Hi vince.
Just a thought, depending on your battery charger type, if the battery in the breakaway system is too low, the charger will not be able to detect it.
Drop a multimeter across the two posts on the front and compare voltage to the specs on the battery charger.
Im presuming the charger is working?
If this is the case you may have to up the voltage in the system by connecting car or linking house battery temporarily.
Hope this helps.
Kezngaz.
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Commitment shows. Quality is what is done when no one is looking.
I've experienced similar problem. The battery box actually contains a charging module, so I only needed to connect a 12v wire to the terminals and the problem was overcome. The 12v was available at the lighter socket nearby (Jayco van has a few of them).
I was also advised by someone who should know, that the terminals on the front of the box will not reflect the real state of charge of the battery because of that inbuilt charging module. I've never tested it so I can't confirm or disagree.
Worst case scenario is wiring to the terminals and leaving the unit connected to the house battery as you travel. Certainly will exceed the 15min legal requirement.
I carry 2 battery chargers for this problem.....my normal 3 stage 10,000mA charger won't 'recognize" the low charge in my Break Away System battery and will not charge......I simply carry
another 'conventional' small 12 V charger, and keep it next to the Break Away battery...it recognizes/charges the battery immediately and all is good again.....I use my multiple stage charger for my deep cycle battery's....it charges and then maintains the float and can be left on indefinitely.....the 'conventional' 12V charger is designed to charge and then be removed
immediately......works for me...Hoo Roo
-- Edited by Goldfinger on Tuesday 20th of June 2017 10:07:56 AM
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I just remove the motorcycle type battery from the unit & charge it on the bench in the week before going on a trip. While touring it is kept topped up by the vehicle.
I have never tried to charge it via the terminals. Perhaps I should. I suspect that I tried it that way many years ago but was unsuccessful. Can't remember.
Same here Macka. Mines wired to the house battery through the low voltage battery protector. Although they all stay charged from the solar when parked up at home.
Kezngaz.
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Commitment shows. Quality is what is done when no one is looking.
The more I've learned about our new van, the more I'm realising that the best investment was the roof mounted solar (1x120w panel). When we're home the van is parked in storage (outdoors) so no opportunity for connecting to 240v. I'm relying on the solar to keep main battery and breakaway charged. According to the meters, both are always charging when I check. The main battery shows about 14.5v average and the breakaway always has the amber charging light on.
Sorry to digress slightly from the OP, but I'd be interested to know if it's wise to disconnect the breakaway to avoid extra drain on the solar when in storage and then charge up before travelling, or should the 120w solar be enough to keep them up as I've been thinking?
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Cheers,
Tony
"Opinion is the medium between ignorance and knowledge" - Plato
