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Topic: In line charger/ battery problem

Rainbowsend

via mobile 18/4/2019 at 9:24am
Location: Staffs Cheshire bord
Outfit: None Entered

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While on site the charger fridge switch tripped on the consumer unit. It also tripped the mains bollard. When everything has been turned back on all has been fine but the battery voltage seems to be very slowly falling. The battery is 5 years old but has been constantly topped up by a fixed solar panel. Any suggestions please?

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Jean

Sometimes a little rain must fall before you reach a rainbow.

The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won't wait while you finish the work.

Pickled Onion

18/4/2019 at 10:15am
Location: Near Alton Towers
Outfit: Bailey Burgundy S7 H

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You don't say whether you are on hook-up or solely reliant on solar power. If the former I'd be looking to see if the internal battery charger has blown a fuse or working at all.

Dave.

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Teach a man to fish and you can get rid of him for a whole weekend.

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tango55

18/4/2019 at 1:38pm
Location: Lichfield
Outfit: Coachman Amara 450

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If the fridge is functioning as normal again I would also say that the fault is within the charger/transformer which is why it tripped at the MCB as both are on the same protection circuit. The way to confirm this is to disconnect and remove the battery then connect up a voltmeter to the +/- battery terminals inside the battery box and see what the reading is. This will confirm how much charge is being distributed from the charger which if on electric hook up should be around 13.8 to 14 volts.
If the fridge is not working then it could be an underlying fault with the MCB itself which happened to me exactly a year ago when on site in north Devon but because I have some DIY skills and basic electrical knowledge I purchased a new one at £26 and managed to conduct the work myself saving the cost of a £40 call out for a service engineer to attend.

Colin21

18/4/2019 at 2:39pm
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail

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Definitely sounds like a charger problem to me. I would think it has burnt out and needs replacing. If the battery voltage is falling it can't be charging, as even a knackered battery will maintain its voltage when it is on charge.

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Best Regards,
Colin

Rainbowsend

via mobile 18/4/2019 at 5:37pm
Location: Staffs Cheshire bord
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You've confirmed our thoughts that it's the charger. We've checked all in-line fuses too. Now, we've covered the 40 watt solar panel and put it on charge just to check that it's the charger.

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Jean

Sometimes a little rain must fall before you reach a rainbow.

The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won't wait while you finish the work.

Rainbowsend

via mobile 18/4/2019 at 7:26pm
Location: Staffs Cheshire bord
Outfit: None Entered

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Yes, definitely the charger. Thanks for your help.

-------------
Jean

Sometimes a little rain must fall before you reach a rainbow.

The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won't wait while you finish the work.

Pickled Onion

18/4/2019 at 10:52pm
Location: Near Alton Towers
Outfit: Bailey Burgundy S7 H

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Glad you found the culprit Jean. A replacement battery charger is available as a sub-unit or you now have the option of fitting a modern smart charger instead. It would have to be one that reset to start charging in the correct mode on switch-on, this would be an option I'd condidder if it was me.

Dave.

-------------
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day,
Teach a man to fish and you can get rid of him for a whole weekend.

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