Hi Guys, I hope somebody can advise me...

I have a Bushlapa Kewer, bought 2nd hand. Took it on a trip to Kruger over four days last week, on an un-serviced site.

On the last day the battery indicator stopped showing lights. We have a solar panel and there was good, unobstructed sun.

On return we plugged it back into the mains, still no lights on the battery load indicator. The Victron app says that the batteries are only getting 10.1 v absorption.

I can't work out of the batteries are shot, if the solar panel has stopped working, or if the Victron inverter battery charger is not working. My electrician says he feels it maybe the batteries that have failed (batteries and solar panel worked 100% for the first 3 days).

I don't know which way to jump, or which questions to ask !

Also...

If i have to replace the batteries - should I replace then with Li batteries ?

Many thanks

A Victron charger gives a default absorption voltage of 14.2V for a LiFePO4 (lithium) and 14.4V for a Gel or AGM (lead-acid) battery in a 12V system.

Your 10.1V is not correct. Your battery is not being charged by the Victron.

Thanks Paul !!

Could that be a battery fault or a fault in the Victron charger ?

Lithium is the only battery I would use for a UPS / solar system.

You will also have to check if the Victron MPPT solar regulator charges properly with full sun. Maybe it is a blue smart with blue tooth or just measure the voltage on the battery with a multimeter. Should be above 13.2V.

Richard, put your solar panel in the full sun, and connect the electrical lead to it. The measure the voltage on the lead, it must be approximately 18-20V open circuit. Then the solar panel is OK.

Cheapest next test would be to take the batteries to a supplier and get it tested. 

If you need to replace them, and you want to take the expansive route, only buy a LiFePO4 battery, not any Li- battery.  

 The fact that you encounter the problem when connected to the 220V mains, already indicate that the solar panel is not the culprit.

richard C wrote:

Thanks Paul !!

 

Could that be a battery fault or a fault in the Victron charger ?

Charge the battery with another charger. If it charges it is the Victron Multi. I think it is the Victron inverter charger.

Running off just solar for 3 days with a Lead Acid will flattern it if you have fridges and lights and so on connected.

Use a LiFePO4 battery in your solar system. It can go down to 15% State of Charge without damage.

Hi Paul, without knowing Richard set up, your comment above might be incorrect.

If your solar panels can provide enough current, to exceed your consumption [Amp.hr] during sunlight hours, thus having spare current to charge the batteries, the batteries will not flatten out.

It help to switch off the fridges during night time, to "save" the battey capacity.

I utilise 320watt panels, connected to two 105amp.hr deep cycle lead acid battries. That provide enough oemph to operate two National Luna fridges.    

Wessel yes we don’t know his exact setup but the Bushlspa Kewer comes out with a 340W pannel, Victron Smart 100/30 MPPT and optional a Victron Inverter Multi. (Charger and grid tie inverter). 102Ah LA or Lithium ….buyers choice.

that is my inverter. I have a 320 w solar panel (I think) and 2 batteries.

That is just a 12V 15Amp ac mains charger.

I think your batteries are finished. Charge them with another charger that you know works to check if they take charge. Or take them to a battery place to test them…as Wessel suggested.

Thanks everybody for the advice and insight. I'll get the batteries tested.

Richard, for interest sake, please share with us what the problem was.

Hi Grompie

Charged the batteries overnight from mains at home prior to departure. Drove to Kruger from JHB for a 3 night stay at Satara on an un-serviced site.

For the first 2 days the panel was showing healthy battery state, the system clearly being well refreshed by the solar panel.

On the last night the lights steadily dropped on the panel, and by the morning they were all gone. Drove home in good sunlight, solar panel exposed to the sky. The fridge temp indicators were still still running but the temperature was consistently rising - I think the compressor had stopped working.

Plugged the caravan back into mains when we got home, no improvement, whole system dead, the alarm light flashing on the panel. Only the interior led light would work. Got onto the Victron app and it said that there was low absorption warning with a 10.2 v charge.

System went from working well to not working at all overnight. Had my electrician give it a thorough check, he could not find any loose or damaged connections (we had come in via Acornhoek). When I get a chance I will liberate the batteries and take them for a health check. The caravan was brand new in 2018 - so I am assuming the batteries are 8 years, maybe Ni-iron type ?

Richard, thanks for the detail, but I am actually interested in the main reason for the said problem. What's to blame, the batteries, the charger or a disconnected wire.  

Grompie, I have absolutely no idea !!!!

some feedback. Battery centre said the batteries are wrecked. Took it to Loftus, their guy said the Victron charger is now not working. So far probably a R 15 k job, with no clear idea why it broke, and the very real danger that i will spend this money and have to spend it again two days later.

Does anybody know of an actual caravan electrical specialist who can help me with this ? So much conflicting information my head is spinning.

It worked for two day, then suddenly stopped. Intuition says a short, which nobody can identify, and which if not resolved will give me the same outcome.

Thanks !

Richard, I know of a father and son, that specializes in off road 12V systems. Both are in Pretoria vicinity. I can highly recommend them. 

The father Pieter Barnard, near Swartkops raceway, telnr 083 749 0445

The son Pieter Barnard, tel nr 072 328 9091

You can check them out on internet;

PBE solutions

Dc and Solar solutions 

Richard, for some reason I cannot correct info in the above.

They are on the internet at;

PBE products

DC and Solar power

Many thanks Grompie

I forgot to mention I am in the Randburg area of Johannesburg.

Richard, it is not so out of reach from Randburg. 

There is a quote---" The pain of poor quality lingers long---long after the sweetness of the cheapest price paid, is forgotten"