Electrickery for camping

[dilligafrican]

Nice, makes them reusable.

indeed. You hook up the two little wires to yours and then it has a little LED which lights up to show there is power.

very neat.

[Paul Dold]

Web link please!

No more crimping.

Saw these in the web. Ozzie company makes them.

will be ordering.

[dilligafrican]

Web link please!

whoops … sorry. Thought I did paste it.

https://www.kickassproducts.com.au/B...tions/TVUSCHEU

[KrokODell]

Hi folks

Had an interesting 5 day camping trip with a poorly working electrical system.

Hcdp mk4 power panel, two AtlasBX batteries, 180W solar panels. Batteries were ‘fully charged’ for a few days prior to the trip with AC. No charging during the trip to camping site. Evening noticed the fridge was off and voltage reading on the power panel low. No other 12V items working either. Next morning once the sun was up, and the PV panels were doing their thing, the fridge could run again. Once panels were oit of sun, the battery voltage drops quickly and fridge stops working.

This ended up being the story for the next three nights as well. Luckily managed to keep the fridge cool through the night by using frozen items from the fridge in my bakkie.

How do I determine the cause of the problem? Faulty power panel not charging the batteries as it should or faulty batteries? I suspect the batteries are the issue.

Thanks
Jacques

[JLK]

This ended up being the story for the next three nights as well. Luckily managed to keep the fridge cool through the night by using frozen items from the fridge in my bakkie.

How do I determine the cause of the problem? Faulty power panel not charging the batteries as it should or faulty batteries? I suspect the batteries are the issue.

Thanks
Jacques

Meaning the HCDP panel is not charging from the alternator?, then it quit possible a poor connection somewhere?

[hbannink]

Losing power that fast I would go for batteries. With 2 batteries you should have power for at least 2 - 3 days, I have seen dead cell batteries come up to 12.6 and stay there for a few days only to drop like a stone with a light load on them

[KrokODell]

Yes I also think batteries. Is the best option for testing them to take them to a battery shop tobe tested?

[KrokODell]

Meaning the HCDP panel is not charging from the alternator?, then it quit possible a poor connection somewhere?

No, sorry, the Hcdp is in the trailer, not connected to the bakkie.

[KrokODell]

Another question, how long can the cable be between the PV panels and Hcdp panel? I know voltage drop and thus cable size is important between the batteries and the load.

[hbannink]

Another question, how long can the cable be between the PV panels and Hcdp panel? I know voltage drop and thus cable size is important between the batteries and the load.

On a 6mm cable I do not like to go more than 5m, at a push 10m. Your panel has a 18V open circuit output so it will not give the full charge if it loses voltage but it will still charge.

Take them to a battery place and ask them to do a capacity test. There are some great testers available that can tell you exactly what you have

[Fluffy]

Batteries - if not an actual electrical fault - HCDP, loose connectors etc

Do a controlled test now that you are at home and report back.

[KrokODell]

Fluffy, what would a controlled test be?

I assume - charge fully with AC, once full, switch on fridge and see how long the batteries last?

I did check voltages last night. Voltage on terminals (with voltmeter) correlate to that of the power panel. When turning on the AC charge, the voltage does go up to >14V and the fridge is able to run. When I unplug it, the fridge turns off. Batteries are now charging. Will report back. Thanks

[KrokODell]

On a 6mm cable I do not like to go more than 5m, at a push 10m. Your panel has a 18V open circuit output so it will not give the full charge if it loses voltage but it will still charge.

Take them to a battery place and ask them to do a capacity test. There are some great testers available that can tell you exactly what you have

Thanks Henk

I think I have around 5-6m cable. I want to make another section of similar length. Attach them to each other with the BH blocks. Just in those odd situations where you cannot get to decent sun with a shorter cable.

[KrokODell]

Fluffy, what would a controlled test be?

I assume - charge fully with AC, once full, switch on fridge and see how long the batteries last?

I did check voltages last night. Voltage on terminals (with voltmeter) correlate to that of the power panel. When turning on the AC charge, the voltage does go up to >14V and the fridge is able to run. When I unplug it, the fridge turns off. Batteries are now charging. Will report back. Thanks

Not looking great...

After 24 hours of charging (with AC) the voltage on power panel was 13.83V. Confirmed this with voltmeter on batteries - 13.9V.

After swimming switching the AC charger off, the voltage drops down to under 12V within 10minutes, despite no load running (0.02A draw, assume this is the panel itself).

Not able to switch on the fridge or even the LED lights when AC charge is off. When om, the fridge appears to run as normal.

Next move... Will remove the batteries and test them individually. Will also try revive them with my National Charger. Will also see if the system runs normally with a different (functional) battery.

[Alberto]

i don't know if this has been mention before

this is my 2nd set BH plugs, the plugs is away from the sun in my camper , but they disintergrate as if the plugs nowadays are plastic crap , it is not the only the blue one's, the grey and red's fail overtime ,busy to rewireing mine so that there is min. plugs ,but on my solar i have to use the blue one's,,any advice please .

[Paul Dold]

Where to buy quality plugs?

[hatjohan]

https://poole.co.za/

[hbannink]

Not looking great...

After 24 hours of charging (with AC) the voltage on power panel was 13.83V. Confirmed this with voltmeter on batteries - 13.9V.

After swimming switching the AC charger off, the voltage drops down to under 12V within 10minutes, despite no load running (0.02A draw, assume this is the panel itself).

Not able to switch on the fridge or even the LED lights when AC charge is off. When om, the fridge appears to run as normal.

Next move... Will remove the batteries and test them individually. Will also try revive them with my National Charger. Will also see if the system runs normally with a different (functional) battery.

Sadly at least one if notboth of your batteries have lost a cell or two. Fully charged just from the charger is 13+ V but that drops to full charge float after a while of 12,65v. Without load that should remain in that area but dropping below 12V shows a dead cell or...

[Viertrek]

i don't know if this has been mention before

this is my 2nd set BH plugs, the plugs is away from the sun in my camper , but they disintergrate as if the plugs nowadays are plastic crap , it is not the only the blue one's, the grey and red's fail overtime ,busy to rewireing mine so that there is min. plugs ,but on my solar i have to use the blue one's,,any advice please .

This is worrying. How old are these broken connectors?

This is the first time I see this happening.

I am using a set of Lumino brand connectors for a year now and just bought another pair of brand new Lichen brand connectors at 4x4 Ditect in Vredenburg last week.

The Lumino ones is used at the back of my solar panel and to connect to a National Luna brand connector in the engine bay. No problems so far, but you got me worried now.

Had the National Luna brand for a few years now with no problems at all.

[KrokODell]

Sadly at least one if notboth of your batteries have lost a cell or two. Fully charged just from the charger is 13+ V but that drops to full charge float after a while of 12,65v. Without load that should remain in that area but dropping below 12V shows a dead cell or...

Yes Henk, both are kaput. Cannot even revive them with a decent charge. I tested the system with another battery and it all works. Now to replace both batteries. Eina.