Hi, well I sorted the Fiat side of my Motor Home! had a great drive this weekend FC to check the Gearbox and all going well! But now can I ask for some Jayco advise before some battery place sees me coming!!! Haha must be my sweet, old lady look!!!I have a Jayco Conquest 2015 so pretty new tech! Two house batteries under the bed Ive never looked or understood! My panel shows only 12.5volts that's in the morning from the two solar panels on the roof! Says I still have 40hrs time remaining. I havent been plugged into 240 power for the last 4days and seeing my lights flicker when I put the pump on! I wondered is that norm?? I dont have everything going not even the 12volt TV! Fridge is gas. Like my radio and charge my iPad/phone. So just wondering are my batteries the next problem? And how can I check? Surely deep cycle batteries should last longer than 3years???? Any advise please, appreciated!
Yes the start up current from pump is pulling some power away . Also maybe a sign of light gauge wiring ?? When voltage builds back in battieies it should be fine . ?? Great news your up and going . Btw is the engines alternator connected to house batteries ? A short drive may charge ??
gerlin said
01:36 PM Mar 20, 2018
Had similar problems ..do not buy anything YET. Read the drifter manual (at least twice) ,make sure all settings are correct . Then fully charge and flatten batteries as per manual and you will notice a difference . Consider (if not done) a decent battery charger to recon your batteries . The manual can be downloaded and Setec are very helpful over the phone. Please keep us updated regards Gerry
hako said
04:35 PM Mar 20, 2018
gerlin wrote:
Had similar problems ..do not buy anything YET. Read the drifter manual (at least twice) ,make sure all settings are correct . Then fully charge and flatten batteries as per manual and you will notice a difference . Consider (if not done) a decent battery charger to recon your batteries . The manual can be downloaded and Setec are very helpful over the phone. Please keep us updated regards Gerry
I've always been under the impression you must never allow a deep charge battery or any lead acid battery to go flat?? From the web below:
Never flatten your battery, and ideally don't regularly take out more than 60% or so.
If you do flatten or over-discharge a deep cycle battery then charge it back up ASAP
Regards
gerlin said
06:19 PM Mar 20, 2018
Sorry figure of speech ,
new version . Discharge batteries AS PER DRIFTER MANUAL
sorry for confusion.
regards Gerry
Grubbygypsy said
09:27 PM Mar 20, 2018
Hi gypsylynda
Depending on the size and type of your batteries and solar, 4 days is beginning to get down from the batteries having a 'proper' charge (ie 14.4v on 240v - solar only puts in 13 something - also dependant on battery type) for me. Pumps are a big draw.
When free camping, I never run my pumps for any length of time (ie shower) until after say 10am (good hour of sun on the panels, because also a general rule If the panels are flat on the roof you won't get any real charge until 9am). By about 4/5 days, I start losing .1 of a volt every day, doesn't matter how much sun I get....this is because via solar you will never put enough charge in them (if deep cycle-cos they need the 14.4v). Mine will chuck a sad and go to bulk if I use too much without the sun backup. I'm also a big consumer of my power overnight, so I'm always careful of my 'start up' in the morning.
Hope that helps.
GypsyLynda said
09:10 AM Mar 21, 2018
Thank you Grubbygypsy! Interesting name! Yeah Im reading the manual NOW! and Ill get to a 240 charge and see!
GypsyLynda said
09:20 AM Mar 21, 2018
Hi Aus-Kiwi! Thank you again to the rescue of a damsel in distress!! Haha! As I said to Grubbygypsy I'm Reading the manual now and understanding better! Ill book into a VP and get a good 240 charge and see if that looks better on the gauge!
Yeah so good the be back on the road. That city luxury livin can really alter your prioritie!! Not good for the soul that surburbia lifestyle! Lesson learnt this is where I want to be!
GypsyLynda said
09:22 AM Mar 21, 2018
Thank you Hako! Yeah I dont want to flatten batteries! I heard they never come back up to good!
PeterD said
05:31 PM Mar 21, 2018
Lynda, What model battery charger/power supply do you have? Is it a Setec III? If it is a Setec it may take a few days to recharge.
CampOvenCook said
06:50 PM Mar 24, 2018
Jayco for some reason unknown to man and the gods put a fuse between the two batteries. It is a ceramic fuse and bolts onto the battery terminal.
It has a 99.9% chance of breaking due to being overtightened. Has happened to me and a number of other people I know.
If it happens you will be only using one of the batteries.
Check to see if that fuse is ok.
GypsyLynda said
01:22 PM Mar 25, 2018
Hey everyone! Thank you for advise! Well Two nights with power and now back to 13.8amps on the road now and no sun today! Heading south West WA! Life is good on the road again!!!!
GypsyLynda said
01:23 PM Mar 25, 2018
Ok Camp Oven Cook, I will check that connection but think all going good now! If it aint broke dont fix it ! Thats my womanly advise!! haha!!!!
Tony Bev said
02:37 PM Mar 25, 2018
Hello GypsyLinda
Snip from your previous post Heading south West WA! Life is good on the road again!!!!
My wife and I, (only recently returned home from a trip to the east), live in Bunbury
I am not an electrician, but I do have a multimeter
I could check to see if there are any obviously loose connections on the 12 volt side of your solar/battery system
If you think I can help out, then please PM me for our address/phone number
I shall sadly be out of town on Wednesday 28 March, for the day, to attend a funeral near Perth
Hi, well I sorted the Fiat side of my Motor Home! had a great drive this weekend FC to check the Gearbox and all going well! But now can I ask for some Jayco advise before some battery place sees me coming!!! Haha must be my sweet, old lady look!!!I have a Jayco Conquest 2015 so pretty new tech! Two house batteries under the bed Ive never looked or understood! My panel shows only 12.5volts that's in the morning from the two solar panels on the roof! Says I still have 40hrs time remaining. I havent been plugged into 240 power for the last 4days and seeing my lights flicker when I put the pump on! I wondered is that norm?? I dont have everything going not even the 12volt TV! Fridge is gas. Like my radio and charge my iPad/phone. So just wondering are my batteries the next problem? And how can I check? Surely deep cycle batteries should last longer than 3years???? Any advise please, appreciated!
Gypsy Lynda.
Had similar problems ..do not buy anything YET. Read the drifter manual (at least twice) ,make sure all settings are correct . Then fully charge and flatten batteries as per manual and you will notice a difference . Consider (if not done) a decent battery charger to recon your batteries . The manual can be downloaded and Setec are very helpful over the phone. Please keep us updated regards Gerry
I've always been under the impression you must never allow a deep charge battery or any lead acid battery to go flat?? From the web below:
Regards
Sorry figure of speech ,
new version . Discharge batteries AS PER DRIFTER MANUAL
sorry for confusion.
regards Gerry
Depending on the size and type of your batteries and solar, 4 days is beginning to get down from the batteries having a 'proper' charge (ie 14.4v on 240v - solar only puts in 13 something - also dependant on battery type) for me. Pumps are a big draw.
When free camping, I never run my pumps for any length of time (ie shower) until after say 10am (good hour of sun on the panels, because also a general rule If the panels are flat on the roof you won't get any real charge until 9am). By about 4/5 days, I start losing .1 of a volt every day, doesn't matter how much sun I get....this is because via solar you will never put enough charge in them (if deep cycle-cos they need the 14.4v). Mine will chuck a sad and go to bulk if I use too much without the sun backup. I'm also a big consumer of my power overnight, so I'm always careful of my 'start up' in the morning.
Hope that helps.
Thank you Grubbygypsy! Interesting name! Yeah Im reading the manual NOW! and Ill get to a 240 charge and see!
Hi Aus-Kiwi! Thank you again to the rescue of a damsel in distress!! Haha! As I said to Grubbygypsy I'm Reading the manual now and understanding better! Ill book into a VP and get a good 240 charge and see if that looks better on the gauge!
Yeah so good the be back on the road. That city luxury livin can really alter your prioritie!! Not good for the soul that surburbia lifestyle! Lesson learnt this is where I want to be!
Thank you Hako! Yeah I dont want to flatten batteries! I heard they never come back up to good!
Jayco for some reason unknown to man and the gods put a fuse between the two batteries. It is a ceramic fuse and bolts onto the battery terminal.
It has a 99.9% chance of breaking due to being overtightened. Has happened to me and a number of other people I know.
If it happens you will be only using one of the batteries.
Check to see if that fuse is ok.
Hello GypsyLinda
Snip from your previous post
My wife and I, (only recently returned home from a trip to the east), live in Bunbury
I am not an electrician, but I do have a multimeter
I could check to see if there are any obviously loose connections on the 12 volt side of your solar/battery system
If you think I can help out, then please PM me for our address/phone number
I shall sadly be out of town on Wednesday 28 March, for the day, to attend a funeral near Perth
Received your PM, and have just replied