Is this the correct hook up connector?

[Ian28]

Hi all,
Just bought this hook up connector as someone left my old one out in the rain after charging her caravan battery - hooked up as usual yesterday to charge up my LiFOS leisure battery (SOC 63%) and after 12 hours it was still at 63%. LiFOS App advised the battery was idle instead of charging. It was 10 degrees outside. The light on my Sargent panel was illuminated suggesting charging going on. Just wondered if this new connector has the wrong specifications?
Ta,
Ian

 

[Loz]

Yes, correct plug, check the breaker supplying the charger.

 

[Stay Frosty]

Is your Sargent panel definitely sending the charge to the leisure and not vehicle battery... I regularly play the Sargent ec160 lucky dip game with mine.

 

[Mud Digger]

@Ian28 Red plug 3 phase 415V Yellow plug 110 V Blue plug 240V

this is another good reason to get a 240v plug in socket tester will instantly test voltage, neutral and earth connections at your socket and wire connections are around the right way especially when plugging into a well used and worn camp site supply that you have a earth connection

 

[Dellmassive]

LiFOs is a Lithium battery . .

what are you using to charge it? . . . . Sargent panel 12v output? - is this how its been working before?

 

[Stay Frosty]

Explain how that won't work Lee as I've already killed the SLA leisure battery that came with my camper and will no doubt cook the replacement too unless told with a big stick exactly which b2b charger I should be using and how to incorporate that with the Sargent's built in hook up battery charger... imagine I'm the thickest laziest sparky ever.
Don't labour the bit about charging profiles for lithium batteries, that bit I do know is completely different.

 

[Dellmassive]

@Stay Frosty . . . have you got your own build thread? - so we can look at your setup?

FYI the Sargent isnt a smart battery charger . . . . its just a 12v Power Supply. - which is why its not good at charging battery's . . . especially Lithium's.

 

[Stay Frosty]

The van is a Redline conversion Lee so comes from them with a VSR by the battery under the driver's seat and at the back of the van in the "wardrobe" you have the Sargent ec160 combined consumers unit/ battery charger in an handy unit.
I've left it as fitted so far because I'm unsure of whether the charger in the Sargent unit will cook a b2b unit connected between the vehicle and leisure batteries... also because I'm lazy/tight and always go for an EHU on site playing that cost plus a new SLA leisure battery every 2 years against the cost of a decent b2b unit... yes, quite thick.

 

[Ian28]

@Dellmassive yes was using the Sargent 12v panel output before and also the 240V plug socket with lead direct to battery when on hook up & both worked fine. Neither worked this time. Just noticed one of the 3 trip switches (middle one) is down & I’m sure it was up before. Will put it back up & try again.
Cheers,
Ian

 

[Ian28]

No joy. All switches in the up position on the EC51, red light on, leisure battery fuse tests fine. EC51 control panel lights suggests leisure battery fully charged but LiFOS App says battery idle and has lost another couple percent charge from yesterday. Any suggestions team?

 

[Dellmassive]

can you drop a couple of screen shots of the LIFOS app here?

and some voltage readings? and a pic of the EC51 panel.

so we are expecting 13.8vdc (>12A/155W?) from the EC51

im assuming the 13.8v output fuse has blown?

do you have a VSR / SCR or DC-DC charger?

https://sargentltd.co.uk/shop/product/140/tech-spec/47

.





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...

 

[Ian28]

 

[Ian28]

Thanks @Dellmassive - fuses 10 & 12 I’ve checked and they are both fine. Should there be another leisure battery fuse remotely somewhere then I need to check? Will take a look.

 

[Dellmassive]

Thanks @Dellmassive - fuses 10 & 12 I’ve checked and they are both fine. Should there be another leisure battery fuse remotely somewhere then I need to check? Will take a look.

Thanks @Dellmassive - fuses 10 & 12 I’ve checked and they are both fine. Should there be another leisure battery fuse remotely somewhere then I need to check? Will take a look.

yes . . there should be a fuse next to the battery POS terminal.

the battery is showing 13.29 from the app idle . . .


can you post a pic when you are drawing a load? (switch everything on)

and another pic when the EHU is connected?

did you test the fuses with a meter?


did you check these . .

 

[Ian28]

Yes those were the two I checked and with a meter - both showed good connectivity. That App pic is when the EHU was on. I’ll take one with it drawing a load and locate that remote fuse & test it when I nip out again soon. Sounds like that fuse may be the culprit, or I have a dodgy new connector plug? Thanks again, will report back.

 

[Ian28]

Here are a wee bank of fuses I found under the passenger seat next where the CTEK & LiFOS are. All 3 showing good connectivity on volt meter. LiFOS app photo with battery drawing charge (lights, fridge & Webasto on). Looks like App not working fully?

 

[Dellmassive]

the APP is showing NO outgoing power . . .?

have you verified the Voltage with a meter . . .?




+++

Battery Monitoring -- How I Done It --

Battery Monitoring -- How I Done It -- Part #1 Battery monitoring is a very important part of your 12v system . . . . whether its just the vans starter battery or your leisure setup keeping an eye on the power in your battery bank will keep you from breaking down and make sure your weekends...

www.t6forum.com

+++

 

[Dellmassive]

more stuff here . . . .



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[Dellmassive]

verify the Voltage reading . with a second meter or multi meter.?

maybe uninstall the APP and re-install?

you mentioned ctek . . . so you have a CTEK dc-dc charger (d250?) ?


is you have a dc-dc then get a voltage reading with the engine running ,. . . .

 

[Ian28]

@Dellmassive thank you for your time & help. Yes I uninstalled then re installed the app to no avail. I’ve had problems with the LiFOS app before and to be honest my Sargent unit has always been unpredictable - it has always let out random series of beeps (will post vid - edit, won’t let me) - Sargent said it was likely due to the fact a solar panel is rigged up too and too much charge going into leisure battery via CTEK. I doubted this as was happening when battery not fully charged in winter when there’s bigger all sun up here.
Love my van/conversion but the electrics have always been unpredictable. Next time around I’d get a standard battery and keep things as simple as possible. Appreciate your help but I have no/limited electrical skills so will take to a local converter to look into further. Cheers, Ian.
PS CTEK is not the one specific for lithium batteries.
PPS no change in app voltage with engine running