Installed leisure electrics failed

[DaveyB]

Well, after spending a huge amount of cash having leisure battery, ctek split charge system, inverter etc fitted, the electric system has failed.
Need to remove the driver seat so I can get a volt meter across the leisure battery, but my initial diagnosis is that it has to be linked to the charging of this battery, since the interior LED lights that are powered by this aren't turning on. Equally the inverter is not turning on to power the sockets.
Can't bring myself to take it back to the place that I had it all done by, as I have zero faith in their abilities. They were unaware of even needing a different split charging system than normal due to this being a bluemotion engine.
Spoke to Jason at Absolute today and he can't get me in until mid March, to see if he can rectify.
Therefore, the reason for my post - can anyone recommend a decent auto electrician/ convertor in the Midlands area. Preferably one that you have personally used, rather one that you have heard is good. The one I took it to originally I had been told was good, but that person hadn't actually taken a vehicle to them. So really need that personal knowledge recommendation - have already wasted a fist full of wonga can't afford not to have it all working.

 

[Absolut5]

Hiya

Sorry I cannot get you in sooner, contact Martyn @travelvolts, I'm sure he will help you...

If no joy then please contact us again

 

[DaveyB]

Hiya

Sorry I cannot get you in sooner, contact Martyn @travelvolts, I'm sure he will help you...

If no joy then please contact us again

Hi @Absolut5 , it's ok, as I said on the phone I totally understand, anyone that is any good is bound to be stacked out. No slight on you - totally the opposite, I think that it is a ringing endorsement for your services.
Will keep my appointment with you, unless I am able to sort it out earlier. Wondering also if this is why the amp keeps cutting out, as per other messages to you.
Thanks for your ongoing help.

 

[andythom188]

Take it back to them m8 get them to rectify there problem your within your rights or it's going to cost you to get someone else to sort it, it maybe something simple or maybe the ctek is faulty gone down as it was working

 

[Fish]

@travelvolts

 

[travelvolts]

Happy to take a look for you if you want to bring it in some time.

 

[ZipcodeUK]

you could speak to the guys at @VWVC . They are are at least not too far away and I'm pretty sure Colin does leisure battery / split charger installs too.

 

[DaveyB]

Happy to take a look for you if you want to bring it in some time.

Thanks @travelvolts, going to stick a volt meter on it at the weekend and drop the seat out to see if I can see anything obvious. Then will decide whether I give Tweedle-Dum a chance to fix it having paid for it, or I seek out someone better.

 

[travelvolts]

Thinking about it I am wondering if they have connected the input to the alternator connection instead of the solar input. If they were unfamiliar with this unit they wouldn't realise that it needs to be on the solar input to work correctly with an intelligent alternator. That would explain why your battery is flat.

 

[DaveyB]

Thanks for the words of wisdom, I'll check that at the weekend when I get the chance to get under the seat.

 

[DaveyB]

Stripped the seats this morning, put a volt meter on the leisure battery, and found it to have over 12v in it. Then I realised the problem, negative terminal clamp loose, and both of the ring terminals that were also clamped into the top of the terminal were equally loose. Undid everything, tidied up the cable routing, tightened it all up, and would you Adam and Eve it - everything now works again!
Gave me the opportunity to tweak the amp settings - which is when I realised that the silver protective cover from the JL amp (that was on the amp when it all got delivered to the converters) is not on it. Went back through the empty boxes that I still have, and it's not there. Meaning that they have taken it off and not put it back. F'ing unbelievable.
Also found the positive terminal plastic cover was broken so going to have to get a new one, as it is part of the clamp, and as it all sits so close to the seat metal frame which is earth, It's a tad to close for positive and negative to be in proximity for my liking.
So altogether - the simple words of hindsight wisdom - steer well clear of Rising Sun Campers!
@travelvolts thanks for the words of wisdom relating to the Ctek 250, the feed was attached to the alternator terminal rather than the solar panel terminal. So swapped it over to allow for the intelligent alternator.

 

[StudleyGlass]

Good work that man

How disappointing! rising sun are there Japanese

 

[andythom188]

There are a few cowboys in the conversion game

 

[StudleyGlass]

Theres cowboys in every game unfortunately

 

[Andy Cody]

Davey B, have you got a relay between your main battery and the solar panel terminal of the Ctek? If not you may be at risk of it draining the main battery!

 

[DaveyB]

Davey B, have you got a relay between your main battery and the solar panel terminal of the Ctek? If not you may be at risk of it draining the main battery!

God only knows, I seriously doubt it considering the quality of the rest of the job. @travelvolts when you fit the ctek on bluemotions and put the supply via the solar terminal do you stick a relay in the circuit?

 

[Andy Cody]

Definitely worth checking then as if I'm not mistaken the charger may see your van battery as a constant power source for your leisure battery, hence draining the van battery.

 

[DaveyB]

Definitely worth checking then as if I'm not mistaken the charger may see your van battery as a constant power source for your leisure battery, hence draining the van battery.

Cheers, will check it out.

 

[mopardave]

That's bloody annoying mate......w*nkers!

 

[travelvolts]

God only knows, I seriously doubt it considering the quality of the rest of the job. @travelvolts when you fit the ctek on bluemotions and put the supply via the solar terminal do you stick a relay in the circuit?

Yes, you will need an ignition controlled relay to isolate the input when the engine isn't running. If it is a daily driver you will probably get away with it for a while though.