shiny new battery!

Got a new battery sorted. 

Made sure it was the correct Stop Start etc!

£250 fitted 🙄 

No loss of amps, easier start ( it felt to me) proper voltage read outs via the Bluetooth battery monitor, fitted a few days ago!

All's appears well. With Xmas break comming and probably won't use the camper for over a week, will be the full test to see if all is well! 

If so I can move to plane B and set up the Sterling Power unit again and have full camper electrics again!!!

IKEA unit fun

So as said door hinges are broken. Can't phone IKEA, and can't get in to exchange hinges their site says they will post. Great easy fix 😂😂😂😂😂😂🙄

Ended up using Resolver, explained have receipt details part numbers etc etc.

Every reply from IKEA is from a different person. Requests repeated, repeated repeats etc etc. 

Finally a staff member says thanks it'll be sorted. Next day email you'll have to come in to collect. 

So replied it's clearly states on the webpage for small items IKEA will post to you free of charge.( As it's a manufacturing fault you'd think.....) But yet again staff aren't checking the replies thread ...

So now they WILL bloody post it to me 😡

10/12/21

No reply

Days n days n weeks lol

20/12/21 another 10 days but finally got confirmation that IKEA are sending FREE OF CHARGE the replacement hinge!!! 

Electrics 785

Re ran the ignition live for the Sterling Power unit. Connect when I've replaced main battery.

Fixed the Fridge 12v to 240v converter inside of the cabinet. And mounted the 240v supply plug to outside of cabinet next to mains fusebox. 

Electrics No. 703

After muchly deliberation and helpful contact with Sterling Power the Sterling unit is back in place, well new place! 

Wiring looks a bit messy needs a few cable ties etc to improve. It's bloody cold today so had enough! 

The Sterling unit needs air flow so can't really box it in. However when the OS units are finished the wiring can be!

It would appear that the issues I've been having with the sterling is connected to the the wrong main battery again. 

( In process of sorting correct battery) 

Which was confusing the Unit should be AGM stop start one, I was sold it as the correct one for my van!! 

The liesure battery is disconnected until main battery replaced. 

I need to re run the ignition live to the Sterling unit as well, fiddly but not an issue. 

So 

New main battery

Ignition live connection

Reconnect liesure battery 

And hopefully Bobs my uncle ( which he is anyway 😂)

Then I can get back to the refit! 

Retiring in February 2022 so should be able to crack on and who knows could even get away in the van in 2022! 😱😁

400mm floor unit offside.

Another IKEA unit 400 mm wide fitted next to fridge. 

No flippin shelf ! Picked up wrong one lol. But as it's mainly going to be used for clothes linen etc going to see if there's any stackable boxes that will fit! 

His n hers type thing! 

Set the unit back enough so that the door sits flush with the fridge unit next to it. Just enough room to locate the porta potti at end next to the hatchback. secured to floor by its own footplate. Will build a shelf over top and a support panel hatch side. then attached to side of new unit. Probably make a cushion to sit atop of it.

It's still a pain to fit units as the wall curves slightly and the van width narrows towards the hatch. Several cuts had to be made 5-10 mm at a time to create the curve correctly. 

Get to the final hurdle fitting the door! Bloody hinges! One of the hinge footplates is off centre in the bracket and can't move it nor adjust enough to make the door work properly! Hoping I've got a couple of soft close hinges in the garage! Will save the hassle of a visit to IKEA! 

12v charging change

Started the experiment re Sterling unit and solar panel.

Disconnected the vehicle battery from the system by just removing the main fuse. 

Disconnected the live wires and earth from sterling unit.

Also the ignition live and battery sensor. So the unit is completely isolated. 

Then connected the solar panel wires to the solar unit along with the liesure battery live n earth. 

So now the main battery and liesure battery work independently. 

If this works out that the main battery is holding/ getting full and a better charge, then I guess the sterling unit is causing some issues! 

I'm looking at using the good old  12v 140amp Durite 0-727-33 Voltage Sensitive Relay! 

That way the liesure will get a charge whilst driving but in the simplest form.

More homework!!! 

Can't use Durite  relay with smart alternator/ regen braking! Well most say can't few can't see reason not to!

Me : a new alternator is loads of money! Not worth the risk. 

Rethink but I'll wait till I've used the van a few times and it'll sit over weekend so test the voltage pre going to work on the Monday. 

My solar panel is 160 amps I've another 100 amp ( rigid version) fridge is the only heavy user of 12v , but we've electric hookup for when we're static for a period.

LED lights, water pump n tap, heater if needed.

Main battery is holding slightly more power since it's been disconnected from liesure battery and sterling unit. 

So made decision to remove the sterling unit altogether. 

Again will monitor over weekend. 

The main battery is not a stop start battery as I was told, basically stitched! But I'll see how things are over the next week. But will probably fit the correct battery ( well apparently this type of battery as to be "plumbed"  into system!) Again not what I was told! So a trip to my new found VW specialist!

electrics/ batteries/ charging

Never ending oddness of Batteries, charging and modern vehicle electrics!

A lot of thought lately re the hassles with the main battery and what feels like a conflict of interest with the liesure system!

Tradition is liesure battery tied to main battery via various methods and the myriad of " units" available to do this!

So I've been wondering about isolating the two batteries completely. 

Solar systems etc usually compliment the liesure charging etc. Via electronic systems sending charge to liesure battery via the main battery! 

However, modern vehicles with regenerative braking, smart alternators etc seem to conflict

I stated I recently upgraded my Sterling unit to one that looks after the liesure battery with solar panel backup, Inc regen brakes etc.

However, I'm really not convinced that it works with regen etc. My main battery still seems to loose volts over a few days even plugged into a portable 5 v solar panel sat on dash! 

So hours of homework and trawling the internet. I feel the need to to seperate main and liesure batteries completely.

The portable solar panel will then only need to supply main battery. 

I have 160amp  solar panel on roof and a 100 amp spare that I've not used. 

If the main battery only has the vehicle to deal with it should keep its charge better. OEM battery was 60 amp worked fine replaced with 80 amp within 3-4 days looses upto 1-4 v never levels at 12.5 which it need to do. 

As I've quick release clamps on the liesure battery I've tried disconnecting it which diesake a difference.

Over the weekend the main battery can drop from 12.6-7to 11.3 ! 

In a few months I will be retiring so the van won't get used for long periods! 

So:

Homework done I will be disconnecting the liesure from the main battery! Using the 5v solar charger directly connected to main battery to see if this makes any difference. 

Then remove the sterling unit. The 12v internal electrics are all thru the liesure battery anyway. I've mains hookup as well. 

Reconnect the liesure to the mppt ( I kept mine when I installed the sterling.) Must have known 😂

Try it out to make sure it does the job for both the main and liesure batteries.

Then purchase a more useful mppt unit.

Current looking at 

EPEVER MPPT 30A Solar Charge Controller Regulator 12v 24v Auto with LCD display Solar Charge Regulator Mppt 100V PV Negative Grounded Solar Controllervaround £70 for the kit.

It has some good write ups and has the capacity for me to add another solar panel if I want to.

Job 1

Disconnect liesure from main battery! 

See if the discharge alters!