Looks like i might be getting somewhere with all this split-charging and DC-DC charging issue.
As we see from my results above, something just wasn't adding up.
MMi`s results were showing both batteries were balanced and showed a good SOC . . . . . . so why wasnt mine? and why was mine so far out of whack?
Well the next thing to do was swap out the leisure battery for another one and do all the tests again.
The swapped battery was a Bosch one from my old T5.1 (a known good), its a standard wet-cell, not a EFB+ like the one i took out. (didnt matter as the REDARC was back in now and would charge the battery normally)
This is the MOLL EFB+ after weeks of driving around and after being charged. it should be 100% full, but its showing 66% SOC and 77% SOH and 12.4V
this is the replacement spare im going to use.,,,, its been in the garage for 3months so not in the best condition....
it shows 40% SOC, 73% SOH and 12.24v before being fitted in the van.
Now the van has been sitting all weekend, but after todays work, about 4hrs driving around with a rest in the middle look at what the new swapped out battery is showing . . . .
98% SOC 74SOH and 12.58V . . . . . . . Its charged up fine and held the voltage.!
Now look at this ---->
The MOLL EFB+ that was removed on friday had been put in the garage and put on a NOCO charger for 2day............ 2 DAYS!!!!
so it should be full right ?
Well look at this, after 1 day just sitting there doing nothing..........................
48% SOC, 100% SOH and a voltage of 12.28V !!!!!!!!!!!!
So basically no matter what you do with this battery, as soon as you take it off charge the SOC drops to bellow 50% and the voltage drops to 12.2v or bellow . . . . . .what the hell!!!!!
Its a MY18 Van. . . . . . . ! with new batteries!
So it looks like the MOLL EFB+ battery is the reason why all my test results are so far out. . . . . this battery takes a charge but then just plummets in SOC and voltage as soon as the charger is removed.
Now the good-old Bosch battery is in the van it seems like all the levels are as they should be.
Ill update this when i get the CTEK readouts after a few days . . . .
just for now have a look at the BM2 readout from today . . . . . . it shows the Poor discharged Bosch this morning at 12.2V, then after 2hrs driving its showing a healthy 12.58v and holding all day, Then after the drive home a very nice 12.7v.
Conclusion so far? - Brand new MOLL EFB+ leisure battery is knackered and refuses to hold a charge above 12.2v
MMI - i think this is the reason my reading show my battery's so far out of balance as the CTEK monitors only show the battery SOC and ignore the alternator or any other charging status (it just waits for the battery rest voltage)... so the CTEK was just reporting the actual rest voltage of the battery which was 12.2v or below, which would equate to 20% or less SOC. That why my readings always showed such a low SOC.
Ill update the CTEK reports after a few day.
Ill leave the MOLL EFB+ disconnected and see if it continues to lose SOC over the next few days.
Ill look at replacing the Bosch for a new AGM 75aH (then add a second one on the other side of the bench)
As we see from my results above, something just wasn't adding up.
MMi`s results were showing both batteries were balanced and showed a good SOC . . . . . . so why wasnt mine? and why was mine so far out of whack?
Well the next thing to do was swap out the leisure battery for another one and do all the tests again.
The swapped battery was a Bosch one from my old T5.1 (a known good), its a standard wet-cell, not a EFB+ like the one i took out. (didnt matter as the REDARC was back in now and would charge the battery normally)
This is the MOLL EFB+ after weeks of driving around and after being charged. it should be 100% full, but its showing 66% SOC and 77% SOH and 12.4V
this is the replacement spare im going to use.,,,, its been in the garage for 3months so not in the best condition....
it shows 40% SOC, 73% SOH and 12.24v before being fitted in the van.
Now the van has been sitting all weekend, but after todays work, about 4hrs driving around with a rest in the middle look at what the new swapped out battery is showing . . . .
98% SOC 74SOH and 12.58V . . . . . . . Its charged up fine and held the voltage.!
Now look at this ---->
The MOLL EFB+ that was removed on friday had been put in the garage and put on a NOCO charger for 2day............ 2 DAYS!!!!
so it should be full right ?
Well look at this, after 1 day just sitting there doing nothing..........................
48% SOC, 100% SOH and a voltage of 12.28V !!!!!!!!!!!!
So basically no matter what you do with this battery, as soon as you take it off charge the SOC drops to bellow 50% and the voltage drops to 12.2v or bellow . . . . . .what the hell!!!!!
Its a MY18 Van. . . . . . . ! with new batteries!
So it looks like the MOLL EFB+ battery is the reason why all my test results are so far out. . . . . this battery takes a charge but then just plummets in SOC and voltage as soon as the charger is removed.
Now the good-old Bosch battery is in the van it seems like all the levels are as they should be.
Ill update this when i get the CTEK readouts after a few days . . . .
just for now have a look at the BM2 readout from today . . . . . . it shows the Poor discharged Bosch this morning at 12.2V, then after 2hrs driving its showing a healthy 12.58v and holding all day, Then after the drive home a very nice 12.7v.
Conclusion so far? - Brand new MOLL EFB+ leisure battery is knackered and refuses to hold a charge above 12.2v
MMI - i think this is the reason my reading show my battery's so far out of balance as the CTEK monitors only show the battery SOC and ignore the alternator or any other charging status (it just waits for the battery rest voltage)... so the CTEK was just reporting the actual rest voltage of the battery which was 12.2v or below, which would equate to 20% or less SOC. That why my readings always showed such a low SOC.
Ill update the CTEK reports after a few day.
Ill leave the MOLL EFB+ disconnected and see if it continues to lose SOC over the next few days.
Ill look at replacing the Bosch for a new AGM 75aH (then add a second one on the other side of the bench)
A kind of unknown to me still is the AdBlue heater(s). Certainly the aux coolant heater has a role as it is used also as cabin preheater before setting off, so definitely takes some time to put that energy back to the battery. Still interestingly the mentioned "behaviour" stays on for hours of driving. Also the van's battery management reports now higher battery charge levels than in summer. So at first glance it looks like the battery management might have some temperature compensation measures - which would be a good thing. 