Battery charging when MH in storage

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

The best thing to do is to measure the voltages of both batteries with the electronics turned off and no EHU. Do it on a sunny day to guarantee an output from your solar panel. You should see in excess of 12.8 volts across the leisure battery if the solar panel is doing its job. Auto trail never used to make any provision to charge the vehicle battery, just leaving it to the alternator to do the job. Bad news unless you are using the motorhome regularly. If you are confident the leisure battery is fully charged have a look at the voltage across the vehicle battery. If it is not in excess of 12.8 volts it is unlikely it is charging from the solar panel. You can buy a relatively cheap  device to ensure the solar panel charges both batteries. Check out >Battery Master<

peedee

Peedee and DD are both spot on. 

The extent to which your Leisure Battery and Vehicle battery will be adequately maintained by your solar panel will depend on a number of factors such as :-

 

a) Size of solar panel(s)

b) Location and of year (essentially how much sun)

c) The setup of the solar charge controller and its relationship with the "main" electric panel.

d) The size of the Leisure battery

e) The ambient (background) draw from the batteries e.g. from an alarm system. 

Some systems will feed or can be set to feed part of the output from the solar to the vehicle battery and/or can be adapted to do so by devices such as the Batterymaster which allow the Leisure battery to pass charging current to the Vehicle battery. 

With two panels and a sophisticated charge controller both batteries in my van survived a long period of inattention (due to Covid lockdown access restrictions)  but a smaller solar and/or different setup may not be enough so there is an element of trial and error (see Peedee above). A multi-meter can be purchased for around £10 (probably £20 now !!) .

If you are finding that you can't maintain your batteries  with your present setup there are some very good specialists around. A general or even franchised dealer probably won't have the necessary expertise. I am probably not allowed to make recommendations here but a company in Taunton and another near Telford are both very good in my direct experience. The former company actually designed the Batterymaster around 20 years ago. 

 

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

OK if names are OK

I haven't used Roadpro but I have used Dave Newell VS since 2006. 

Van Bitz didn't  fit a Batterymaster to my 2012 Fifer because when asked to do so they worked out that it was unnecessary due to other existing arrangements in the setup. They did fit an alarm though and also to my current van and they were superb and yes I did get a Fun discount. 

in 2018 Dave Newell (Telford) fitted a substitute Votronic MPPT Dual Solar Charge controller and the vehicle builder later added a Votronic  a power monitor  to display the solar output etc. It was that setup which "saved" us during the Covid lockdown.

I haven't dealt with Roadpro or its ebullient boss but I think they did supply the Charge Controller to Dave. 

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

RoadPro is another excellent company, they are based in Daventry. It isn't that difficult to fit a Battery Master yourself. All that is required is a very elementary knowledge of electricity wiring. I fitted one in my first motorhome, an AutoTrail, but left it to Van Bitz to do when I had one of their alarm systems fitted in my current motorhome. I agree with DD about Cornish Farm, many have availed themselves of the facility including me.

peedee

Sorry DD I don't understand your reference to BVM. Also not sure if I can PM on on CT.

Thats enough acronyms for one day I think 

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

Really appreciate the knowledge here but have to ask another dumb question, how would i know if the previous owner fitted a 'Battery Master'?

Is it something easy to spot or is it a case of monitoring the engine battery volts are 12.8 or above when not plugged to EHU?

Thanks again.