i wonder if a techie out there can answer in "non techie" fashion to a non techie female please.

i have a 2015 Jayco Conquest with a Drifter monitor and my "time remaining" and "amps" are constantly blank despite most things seemingly working OK.  However on a couple of occasions my electric bed hasn't dropped down at night and the two lights in the photo stay on all night.  

Does anyone know if this Drifter "amps" situation is linked to the bed not dropping, ie the bed may be trying to draw too many amps for the zero amps showing Drifter?

ive been back to the dealer and they assure me it's wired correctly but I'm worried I'm going to be caught out somewhere with the Drifter totally failing me.

appreciate any assistance.

PS why do pics always post upside down on here when I've attached them right way up? Sorry, don't know how to fix this.

-- Edited by Conquester on Saturday 8th of August 2015 06:54:02 AM

Gday...

Upsie daysie

Cheers - John

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Firstly, do you have a solar panel? If so your drifter will show charging one moment and discharging the next (written over the battery symbol). If not, you battery charger will do that as well, its part of the way the charger conditions the battery. Its not uncommon to show zero like yours, means there is no charging effort to the batteries or discharging going on.

I cant comment on the bed as Im not sure of the details, however if you got a good nights sleep and no bangs or odd smells I would say all is normal. Jayco arent that keen to divulge too much technical info. I have a 2013 Starcraft with drifter and solar so have a fair idea of what looks normal. Yours looks normal.

Cheers

EDIT

I just read your post again and saw that the bed is not doing much. I would disconnect the 240 volt outside power cord then switch the battery off (the big switch at the top right of the drifter panel), completely disconnecting all power, wait a few seconds and reconnect everything and see what happens then. Also check the fuse panel, you may have blown the one that works the bed. Again, Im not sure how these things are meant to work. Do you have an instruction booklet for the bed?

-- Edited by Phil C on Saturday 8th of August 2015 12:11:30 PM

-- Edited by Phil C on Saturday 8th of August 2015 12:12:43 PM

Thanks for your response Phil and the welcome. I've been a member here for a while but mainly read, I dont post much.

Yes, I do have solar.  The bed situation concerns me as this is the third time it's happened and I'm seeing a pattern.  Seems the bed won't work after about the third night being parked up somewhere.  Lights come on on the bed mechanism but it just doesn't drop down and the motor doesn't kick in, no smell or anything though.  My non tech mind is telling me that there may not be enough charge to drive it, with the amps and time remaining having been sitting at zero on the Drifter since I pulled up.  Other 12 volt stuff like TV, stove fan, lights etc all seem to be OK.  The bed runs off 12 volt.  However, on each occasion after I've driven the van for a while, the bed works again, as if the action of driving the van has charged it up after it's been run down being parked.  I'Ve always been connected to 240 volts in caravan parks.

I'm taking it back to the dealer on Monday as I'm nervous to go too far in case the whole thing shuts down and I get stuck.  It hasn't yet but I've only been away a max of three days on each occasion.  The dealer says its wired correctly so I don't know what the issue is but something isn't right.

thanks again Phil, really appreciate your response.

Phil C wrote:

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Jayco arent that keen to divulge too much technical info.

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 Don't worry too much about Jayco for information on Setec products. Go straight to the Setec web site. To get the Drifter manual go straight to this link.

Chris, do you have the Drifter handbook? If so what don't you understand in it? The current reading (AMPS) should show a reading for any current that flows into or out of the battery. If there is any current flowing into the battery the word "CHARGING" should appear above the "CHARGE STATE" indicator. If current is flowing out from the battery then the word "DISCHARGING" should appear instead. The amount of current flow will be shown in the "AMPS" reading indicator.

If your battery charger (and/or solar charging) is operating there should be a little bit of current showing if your battery is fully charged. If you switch any lights or your water pump on the Setec power supply will provide that current and there should be no change in the current reading. If you wish to use the Drifter current metering to measure the current in the house supply you will have to switch the Setec off (and disable the solar charging if any) so that the battery can supply the total current in the house circuit.

The bed power supply can be supplied from a fuse on the Setec (if not too large) or directly from the battery if it draws a large current. Either way the bed should be a separate circuit from the Drifter. All the drifter should do is to measure the current drawn by the bed provided all battery charging is disabled and nothing else is operating from the battery. If you switch any light or the pump on then the current dawn by that (or those devices) will be added to the reading from the bed operation.

Conquester wrote:

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Yes, I do have solar.  The bed situation concerns me as this is the third time it's happened and I'm seeing a pattern.  Seems the bed won't work after about the third night being parked up somewhere.  Lights come on on the bed mechanism but it just doesn't drop down and the motor doesn't kick in, no smell or anything though.  My non tech mind is telling me that there may not be enough charge to drive it, with the amps and time remaining having been sitting at zero on the Drifter since I pulled up.  Other 12 volt stuff like TV, stove fan, lights etc all seem to be OK.  The bed runs off 12 volt.  However, on each occasion after I've driven the van for a while, the bed works again, as if the action of driving the van has charged it up after it's been run down being parked.  I'Ve always been connected to 240 volts in caravan parks.

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Chris, you posted whilst I was doing my research. You seem to have hit the nail on the head, insufficient battery charge at the time of bed operation failure.

I'Ve always been connected to 240 volts in caravan parks.

If you have been on mains power the whole time and not relied on solar charging then that indicates to me that there is some problem in the Setec and battery area. You do have your battery isolator switch on do your? That switch should only be switched off for extended storage periods. If your time remaining is showing zero it seems like your battery is dead flat.

I would suggest you plug your van into power and see if you can get your battery charged. If there is no charge current flowing and the battery voltage is not rising above 13 V then the Setec is not charging your battery and neither is the solar. Try switching any battery switches to the opposite state and waiting to see if there is any change in the Drifter readings. The problem could be "finger problems" (ie you are not fully conversant with the system and have not set things right) or it could be equipment problems. Either way you need to get things sorted promptly before you stuff the battery. Ring your van supplier and ask about the battery isolator switch settings.

Thanks for your response Peter but I'm sorry I really don't understand it, it's a bit techie for this non tech person.

When I'm parked up, "discharging" invariably shows up on the Drifter as well as zero on the amps.  I haven't yet used the water pump as I'm always hooked up to power so don't need it.

i don't know if the bed is powered via the Setec or the battery, but it seems odd to me that the only time the bed doesn't work is after I've parked up for a few days (although the bed indicator lights come on) however when I drive the van, all is well with the bed when I try it when I stop.

I do have the manual but I don't understand all the terminology and I dont intend mucking around with things I don't understand.  It's been back to the dealers but they don't seem to have much of a clue about it either.  Anyway it's back to them to sort out on Monday.

Thanks again for your response Peter, much appreciated.

Agree with PeterD.

I was directing Chris to Jayco for the bed issue. When we picked our van up there were booklets for all the devices in the van, so Im wondering if the bed has its own booklet?

PeterD, this may be a thermal cut out issue, most DC motors I have worked on have a thermal cut out, may be that Chris is putting the bed down and up and the motor is getting a little warm. Only a thought...

Sounds odd to me Chris that after a drive the bed wants to work. Im not that flash with motorhomes so I will bow to the expertise of others who are.

If the dealer is saying all is well and connected properly then the thermal cut out must be questioned. Chris how many times do you put the bed up and down when you test this out?

At 13.6 volts I would guess all is well with the battery. The drifter seems to be doing its job, important to note the sensing wires on the drifter are very small dia and the voltage is not the true terminal voltage of the battery (I have tested that one, out by about .2 volts.).

I would be very keen to see how many times this bed has been up and down..

Cheers

Thanks again Peter, we were cross posting.

The battery isolator switch on the Setec is always turned on other than when it's stored for extended periods.

I admit to not being conversant with the unit but then nor was the mechanic at the dealer!  He was clueless.  LOL

I'm taking it to the dealer and getting them to sort it out but I too suspect a battery issue.

thanks again Peter.

PeterD wrote:

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Conquester wrote:

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Yes, I do have solar.  The bed situation concerns me as this is the third time it's happened and I'm seeing a pattern.  Seems the bed won't work after about the third night being parked up somewhere.  Lights come on on the bed mechanism but it just doesn't drop down and the motor doesn't kick in, no smell or anything though.  My non tech mind is telling me that there may not be enough charge to drive it, with the amps and time remaining having been sitting at zero on the Drifter since I pulled up.  Other 12 volt stuff like TV, stove fan, lights etc all seem to be OK.  The bed runs off 12 volt.  However, on each occasion after I've driven the van for a while, the bed works again, as if the action of driving the van has charged it up after it's been run down being parked.  I'Ve always been connected to 240 volts in caravan parks.

---

Chris, you posted whilst I was doing my research. You seem to have hit the nail on the head, insufficient battery charge at the time of bed operation failure.

I'Ve always been connected to 240 volts in caravan parks.

If you have been on mains power the whole time and not relied on solar charging then that indicates to me that there is some problem in the Setec and battery area. You do have your battery isolator switch on do your? That switch should only be switched off for extended storage periods. If your time remaining is showing zero it seems like your battery is dead flat.

I would suggest you plug your van into power and see if you can get your battery charged. If there is no charge current flowing and the battery voltage is not rising above 13 V then the Setec is not charging your battery and neither is the solar. Try switching any battery switches to the opposite state and waiting to see if there is any change in the Drifter readings. The problem could be "finger problems" (ie you are not fully conversant with the system and have not set things right) or it could be equipment problems. Either way you need to get things sorted promptly before you stuff the battery. Ring your van supplier and ask about the battery isolator switch settings.

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 Hi Peter, the drifter has the battery isolate switch on the top right, from the pics it is on and working only when discharging does the drifter show how much time is left.

I was on the understanding that 13.6 was a charged voltage, please correct me if Im wrong as my van is out as well....

Phil C wrote:

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PeterD, this may be a thermal cut out issue, most DC motors I have worked on have a thermal cut out, may be that Chris is putting the bed down and up and the motor is getting a little warm. Only a thought...

Sounds odd to me Chris that after a drive the bed wants to work. Im not that flash with motorhomes so I will bow to the expertise of others who are.

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 Phil, everything works well for the first couple of days and then fails. The problem goes away after she dives the vehicle and pumps the battery up a bit. I will stick with her diagnosis of flat battery.

Chris, What is the current battery voltage showing on the Drifter.

Phil, I only drop the bed down at bedtime and it goes back up in the morning.  Other than those two occasions each day, not at all.  The fact that the lights come on indicate that the bed is working but the motor doesn't kick in and engage, but after driving the van, it does work fine.  And again, it only happens on around the third day away, as if something's being drained after the van not being driven, can't cope with the bed motor, but driving the van fixes it.

I've got all the booklets but the bed one is hopeless, and written by someone's whose first language is not English.

The voltage on the Drifter seems to regularly sit at around 13.9, there doesn't seem to be an issue with this.

i really appreciate you guys trying to help me out, your comments have assisted me for when I speak with the dealer.

Just a few pics for Chris one is drifter on discharge and the other on charge

You both may be right about battery state

Conquester wrote:

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Phil, I only drop the bed down at bedtime and it goes back up in the morning.  Other than those two occasions each day, not at all.  The fact that the lights come on indicate that the bed is working but the motor doesn't kick in and engage, but after driving the van, it does work fine.  And again, it only happens on around the third day away, as if something's being drained after the van not being driven, can't cope with the bed motor, but driving the van fixes it.

I've got all the booklets but the bed one is hopeless, and written by someone's whose first language is not English.

The voltage on the Drifter seems to regularly sit at around 13.9, there doesn't seem to be an issue with this.

i really appreciate you guys trying to help me out, your comments have assisted me for when I speak with the dealer.

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 Cheers Chris from PeterD as well (If I may speak for you Peter)

The beauty of this forum is that there are a number of highly qualified and technical savvy folks on board. Some will suggest one thought while another will have a different idea that hits the spot. As a technical person (and Im sure the others will agree) its a real hoot to help somebody out and eventually get it right.

I admit that sometimes I get it wrong, however I am well corrected by the more qualified..

Cheers

Thanks PHIL.  Mine invariably says discharging when I'm parked up.  I can't recall ever seeing it say charging.  My "hours remaining" can vary from 199 hours to 52 hours to 3 minutes to blank in a matter of minutes.  Amps usually 0 when parked up, occasionally 0.2 or 0.3.

Ill let you know the outcome with the dealer (if they even have one)! LOL

Sounds like a power supply problem to the bed, unrelated to the drifter to me   ie -

battery problem, - has a "surface charge" from solar and setec only

bed switch problem - poor connection

bed wiring battery to motor - poor connection somewhere.

One way to check is when the bed fails to move start the engine as this seems to be a part of this and leave it running (with a few revs if you can - say 1,500RPM) and then see if the bed works.

Your battery can show 13.6 V and still not deliver the required current to raise/lower your bed if it is poor condition.  My last set of 4 AGM batteries did this and all looked good until they had a load on them and then they died quickly.

EDIT- just read about one brand of electric bed,,, make sure <10kg load on bed and bedding etc not catching in any part of mechanism. 

Thanks for chiming in Baz.

i don't believe it's poor switching on the bed or anything related to the mechanism of the bed, as on the two occasions it didn't, drop, both were on the third night of being parked up, as if some battery drainage was happening and providing insufficient "grunt" to get it moving.  After driving home the next day on both occasions, the bed worked again, as if it had been powered back up. Someone suggested starting the engine which I did, but that didn't help.  Mind you, I didn't run the engine for long, just turned it on and kept it running, walked back and tried the bed again to no avail so switched the engine back off.

There was no bedding or anything catching on to the mechanism to cause the issue.

PeterD wrote:

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Just a thought, is your fridge a 3 way one and you have it set to 12 V operation? If so the Setec does not supply enough current to run the fridge and your battery will be supplying some of the fridge power. That will run the battery down over a couple of days.

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 Peter, the fridge is a 3 way but it automatically finds the best power source and that's always been electricity when I'm away as I'm in parks.  I usually turn the fridge off when it's stored away but I haven't always done this and it seems to have no effect.

I'm very happy with the operation of the fridge.

On the info provided to date, I'll bet it's a power problem.

Make sure your fridge is not running on 12V when you don't expect and/or battery is not being fully charged (don't rely on vehicle to fully charge your AGM battery).

Found a fault with wiring on a van in Dubbo a couple of weeks ago,,, paid an auto elec to wire it up and didn't work on 12V at all. Not you problem but an example of things that do go wrong.

Conquester wrote:

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PeterD wrote:

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Just a thought, is your fridge a 3 way one and you have it set to 12 V operation? If so the Setec does not supply enough current to run the fridge and your battery will be supplying some of the fridge power. That will run the battery down over a couple of days.

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 Peter, the fridge is a 3 way but it automatically finds the best power source and that's always been electricity when I'm away as I'm in parks.  I usually turn the fridge off when it's stored away but I haven't always done this and it seems to have no effect.

I'm very happy with the operation of the fridge.

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Peter - if it has the standard 100ah battery it will flatten it very quickly, ie say 12-15A draw - battery will be flat in no time ie 4-6 hours, and may never ever recover.

dogbox wrote:

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would the motor on the bed have some sort of low voltage cut out protection not enough power to operate bed after couple of days ok after recharge

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 I'm not sure Dogbox, but hopefully I'll find out next week when it goes in to be checked out.

dogbox wrote:

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don't forget to post results/solution to problem

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 I definitely will Dogbox. You guys have been terrific trying to help with a solution.