Technical long term on EHU?

[Ronnie63]

Having the motorhome on driveway I have had it on EHU long term to keep batteries charged, went to use MH and found van battery was dead! had to jump start it, and after an hours drive it was still dead, so replaced the battery for new, when I removed the old one I noticed it had a bulge at one end, Now I'm wondering if being on EHU has cooked it? Or the battery was just old. MH is Swift 2012 with Sargent EC450, battery age unknown?

Thanks Ronnie

 

[NeilDD]

Check your habitation wiring diagram. not all domestic chargers (Within the habitation system) charge the vehicle battery.
On my Elddis the habitation charger does not charge the van.
The age of your van will likely have just a normal split charge relay, which only connects the 2 batteries with the engine running.

I use a small Ctek charger to keep the van battery topped up

 

[Ronnie63]

Check your habitation wiring diagram. not all domestic chargers (Within the habitation system) charge the vehicle battery.
On my Elddis the habitation charger does not charge the van.
The age of your van will likely have just a normal split charge relay, which only connects the 2 batteries with the engine running.

I use a small Ctek charger to keep the van battery topped up

Thanks for the reply, it does charge the cab battery and switches between the hab and cab or it can be selected manually I just don't know if it will trickle feed once charged or cook it? Also not sure if the hab panel needs to be on or if it will charge with it switched off over the hab door?

Thanks Ronnie

 

[linknet]

Thanks for the reply, it does charge the cab battery and switches between the hab and cab or it can be selected manually I just don't know if it will trickle feed once charged or cook it? Also not sure if the hab panel needs to be on or if it will charge with it switched off over the hab door?

Thanks Ronnie

I think you will find that it will only charge the vehicle battery if the control panel is switched on and the vehicle battery is selected.

 

[Communicator]

If the history of the starter battery is unknown, it may be worth noting that battery of "Magnetti Marelli" brand would suggest the original. In that case the battery should be considered "life expired".
@NeilDD, I am sorry. but you will not find the required info on a Sargent wiring diagram, as the appropriate wires disappear into the proverbial "black box".

The Sargent manual states that on some versions, have a smart charging feature . The following is an extract from the Sargent manual, in which I have emboldened relevant sections.

3.2 Battery Charger

The EC400 / EC450 system incorporates an intelligent three-stage battery charger / power converter.

During stage 1 the battery voltage is increased gradually while the current is limited to start the

charging process and protect the battery. At stage 2 the voltage rises to 14.4V to deliver the bulk

charge to the battery. When the battery is charged, the voltage is decreased at stage 3 to 13.6V to

deliver a float charge to maintain the battery in the fully charged state. The charger can be left

switched on continuously as required.

"3.3 Smart Charging

On EC468 and EC469 PSU’s, the system incorporates a smart charge feature, which monitors both

leisure and vehicle batteries and automatically adjusts and directs the charger power (and solar power

if a solar panel is installed) to maintain the leisure and vehicle batteries at an optimal level."


In my understanding 13.6V should not cause gassing in a typical FLA battery.

Edit. I believe that the OP is also a member of the OAL forum, where long term EHU has been discussed previously. A recent discussion on OAL was centred on the CBE 516 charger, but may still be of interest.

 

[jackwhoo]

Section 3.3 implies the ec450 does not automatically charge the vehicle battery

 

[Ronnie63]

If the history of the starter battery is unknown, it may be worth noting that battery of "Magnetti Marelli" brand would suggest the original. In that case the battery should be considered "life expired".
@NeilDD, I am sorry. but you will not find the required info on a Sargent wiring diagram, as the appropriate wires disappear into the proverbial "black box".

The Sargent manual states that on some versions, have a smart charging feature . The following is an extract from the Sargent manual, in which I have emboldened relevant sections.

3.2 Battery Charger

The EC400 / EC450 system incorporates an intelligent three-stage battery charger / power converter.

During stage 1 the battery voltage is increased gradually while the current is limited to start the

charging process and protect the battery. At stage 2 the voltage rises to 14.4V to deliver the bulk

charge to the battery. When the battery is charged, the voltage is decreased at stage 3 to 13.6V to

deliver a float charge to maintain the battery in the fully charged state. The charger can be left

switched on continuously as required.

"3.3 Smart Charging

On EC468 and EC469 PSU’s, the system incorporates a smart charge feature, which monitors both

leisure and vehicle batteries and automatically adjusts and directs the charger power (and solar power

if a solar panel is installed) to maintain the leisure and vehicle batteries at an optimal level."


In my understanding 13.6V should not cause gassing in a typical FLA battery.

Edit. I believe that the OP is also a member of the OAL forum, where long term EHU has been discussed previously. A recent discussion on OAL was centred on the CBE 516 charger, but may still be of interest.

Thank you, well the old battery was Exide brand so guess it had been changed at some point, If I leave the panel powered I do see it change from one battery to the other when I press check levels, as in sometimes it has the hab battery charging but later it may show cab battery, the panel shows both batteries with led's rather than meters.

So from that 3,2 description it should be safe to leave it hooked up? Another point to note on the EC450 main unit the battery LCD display does not work, it's just blank. I did look to replace that LCD panel but could not find an exact match! And I did not want to send the unit for expensive repair as everything else works. I did start a thread on here about the LCD fault.

Communicator I'm not sure what the AOL forum is? maybe I joined and forgot!

 

[Communicator]

Thank you, well the old battery was Exide brand so guess it had been changed at some point, If I leave the panel powered I do see it change from one battery to the other when I press check levels, as in sometimes it has the hab battery charging but later it may show cab battery, the panel shows both batteries with led's rather than meters.

1. So from that 3,2 description it should be safe to leave it hooked up? Another point to note on the EC450 main unit the battery LCD display does not work, it's just blank. I did look to replace that LCD panel but could not find an exact match! And I did not want to send the unit for expensive repair as everything else works. I did start a thread on here about the LCD fault.

2. Communicator I'm not sure what the AOL forum is? maybe I joined and forgot!

1. That is what Sargent are saying. In my former employment with a national utility, we used to float charge FLA batteries at 2.25V per cell. That equates to 13.5V for a nominal 12V battery. An alternative more cautious approach is to use a timer to give a boost charge of perhaps one hour per week. Sounds simple, but if as is common, the charger is not connected via a 13A plug and socket, some mains wiring may be required.

2. Sorry I missed my typo. For AOL, read OAL or Out and About Live. I have seen a Ronnie63 posting on that forum, or perhaps there are two Ronnie63's?

 

[Ronnie63]

Ah I had forgot all about that forum! Thanks for the reminder, have logged back on to check it out