking up the spec of the item either on the net, on the device itself or in a handbook if you have all the details to hand..
What size are your two batteries by the way

 

[DBK]

I am currently on a campsite on the Ile de Re,but last night we were on an aire in Cognac. The leisure batteries went down to 11.9 last night with only a couple of LED lights,tv for a few hours and heating for a few hours. With those on,the Sargent EC450 box said I was using nearly 7amps,but now I am on EHU and with every light on,tv and heating on electric it says I am only using 1.1 amps!
So how can I find out what’s drawing power from the leisure batteries that doesn’t draw when I am on EHU?

Depending on what sort of TV and heating you have they could add up to 7 amps.

But when on EHU I would expect your batteries to be on charge, they should not be discharging even one amp. Did you read the display correctly as a charge of around one amp is in the right area if the batteries are fully charged.

But as already suggested, the loads you have are being directly fed from the EHU, it is the same with solar, the reading shows only what is going into or out of the battery and what is going to the load won't be shown. This is by design because knowing what is happening to the batteries is useful. A figure of how many amps the charger is putting out isn't much use unless you know where it is going.

But to analyse your loads turn them on each in turn and check the current. If you have solar do this at night or cover the panels. And no EHU of course.

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[Jo662]

Perhaps the grey water tank heater came on?

I don't think so as a separate switch,but definitely worth checking!?

 

[HandyAndy]

Ok how do I show that,turn EHU off?

un plug it

 

[Jo662]

What size are your two batteries by the way

From memory I think they are 90ah

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