I believe that our house batteries are charged by the 120 watt solar panel through a 15 amp regulator, the vehicle through its alternator, and when connected to 240v power. There seems to be some sort of regulating and automatic switching device when going from 240 to house battery use. I believe that the 12v dc for the fridge is supplied when the vehicle/tug is charging and not when the engine on the tug is turned off.
This morning, at our lovely free camp at Tempy, I started the genset to run the heater, I also wanted to run the espresso coffee machine after the van warmed up. After the genset warmed up I turned on the power switch and she jumped into gear. I turned the heater on and the genset overload tripped. I now realise that the genset was charging the house batteries and was drawing quite a few amps. I reckon it took 15 minutes until the genset went back to idle, then I could run the heater or the coffee machine. The situation is that I did not need the house batteries charged immediately, I needed COFFEE immediately!!!! This means that I can't do anything else until the house batteries are charged. I am hoping that someone can tell me that I can put an isolator switch somewhere to allow the genset to operate just the appliances. The solar and tug can charge the house batteries until the evening.
Am I on the right track?
Aussie Paul.
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Tuesday 19th of August 2014 09:16:39 PM
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Wednesday 20th of August 2014 08:19:33 PM
KFT said
09:35 PM Aug 19, 2014
Paul you need to find the battery charger and see if it is plugged into a power outlet. If so then you can just switch it off.
frank
aussie_paul said
09:41 PM Aug 19, 2014
KFT wrote:
Paul you need to find the battery charger and see if it is plugged into a power outlet. If so then you can just switch it off.
frank
Ah, ok Frank. When they took the club lounge out there was a power point they said the fridge used. Now I think there maybe 2 leads plugged into the point. "Things" were fiddled with I reckon. I will look tomorrow, thanks.
Aussie Paul.
Woody n Sue said
10:08 PM Aug 19, 2014
Well hi Aussie Paul that's interesting that you were staying at Tempy that's about 40 min from my place glad to hear that you thought it a good place to camp played footy against Tempy Gorya Patchawollock (TGP) many years ago.
Well hi Aussie Paul that's interesting that you were staying at Tempy that's about 40 min from my place glad to hear that you thought it a good place to camp played footy against Tempy Gorya Patchawollock (TGP) many years ago.
Ha ha, ok. Small world, eh
Aussie Paul.
PeterD said
11:16 PM Aug 19, 2014
Is there a switch on the front of the charger? If there is then just switch that off.
WAssa41 said
08:51 AM Aug 20, 2014
Did you turn off the hot water
kesa32 said
09:33 AM Aug 20, 2014
Hey Paul , you didnt work for the gas and fuel around 20 years ago by any chance ? ( remember a guy from there who was mad on gyro's :)
aussie_paul said
11:06 AM Aug 20, 2014
kesa32 wrote:
Hey Paul , you didnt work for the gas and fuel around 20 years ago by any chance ? ( remember a guy from there who was mad on gyro's :)
No Ken, that was "Mad Dog" Wayne Morgan. I helped him get going in gyros around 1983.
Aussie Paul.
aussie_paul said
11:13 AM Aug 20, 2014
WAssa41 wrote:
Did you turn off the hot water
Ooooh!!! good question, I think I did BUT!!!
Aussie Paul.
Dougwe said
02:47 PM Aug 20, 2014
Hope ya turned it back on Paul to have hot water to wash those coffee mugs.
aussie_paul said
05:49 PM Aug 20, 2014
Guess what?? I DID have the 240v hot water switch on!! I wonder if it was on back when I bought my first el cheapo 2kva genset and it would not run the aircon!! I think/hope not. Anyway this el cheapo genset with remote starting does what I need. Hot water takes 5.8 amps and the aircon on the low heat setting 7.8..
I like to learn from my own and others mistakes, preferably other peoples!!!!!!!!
You all probably reckon I am dumb, I just post to confirm it!!!
Aussie Paul.
aussie_paul said
08:22 PM Aug 20, 2014
I realise a mistake in my original first post. The tug 12v is for the fridge, but does it also charge the house battery? With our Jayco there is no wiring or plumbing diagrams to help out!!!
Aussie Paul.
Pedro_The_Swift said
08:32 AM Aug 23, 2014
Hi Paul,
Is there an Anderson plug between tug and van? If you are just using the normal trailer plug to charge the batts nothing much will happen due to voltage loss over the distance.
You've got me wondering if they make a 12v coffee machine!!
I own a Jayco as well, much to my dismay, as far as I can see there is no charging of any battery (including the breakaway batt) when under tow. The 12V aux contacts are for keeping the fridge cold during travel and ESC if its connected.
I have just completed some major re-wiring of the electrics and have found Jayco are none too careful the way they wire these things up. Safe for sure but some of the birds nests I have to wade through... Yipes
As far as I can see the only stuff powered on 12V during travel is the fridge and ESC. I switch the house battery off during travel and let the solar panel charge the house batts. If there is not enough when I arrive at a free camp, the generator gets a few hours of use.
There you have it my friends, my meager knowledge.. lol
I believe that our house batteries are charged by the 120 watt solar panel through a 15 amp regulator, the vehicle through its alternator, and when connected to 240v power. There seems to be some sort of regulating and automatic switching device when going from 240 to house battery use. I believe that the 12v dc for the fridge is supplied when the vehicle/tug is charging and not when the engine on the tug is turned off.
This morning, at our lovely free camp at Tempy, I started the genset to run the heater, I also wanted to run the espresso coffee machine after the van warmed up.
After the genset warmed up I turned on the power switch and she jumped into gear. I turned the heater on and the genset overload tripped. I now realise that the genset was charging the house batteries and was drawing quite a few amps. I reckon it took 15 minutes until the genset went back to idle, then I could run the heater or the coffee machine. The situation is that I did not need the house batteries charged immediately, I needed COFFEE immediately!!!!
This means that I can't do anything else until the house batteries are charged. I am hoping that someone can tell me that I can put an isolator switch somewhere to allow the genset to operate just the appliances. The solar and tug can charge the house batteries until the evening.
Am I on the right track?
Aussie Paul.
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Tuesday 19th of August 2014 09:16:39 PM
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Wednesday 20th of August 2014 08:19:33 PM
frank
Ah, ok Frank. When they took the club lounge out there was a power point they said the fridge used. Now I think there maybe 2 leads plugged into the point. "Things" were fiddled with I reckon. I will look tomorrow, thanks.
Aussie Paul.
Well hi Aussie Paul that's interesting that you were staying at Tempy that's about 40 min from my place glad to hear that you thought it a good place to camp played footy against Tempy Gorya Patchawollock (TGP) many years ago.
Ha ha, ok. Small world, eh
Aussie Paul.
Did you turn off the hot water
Hey Paul , you didnt work for the gas and fuel around 20 years ago by any chance ? ( remember a guy from there who was mad on gyro's :)
No Ken, that was "Mad Dog" Wayne Morgan. I helped him get going in gyros around 1983.
Aussie Paul.
Ooooh!!! good question, I think I did BUT!!!
Aussie Paul.
Guess what?? I DID have the 240v hot water switch on!! I wonder if it was on back when I bought my first el cheapo 2kva genset and it would not run the aircon!! I think/hope not. Anyway this el cheapo genset with remote starting does what I need. Hot water takes 5.8 amps and the aircon on the low heat setting 7.8..
I like to learn from my own and others mistakes, preferably other peoples!!!!!!!!
You all probably reckon I am dumb, I just post to confirm it!!!
Aussie Paul.
I realise a mistake in my original first post. The tug 12v is for the fridge, but does it also charge the house battery? With our Jayco there is no wiring or plumbing diagrams to help out!!!
Aussie Paul.
Is there an Anderson plug between tug and van? If you are just using the normal trailer plug to charge the batts nothing much will happen due to voltage loss over the distance.
You've got me wondering if they make a 12v coffee machine!!
www.caffeespressoitalia.org/en/espresso-12/
but!
29amps!!! LOL!!
Hi folks
I own a Jayco as well, much to my dismay, as far as I can see there is no charging of any battery (including the breakaway batt) when under tow. The 12V aux contacts are for keeping the fridge cold during travel and ESC if its connected.
I have just completed some major re-wiring of the electrics and have found Jayco are none too careful the way they wire these things up. Safe for sure but some of the birds nests I have to wade through... Yipes
As far as I can see the only stuff powered on 12V during travel is the fridge and ESC. I switch the house battery off during travel and let the solar panel charge the house batts. If there is not enough when I arrive at a free camp, the generator gets a few hours of use.
There you have it my friends, my meager knowledge.. lol
Safe travels