We have 2013 23' Jayco Outback with 2 x 120w solar panels. 100w battery with Drifter SETEC display monitor.
When away from 240v power we are finding that with lights, TV, Gas Heater the system does not allow all to operate.
If we have the heating on then we need to turn the TV off. Fridge is on gas.
As well, if we turn the water taps on that operate the pump it throws our gas heater off. Gas heater instructions suggest that the voltage is either too low or too high.
Drifter Monitor shows 13.5+ volts with the amps at 2 to 3amps.
As well,When operating the water pump it causes our lights (leds) to flicker.
My thoughts:
1) Do we have a fault with the pump causing the issues???
2) Do we need an additional 100w battery.
Thanks
JohnR
Baz421 said
09:43 PM Aug 14, 2014
John you need to check the voltage being supplied to the gas heater when pump is on (not battery voltage),,, low voltage can be caused by inadequate diameter wire which can cause significant voltage drop, poor connections or overloaded circuit (there may be other things on the same circuit dragging the amps).
The experts will be here soon to fill you in, I'm sure they're lurking around,,lol.
KFT said
09:43 PM Aug 14, 2014
G'day John,
I would take a look at the voltage when the pump is operating and see if it drops significantly.
I would also be checking that all connections are tight.
your battery would be a 100aH(amp hours) and you would certainly benefit from another one in parallel provided you have sufficient solar and battery charging capacity to fully charge both.
hope that helps
frank
Big Gorilla said
07:06 AM Aug 15, 2014
You don't have enough battery storage. You have 240 watts of solar but only one 100 amp/hour battery. In my situation, where I run a 12 volt frig 24/7 and all else 12 volt, I have 275 watts solar and 2 x 6 volt 225 amp/hour batteries. You need to upgrade your house batteries to deep cycle with higher amp/hours. This is the battery I use:
Sounds like a crook connection on the battery or at the fuse box to me. No way should there be sufficient voltage drop for the pump to turn the heater off. Neither use enough current. We ran for over twelve months with only a single 100ah battery with no problems other than caused by poor charging days.
Darrell
WAssa41 said
09:36 AM Aug 15, 2014
I would think that the wire size to those items with a high current draw is to small, this is normal in a lot of caravans. You will get a change in the brightness of your lights when the pump is turned on and that is fairly normal in caravans only because of the size of the wire. If you think of the battery being a water tank and the wires as hoses, then you can see that a small dia hose is going to take a long time to fill a bucket, but if you use a larger dia hose the bucket will fill quicker. This works up to a point where the increase in hose size will not fill the bucket any quicker at this point you will need a larger supply of water ie a second battery. My suggestion is to increase the wire size to those item that have a high current draw or may be increase the wire size from the battery to the fuse board. If you know how to use a multimeter check the current at the battery, the fuse box and at the unit consuming the power. This will give you an indication of where the voltage drop is. Increasing the battery size (water tank) will not help if the wire ( hose is to small). If you need any further help lets know.
Wassa
PeterInSa said
11:21 AM Aug 15, 2014
As above comments, I would increase the wire size to the heater and the pump and definitely add a second battery, the second battery will hopefully still provide power after 2 or 3 cloudy days. We have 2 x 80 watt panels and 2 x 120amp/hr AGM deep cycles.
When our previous deep cycles were on their last legs, operation of the water pump would drop out the TV etc.
Do you have your load going thru the Solar Controller/regulator, ie are you using the low voltage cut out facility, if not, you may have discharged the deep cycle batteries previously and even though they have been charged up again, the batteries capacity has been impacted and this will shorten the batteries life.
Note its always best to have both batteries, connected in parallel of the same age.
Peter
JohnR said
09:47 PM Aug 15, 2014
Thank you and I value the experience and information provided.
We are currently in Port Lincoln SA on our way to Perth. I arranged an auto electrician to look at the van today. He has tested the battery and checked the voltage and amps being drawn when lights, TV, Gas Heater & utilizing the pump.
All working o'k now because we have been in Caravan Park for 24hours connected to 240v and the Sun is shining meaning for the first time in about 3/4 weeks we have had reasonable weather. Those living in Adelaide will tell you that the last month has been wet/cold and overcast. Our van has been in storage. (outside). The last movement of the van was 3/7/2014 prior to our Adelaide departure on 10/8/2014 so this has not helped with the charging.
The draw with all those units operating is about 6amps
We have SETEC battery charging unit that allows charging of battery from 240v, as well we have 20i Honda Generator that we use as required.
We are not due in Perth until 15/9 and the quotes for additional battery 100ah is around $350/$400 in Port Lincoln.
If we get good weather & with the generator we should be o/k.
Again thanks for all the info provided.
JohnR
PeterInSa said
01:12 PM Aug 16, 2014
Hi John,
re the price of a 100ah Deep cycle, on another forum a member has purchased this battery from memory around $230 delivered, I recently purchased the same manufacturers 120ah battery x 2 for somewhat more from a local supplier. You could possibly get the battery posted to your Perth address. Have not had them long enough, but they are performing to my expectations.
Note this is an AGM battery and to me you existing battery should be an AGM and not a Wet Cell or Calcium battery.
Currently at Lincoln National Park and has been raining on and off for most of the afternoon. (No sun today). I think we arrived in SA on 3/7/2014 and I think it has either been overcast or raining for the majority of the time.
We hope to find some sunshine on the Nullarbor???
JohnR
Aus-Kiwi said
10:46 PM Aug 16, 2014
Check wire from battery to fuse board . This caries all the power supply.. If too small or high resistant connection it will choke supply ..
Have some issues if someone could help with??
We have 2013 23' Jayco Outback with 2 x 120w solar panels. 100w battery with Drifter SETEC display monitor.
When away from 240v power we are finding that with lights, TV, Gas Heater the system does not allow all to operate.
If we have the heating on then we need to turn the TV off. Fridge is on gas.
As well, if we turn the water taps on that operate the pump it throws our gas heater off. Gas heater instructions suggest that the voltage is either too low or too high.
Drifter Monitor shows 13.5+ volts with the amps at 2 to 3amps.
As well,When operating the water pump it causes our lights (leds) to flicker.
My thoughts:
1) Do we have a fault with the pump causing the issues???
2) Do we need an additional 100w battery.
Thanks
JohnR
John you need to check the voltage being supplied to the gas heater when pump is on (not battery voltage),,, low voltage can be caused by inadequate diameter wire which can cause significant voltage drop, poor connections or overloaded circuit (there may be other things on the same circuit dragging the amps).
The experts will be here soon to fill you in, I'm sure they're lurking around,,lol.
I would take a look at the voltage when the pump is operating and see if it drops significantly.
I would also be checking that all connections are tight.
your battery would be a 100aH(amp hours) and you would certainly benefit from another one in parallel provided you have sufficient solar and battery charging capacity to fully charge both.
hope that helps
frank
You don't have enough battery storage. You have 240 watts of solar but only one 100 amp/hour battery. In my situation, where I run a 12 volt frig 24/7 and all else 12 volt, I have 275 watts solar and 2 x 6 volt 225 amp/hour batteries. You need to upgrade your house batteries to deep cycle with higher amp/hours. This is the battery I use:
http://www.everybattery.com.au/proddetail.php?prod=EB-C105&gclid=CJXQ847Uk8ACFZcnvQodNTEA-w
Darrell
I would think that the wire size to those items with a high current draw is to small, this is normal in a lot of caravans. You will get a change in the brightness of your lights when the pump is turned on and that is fairly normal in caravans only because of the size of the wire. If you think of the battery being a water tank and the wires as hoses, then you can see that a small dia hose is going to take a long time to fill a bucket, but if you use a larger dia hose the bucket will fill quicker. This works up to a point where the increase in hose size will not fill the bucket any quicker at this point you will need a larger supply of water ie a second battery. My suggestion is to increase the wire size to those item that have a high current draw or may be increase the wire size from the battery to the fuse board. If you know how to use a multimeter check the current at the battery, the fuse box and at the unit consuming the power. This will give you an indication of where the voltage drop is. Increasing the battery size (water tank) will not help if the wire ( hose is to small). If you need any further help lets know.
Wassa
When our previous deep cycles were on their last legs, operation of the water pump would drop out the TV etc.
Do you have your load going thru the Solar Controller/regulator, ie are you using the low voltage cut out facility, if not, you may have discharged the deep cycle batteries previously and even though they have been charged up again, the batteries capacity has been impacted and this will shorten the batteries life.
Note its always best to have both batteries, connected in parallel of the same age.
Peter
Thank you and I value the experience and information provided.
We are currently in Port Lincoln SA on our way to Perth. I arranged an auto electrician to look at the van today. He has tested the battery and checked the voltage and amps being drawn when lights, TV, Gas Heater & utilizing the pump.
All working o'k now because we have been in Caravan Park for 24hours connected to 240v and the Sun is shining meaning for the first time in about 3/4 weeks we have had reasonable weather. Those living in Adelaide will tell you that the last month has been wet/cold and overcast. Our van has been in storage. (outside). The last movement of the van was 3/7/2014 prior to our Adelaide departure on 10/8/2014 so this has not helped with the charging.
The draw with all those units operating is about 6amps
We have SETEC battery charging unit that allows charging of battery from 240v, as well we have 20i Honda Generator that we use as required.
We are not due in Perth until 15/9 and the quotes for additional battery 100ah is around $350/$400 in Port Lincoln.
If we get good weather & with the generator we should be o/k.
Again thanks for all the info provided.
JohnR
re the price of a 100ah Deep cycle, on another forum a member has purchased this battery from memory around $230 delivered, I recently purchased the same manufacturers 120ah battery x 2 for somewhat more from a local supplier. You could possibly get the battery posted to your Perth address. Have not had them long enough, but they are performing to my expectations.
Note this is an AGM battery and to me you existing battery should be an AGM and not a Wet Cell or Calcium battery.
www.ebay.com.au/itm/PDC121000-100AH-750CCA-12-VOLT-BATTERY-DEEP-CYCLE-SOLAR-CARAVAN-AGM-SLA-12V-/221342680201
Peter
Thanks Peter
We are in Perth for 5/6 weeks, so we will see.
Currently at Lincoln National Park and has been raining on and off for most of the afternoon. (No sun today). I think we arrived in SA on 3/7/2014 and I think it has either been overcast or raining for the majority of the time.
We hope to find some sunshine on the Nullarbor???
JohnR