Having just viewed the Jayco" Powering your van" clip on YouTube, they say to have your battery switch turned ON even when you are connected to the mains. Is that correct as I was under the impression that you only had batteries on when not using mains power. I don't want to overcharge the batteries as I have just had them replaced.
Also, when on the road and the tow vehicle is providing the power to the fridge on 12v....do I have battery switch on or off?
Thanks, Collo.
Russue said
04:53 PM May 20, 2014
Hi Collo,
We have a Starcraft and always when towing have the Battery switch off, the same when on 240
Hope that helps.
MaryJane said
07:56 PM May 20, 2014
I have a 2009 Jayco, always told to have battery switch on. If I'm towing, and switch is off, it won't cool my fridge. Also, if I switch it off when connected to mains, I can't run the fridge on mains, or the lights etc.. Cheers, MJ
PS when towing, have fridge on battery setting, not gas, off, or mains and battery switch on
-- Edited by MaryJane on Tuesday 20th of May 2014 07:59:43 PM
-- Edited by MaryJane on Tuesday 20th of May 2014 08:02:03 PM
the ginger nomad said
08:04 PM May 20, 2014
We have a 2011 Dscovery and the switch is always on when travelling or connected to 240v. My understanding is that when switch is off the battery is not being charged. John
-- Edited by the ginger nomad on Tuesday 20th of May 2014 08:22:37 PM
ST391GQ said
09:11 PM May 20, 2014
I turn it off....as the solar has a running battle with the charger (at least during the day)...as indicated by the battery charge light going on and off
Cheers Keith
oldtrack123 said
09:14 PM May 20, 2014
HI Mary Jane I am not sure what you mean by battery switch If it is the 12V main switch nothing should be able to be run from 12V when the 12v switch is off
So if your fridge lights water pump are ALL 12V,the switch has to be on
If on 240V supply, the batterry should be charging at a rate that will keep the battery charged ready for those situations when 240V is not availavble ,s even htough you may be using some power from it
Also your fridge if a 3way should be runnung from 240V when 240V available, IF it is wired according to thr FRIDGE makers instructions
But depending on model it may also require a permanent 12V supply from the van battery for the control system 12V [low current demand.NOt for the heating element.].
The heating element SHOULD NOT BE RUNING FROM the van batterries!!
PeterQ
-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Tuesday 20th of May 2014 09:24:32 PM
-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Tuesday 20th of May 2014 09:31:36 PM
oldtrack123 said
09:19 PM May 20, 2014
the ginger nomad wrote:
We have a 2011 Dscovery and the switch is always on when travelling or connected to 240v. My understanding is that when switch is off the battery is not being charged. John
-- Edited by the ginger nomad on Tuesday 20th of May 2014 08:22:37 PM
HI
That generally is not correct
It depends purely on how the van maker has wired it
But it more common for the main 12V switch to only be a main switch on the 12V output from the battery
The battery charger SHALL d have it's own 240V isolator switch.
That is usually left on.
PeterQ
oldtrack123 said
09:36 PM May 20, 2014
Collo wrote:
Having just viewed the Jayco" Powering your van" clip on YouTube, they say to have your battery switch turned ON even when you are connected to the mains. Is that correct as I was under the impression that you only had batteries on when not using mains power. I don't want to overcharge the batteries as I have just had them replaced.
Also, when on the road and the tow vehicle is providing the power to the fridge on 12v....do I have battery switch on or off?
Thanks, Collo.
HI
Again depends on how the van maker has wired it, but No you should not need the 12V switch "ON" when running from the tw vehicles
Unless it is an AES model fridge that requires two sources, one 12v from the van battery required at all time for the fridge control system
the other from the tow vehicle batteries to run the fridge 12v HEATER element
PeterQ
[a[o
KevinC said
06:41 AM May 21, 2014
Our Jayco Sterling was new last Christmas. To my knowledge the battery switch has never been turned off. I can't imagine any situation, (except for maintenance that the man might do) where it would be turned off. Where's the problem?
-- Edited by KevinC on Wednesday 21st of May 2014 06:42:39 AM
Russue said
09:06 AM May 21, 2014
We had Jayco put solar panels on from new, may be wired different, but we only put battery on when free camping, or stop when traveling if we need to use lights etc.
Towing go on 12v for fridge, no need to have Battery on, all works great, same when on 240 everything works without battery on.
Have anderson plug to charge batt when traveling, but have never used it ,but if we get no sun for a week may have to, been ok so far on the trips we have done.
oldtrack123 said
10:20 AM May 21, 2014
HI Mary Jane
The reason you must have the 12V switch on is probably because your MODEL fridge [AES] requires two seperate sources of 12V
It needs a permanent supply from the van battery to operate on any source[ 240V, gas or 12V ]
But the heater for 12V operation should be fed from the tow vehicle battery !!
Those who claim, they do not need the switch on ,probably do not have an AES model Dometic fridge
Also they possibly have a dual lighting system 12V or 240V
PeterQ
KevinC said
10:36 AM May 21, 2014
To Collo,
I've been reading and thinking about this, and as I said in my previous post, I've never bothered using the switch before.
That's an old video so the equipment in new vans will be different, better I hope.
The emphasis in the video is probably not when you have the battery turned on, but why you need to turn it off. A van that is stored for an extended period my suffer battery drain for any number of reasons. By switching the battery off when the van is not being used (i.e. when there's no vehicle alternator charging or no mains charging) the battery is isolated and may not go flat as quickly as when things are connected. When you are using the van, there seems no reason to switch off.
If your van is stored at home with mains attached, or if there's a solar panel on the roof, then there's no danger of the battery going flat so the switch can be left on. Modern regulators should prevent your battery overcharging.
I remember a recent thread where someone had a van stored inside a building where there was no mains power and little light for the solar. In that situation it would seem wise to turn the switch off in order to preserve the battery.
Daryl620 said
01:31 PM May 21, 2014
I have a Jayco van fitted with a Setec ST-111 power supply, there is a note within the manual which states:
NOTE: When the battery is isolated from the loads using the battery isolate switch it will NOT charge at the 10/15A rate even if the mains is connected to the power supply. In this condition it will ONLY charge at the Trickle charge rate.
oldtrack123 said
04:18 PM May 21, 2014
Daryl620 wrote:
I have a Jayco van fitted with a Setec ST-111 power supply, there is a note within the manual which states:
NOTE: When the battery is isolated from the loads using the battery isolate switch it will NOT charge at the 10/15A rate even if the mains is connected to the power supply. In this condition it will ONLY charge at the Trickle charge rate.
Hi Daryl
ye,s that is true with the SETEC ST -11 it can be used as a power supply or as a battery charger
It has a battery charge mode & a power supply mode
But I really do not see any point of using the power supply mode IF batterries are fitted .
The power supply mode is for use IF there are NO batterries!!
Normal Chargers are just chargers & do not have a power supply mode.
PeterQ
Daryl620 said
07:15 PM May 21, 2014
Hi Peter, The Setec ST-111 charges the battery when connected to 240V mains, and when running on 12V battery power it monitors the discharge.
It does charge the van batterries with a multi stage charging regime when on 240V Mains power,IF in charge mode!
It also has provision for an alternative charging source
BUT if it is in" power supply" mode the output voltage is regulated to a constant 13.8v
That is a" float" voltage not a charging voltage
It also utilizes a trickle charge function, which is not voltage controlled but merely a limited current [by a resistor in the 13.8V supply] when being used as power supply.
Not sure just what you mean by "monitoring" the discharge
Of course monitoring the battery condition is an essential part /function of any good quality multi stage charger & it does that constantly when in"charge mode ", but not in "power" mode.
IN Charge mode,It also has some other built in feaures such as limiting the current available to charge the battery if a load is being supplied.
PeterQ
.-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Wednesday 21st of May 2014 09:05:20 PM
-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Wednesday 21st of May 2014 09:10:59 PM
PeterD said
11:16 PM May 22, 2014
So it looks like you have to determine which Setec you have. The ST - 111 series is different to the other two. The battery isolation switch with the ST- 111 actualy actuates circuitry within the Setec. Daryl has quoted from the operators handbook on how it operates.
The switch in vans with the earlier vans operates differently. The Jayco wiring diagram simply shows it in series with the positive lead to the battery. If you leave the switch off the battery will not receive any charge from the mains or from the hot wire from the tugs alternator. With the switch off it also will not supply power to the vans 12 V system in the event of a mains failure/disconnect. The only time I would suggest to switch that switch off is when the van is in storage and you don't have mains power connected to it. That recommendation is also applicable to the ST - 111 model. That battery switch appears to be there just to protect the battery from parasitic loads when the van is in storage and no mains power is connected.
MaryJane said
06:51 PM May 23, 2014
Hmmm. Bit confused by responses, so I'll reiterate. I have a dometic 3 way fridge. My car charges it when driving, and doesn't charge it when I stop for a break.
If the main battery switch in the van is off when driving, she won't cool the fridge. If the battery switch is off and I plug into power, it won't run any electrics.
I don't have the faintest idea about how it works or why. I just know that if the battery switch is off, it won't run 12v or 240. Jayco told me that, and it seems correct.
And, as a female, so long as it all works, that's all I need to know electrics aren't my thing!!
Oh, and I know that if my van battery is nearly flat, and I try to charge it running my car, I'll blow the connecting lead. Learnt that the hard way. And I now need a new connector, and likely thicker wiring... According to an auto electrician in a country town!!
-- Edited by MaryJane on Friday 23rd of May 2014 07:19:21 PM
KevinC said
08:00 AM May 24, 2014
Time to get a summary of all the input so far, rather than just end up with a great collection of what folk do or think.
Can anyone come up with a valid reason why the switch should be turned off, other than when the van is not being used for an extended period?
oldtrack123 said
12:40 PM May 24, 2014
KevinC wrote:
Time to get a summary of all the input so far, rather than just end up with a great collection of what folk do or think. Can anyone come up with a valid reason why the switch should be turned off, other than when the van is not being used for an extended period?
HI
NO
PeterQ
PJK said
02:13 PM May 24, 2014
oldtrack123 wrote:
KevinC wrote:
Time to get a summary of all the input so far, rather than just end up with a great collection of what folk do or think. Can anyone come up with a valid reason why the switch should be turned off, other than when the van is not being used for an extended period?
HI
NO
PeterQ
Come on Pete, don't ramble on - get straight to the point.
Peter K
PJK
Collo said
02:21 PM May 24, 2014
Thanks to all who provided input. The general concenus is that to have switch on at all times except when storing...so that is what I'II do.
PeterD said
02:29 PM May 24, 2014
MaryJane wrote:
Hmmm. Bit confused by responses,
. . . snip . .
Oh, and I know that if my van battery is nearly flat, and I try to charge it running my car, I'll blow the connecting lead. Learnt that the hard way. And I now need a new connector, and likely thicker wiring... According to an auto electrician in a country town!!
MaryJane, you are confused. That Youtube clip did not tell you a lot of what you said. As you say you are not very technical I will not detail where you are off track. The clip was very clear at the beginning. It said in simple terms - turn the switch on when you are using the van and switch it off when you store it.
It later went on to mention battery charging when in storage. When you are charging your battery you are using your van. You might not be living in it but you are using it by virtue of your activity around it. Do as the clip said, plug your mains power into your van switch the battery switch on (and the Setec on as well) and charge your van for a few days. When you have finished using your van (ie charging it) switch the battery switch off.
I would not try charging your battery from your car. You will have to let the motor run for most of the morning. Batteries do not charge quickly, particularly from a cars alternator. Plug the van into a mains supply and charge it via your Setec power supply. You will need power supplied to your van for 4 - 5 days to charge your battery properly, those Setec power supplies are not a very efficient charger.
Sorry to be so blunt but I am trying to explain what you should do in simple terms.
MaryJane said
05:46 PM May 25, 2014
Thanks Peter D,
I didn't look at the you tube clip, I just followed Jayco's advice. And know what works on my van. As I stated, learnt the hard way , thru my own negligence. Simple as on when when using, and off when not.
But some folk like a more detailed answer as to why, which I tried to give
MJ
Having just viewed the Jayco" Powering your van" clip on YouTube, they say to have your battery switch turned ON even when you are connected to the mains. Is that correct as I was under the impression that you only had batteries on when not using mains power. I don't want to overcharge the batteries as I have just had them replaced.
Also, when on the road and the tow vehicle is providing the power to the fridge on 12v....do I have battery switch on or off?
Thanks, Collo.
Hi Collo,
We have a Starcraft and always when towing have the Battery switch off, the same when on 240
Hope that helps.
I have a 2009 Jayco, always told to have battery switch on. If I'm towing, and switch is off, it won't cool my fridge. Also, if I switch it off when connected to mains, I can't run the fridge on mains, or the lights etc..
Cheers,
MJ
PS when towing, have fridge on battery setting, not gas, off, or mains and battery switch on
-- Edited by MaryJane on Tuesday 20th of May 2014 07:59:43 PM
-- Edited by MaryJane on Tuesday 20th of May 2014 08:02:03 PM
We have a 2011 Dscovery and the switch is always on when travelling or connected to 240v. My understanding is that when switch is off the battery is not being charged.
John
-- Edited by the ginger nomad on Tuesday 20th of May 2014 08:22:37 PM
I turn it off....as the solar has a running battle with the charger (at least during the day)...as indicated by the battery charge light going on and off
Cheers Keith
HI Mary Jane
I am not sure what you mean by battery switch
If it is the 12V main switch nothing should be able to be run from 12V when the 12v switch is off
So if your fridge lights water pump are ALL 12V,the switch has to be on
If on 240V supply, the batterry should be charging at a rate that will keep the battery charged ready for those situations when 240V is not availavble ,s even htough you may be using some power from it
Also your fridge if a 3way should be runnung from 240V when 240V available, IF it is wired according to thr FRIDGE makers instructions
But depending on model it may also require a permanent 12V supply from the van battery for the control system 12V [low current demand.NOt for the heating element.].
The heating element SHOULD NOT BE RUNING FROM the van batterries!!
PeterQ
-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Tuesday 20th of May 2014 09:24:32 PM
-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Tuesday 20th of May 2014 09:31:36 PM
HI
That generally is not correct
It depends purely on how the van maker has wired it
But it more common for the main 12V switch to only be a main switch on the 12V output from the battery
The battery charger SHALL d have it's own 240V isolator switch.
That is usually left on.
PeterQ
HI
Again depends on how the van maker has wired it, but No you should not need the 12V switch "ON" when running from the tw vehicles
Unless it is an AES model fridge that requires two sources, one 12v from the van battery required at all time for the fridge control system
the other from the tow vehicle batteries to run the fridge 12v HEATER element
PeterQ
[a[o
Our Jayco Sterling was new last Christmas. To my knowledge the battery switch has never been turned off. I can't imagine any situation, (except for maintenance that the man might do) where it would be turned off. Where's the problem?
-- Edited by KevinC on Wednesday 21st of May 2014 06:42:39 AM
We had Jayco put solar panels on from new, may be wired different, but we only put battery on when free camping, or stop when traveling if we need to use lights etc.
Towing go on 12v for fridge, no need to have Battery on, all works great, same when on 240 everything works without battery on.
Have anderson plug to charge batt when traveling, but have never used it ,but if we get no sun for a week may have to, been ok so far on the trips we have done.
HI Mary Jane
The reason you must have the 12V switch on is probably because your MODEL fridge [AES] requires two seperate sources of 12V
It needs a permanent supply from the van battery to operate on any source[ 240V, gas or 12V ]
But the heater for 12V operation should be fed from the tow vehicle battery !!
Those who claim, they do not need the switch on ,probably do not have an AES model Dometic fridge
Also they possibly have a dual lighting system 12V or 240V
PeterQ
I've been reading and thinking about this, and as I said in my previous post, I've never bothered using the switch before.
That's an old video so the equipment in new vans will be different, better I hope.
The emphasis in the video is probably not when you have the battery turned on, but why you need to turn it off. A van that is stored for an extended period my suffer battery drain for any number of reasons. By switching the battery off when the van is not being used (i.e. when there's no vehicle alternator charging or no mains charging) the battery is isolated and may not go flat as quickly as when things are connected. When you are using the van, there seems no reason to switch off.
If your van is stored at home with mains attached, or if there's a solar panel on the roof, then there's no danger of the battery going flat so the switch can be left on. Modern regulators should prevent your battery overcharging.
I remember a recent thread where someone had a van stored inside a building where there was no mains power and little light for the solar. In that situation it would seem wise to turn the switch off in order to preserve the battery.
I have a Jayco van fitted with a Setec ST-111 power supply, there is a note within the manual which states:
NOTE: When the battery is isolated from the loads using the battery isolate switch it will NOT charge at the 10/15A rate even if the mains is connected to the power supply. In this condition it will ONLY charge at the Trickle charge rate.
Hi Daryl
ye,s that is true with the SETEC ST -11 it can be used as a power supply or as a battery charger
It has a battery charge mode & a power supply mode
But I really do not see any point of using the power supply mode IF batterries are fitted .
The power supply mode is for use IF there are NO batterries!!
Normal Chargers are just chargers & do not have a power supply mode.
PeterQ
Hi Peter,
The Setec ST-111 charges the battery when connected to 240V mains, and when running on 12V battery power it monitors the discharge.
http://www.setec.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/023942-ST-III-User-Manual-D.pdf
Yes
It does charge the van batterries with a multi stage charging regime when on 240V Mains power,IF in charge mode!
It also has provision for an alternative charging source
BUT if it is in" power supply" mode the output voltage is regulated to a constant 13.8v
That is a" float" voltage not a charging voltage
It also utilizes a trickle charge function, which is not voltage controlled but merely a limited current [by a resistor in the 13.8V supply] when being used as power supply.
Not sure just what you mean by "monitoring" the discharge
Of course monitoring the battery condition is an essential part /function of any good quality multi stage charger & it does that constantly when in"charge mode ", but not in "power" mode.
IN Charge mode,It also has some other built in feaures such as limiting the current available to charge the battery if a load is being supplied.
PeterQ
.-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Wednesday 21st of May 2014 09:05:20 PM
-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Wednesday 21st of May 2014 09:10:59 PM
The switch in vans with the earlier vans operates differently. The Jayco wiring diagram simply shows it in series with the positive lead to the battery. If you leave the switch off the battery will not receive any charge from the mains or from the hot wire from the tugs alternator. With the switch off it also will not supply power to the vans 12 V system in the event of a mains failure/disconnect. The only time I would suggest to switch that switch off is when the van is in storage and you don't have mains power connected to it. That recommendation is also applicable to the ST - 111 model. That battery switch appears to be there just to protect the battery from parasitic loads when the van is in storage and no mains power is connected.
Hmmm. Bit confused by responses, so I'll reiterate. I have a dometic 3 way fridge. My car charges it when driving, and doesn't charge it when I stop for a break.
electrics aren't my thing!!
If the main battery switch in the van is off when driving, she won't cool the fridge. If the battery switch is off and I plug into power, it won't run any electrics.
I don't have the faintest idea about how it works or why. I just know that if the battery switch is off, it won't run 12v or 240. Jayco told me that, and it seems correct.
And, as a female, so long as it all works, that's all I need to know
Oh, and I know that if my van battery is nearly flat, and I try to charge it running my car, I'll blow the connecting lead. Learnt that the hard way. And I now need a new connector, and likely thicker wiring... According to an auto electrician in a country town!!
-- Edited by MaryJane on Friday 23rd of May 2014 07:19:21 PM
Can anyone come up with a valid reason why the switch should be turned off, other than when the van is not being used for an extended period?
HI
NO
PeterQ
Come on Pete, don't ramble on - get straight to the point.
Peter K
PJK
Thanks to all who provided input. The general concenus is that to have switch on at all times except when storing...so that is what I'II do.
MaryJane, you are confused. That Youtube clip did not tell you a lot of what you said. As you say you are not very technical I will not detail where you are off track. The clip was very clear at the beginning. It said in simple terms - turn the switch on when you are using the van and switch it off when you store it.
It later went on to mention battery charging when in storage. When you are charging your battery you are using your van. You might not be living in it but you are using it by virtue of your activity around it. Do as the clip said, plug your mains power into your van switch the battery switch on (and the Setec on as well) and charge your van for a few days. When you have finished using your van (ie charging it) switch the battery switch off.
I would not try charging your battery from your car. You will have to let the motor run for most of the morning. Batteries do not charge quickly, particularly from a cars alternator. Plug the van into a mains supply and charge it via your Setec power supply. You will need power supplied to your van for 4 - 5 days to charge your battery properly, those Setec power supplies are not a very efficient charger.
Sorry to be so blunt but I am trying to explain what you should do in simple terms.
I didn't look at the you tube clip, I just followed Jayco's advice. And know what works on my van. As I stated, learnt the hard way
But some folk like a more detailed answer as to why, which I tried to give
MJ
The YouTube clip is on this page