Loss of power while free camping

Nomad2019 · Member

Loss of power while free camping

Whenarewethere · Guru

That's a long piece of string so to speak.

Have you checked components with multimeter?

Possum3 · Guru

Welcome to the Forum, Merrill.

Assuming batteries are holding their charge, you are using too much power - if you are not using anything drawing large quantities power you may have a short somewhere. You will need to advise what you are running off your supply for anyone to ably assist you.

Are We Lost · Guru

A 3 way fridge running on 12v? But even that should not run 2 batteries down in 2 hours. An inverter with a 240v heater? You need to provide more information.

Mariner30 · Senior Member

It's winter?

Your current location may help with more helpful advice.

Ian195 · Member

Hello TTA from Merill. Not that it should matter if they are in good condition, but you did,t say what type of battery (Lithium/SLA etc). If your van has a charge controller you should be able to read battery volts and load currents etc. Does your charge controller have this capability? Are the batteries charging ? Is your van drawing current all the time (how much) Is the fridge three way or Compressor. It might be helpful to get this info.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Being winter you won't get much solar. Type in your smartphone calculator the following:

In this example we have 150 watts of solar panels & the sun is at 25° to the solar panels.

So as long as you have perfectly clean panels you will only get about 63 watts.

A tiny shadow can very easily bring solar panels to their knees. Even a message from a bird!

Aussie1 · Guru

With a Honda generator these issues never exists. Well, as long as they are still legal :):):)

Macka1706 · Member

I had 4 x 85w panels on roof of van. wired in two pairs to Reg. SO If one side out. T;other still giving some.
with 2 more on roof of Patrol to keep dual Battery setup in there floating and topping up van when parked.
Cable/plug, in side of van and on Drawbar to float van batt,s while hauling on road.
They ran complete van. Compressor fridge. lights, fans, TV etc, with room to spare.
Air Cond?. 3.8kva Genny in back of Patrol fixes that.

Oh and we never went South of Gladdy either. ALWAYS lots of sun. T,ween there Darwin, and the West.

You. Get a sparky to check if you don't know enuff. YOU could do more damage than the sparky would cost. Believe me.
and get him to wire in a cable from car charging through a connection on Drawbar to van battery's. as a "helper".

dorian · Guru

You have 300W of solar harvest plus 250Ah battery capacity. If you are draining your batteries in 2 hours, then the current draw must be more than 100A. The solar panels can generate 25A max at 12V, so this would suggest that your current draw is happening at night. If it were happening during daytime, the batteries would never charge.

Of course, this assumes that your batteries are good and that your solar system is charging them appropriately.

-- Edited by dorian on Friday 14th of July 2023 06:53:32 AM

TimTim · Guru

There are a whole list of reasons why you do not have any power but for us to be able to help you will need to provide all the information that is requested otherwise people can only speculate.

TimTim · Guru

From Merrills previous posts seems like this is an ongoing issue.

The more than likely culprit is my 190 ltr compressor fridge and I'll be turning it off overnight to squeeze more power time.

I have 2x125amp deep cell batteries new in June 2021.

Tim

-- Edited by TimTim on Friday 14th of July 2023 09:12:06 AM

Whenarewethere · Guru

TimTim wrote:
There are a whole list of reasons why you do not have any power but for us to be able to help you will need to provide all the information that is requested otherwise people can only speculate.

Agree.

Currently from our perspective the jigsaw pieces aren't even on the table!

It's why I said that's a long piece of string.

If you provide a list of all the components, I believe we can narrow down the issue quite easily. At least in a couple of steps.

Nomad2019 · Member

Thanks everyone, very much appreciated. Yes, an ongoing issue!! I just don't understand why my caravan doesn't work for me. I travel alone. Yes, I have a 190 ltr compressor fridge that draws heaps but there must be someone else out there who has the same as me with the same problem as me. BTW Retreat still sell caravans with that same fridge, I checked!! Maybe that's why I've noticed a lot of Retreat caravans on the road north of the NSW/Qld border and very few locally. I live on the Murray in Victoria. I'm reliably informed that if I get a supplement such as solar blanket or panels that my caravan wiring may disintegrate from over gunning of the solar controller. I have just had installed a Webasto diesel heater that I can't use and believe installation of lithium battery/batteries wouldn't be cost effective. A generator is a great idea but I can't lift the bloody thing!! I'm trialing the problem at the moment eg., fridge off not connected to power. Turning the fridge off overnight and on during the day may surely wear the fridge out, dunno at this stage. When recently away my reading got down to 10.9 and I had nothing for five days, no heater, no pump, no water, absolutely zilch and I wasn't impressed. I have an Anderson plug from my Toyota Landcruiser to the caravan. The Landcruiser is fitted with a dual battery system. My nose is out of joint because others are free camping and feeling sorry for me!! Still, I'm grateful for yous chatting to me. I just wondered if there was someone out there who is just like me!! Kindest regards from Merrill

Dick0 · Guru

Nomad2019 wrote:
Thanks everyone, very much appreciated. Yes, an ongoing issue!! I just don't understand why my caravan doesn't work for me. I travel alone. Yes, I have a 190 ltr compressor fridge that draws heaps but there must be someone else out there who has the same as me with the same problem as me. BTW Retreat still sell caravans with that same fridge, I checked!! Maybe that's why I've noticed a lot of Retreat caravans on the road north of the NSW/Qld border and very few locally. I live on the Murray in Victoria. I'm reliably informed that if I get a supplement such as solar blanket or panels that my caravan wiring may disintegrate from over gunning of the solar controller. I have just had installed a Webasto diesel heater that I can't use and believe installation of lithium battery/batteries wouldn't be cost effective. A generator is a great idea but I can't lift the bloody thing!! I'm trialing the problem at the moment eg., fridge off not connected to power. Turning the fridge off overnight and on during the day may surely wear the fridge out, dunno at this stage. When recently away my reading got down to 10.9 and I had nothing for five days, no heater, no pump, no water, absolutely zilch and I wasn't impressed. I have an Anderson plug from my Toyota Landcruiser to the caravan. The Landcruiser is fitted with a dual battery system. My nose is out of joint because others are free camping and feeling sorry for me!! Still, I'm grateful for yous chatting to me. I just wondered if there was someone out there who is just like me!! Kindest regards from Merrill

Hi Merrill, welcome mate,

If you can take some photos that would be helpful.

Photos of the battery bank, solar controller, fridge and the fridge specs and any other appliances you use plus the inverter if you have one.

You need to provide as much details as possible for us to understand your battery system and battery usage.

Otherwise, check out the local Auto-Elec for assistance.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Which model fridge?

Which solar controler?

& is it next to the batteries?

Do you have a DC-DC charger?

also is it next to the batteries?

You will have a pretty major voltage drop it these are not next to the batteries. Easy to measure with your multimeter while things are running.

Compressor fridges are efficient, people run them on less solar than you have.

Have you cleaned the fridge's fan/s & condenser in the last 12 months. It's frightening how the dust forms a blanket, so the fridge isn't working its bum off.

Turning compressor fridges on & off doesn't do any harm. The back of the fridge being nice & clean with good ventilation so the compressor can dissipate heat will prolong its life.

Possum3 · Guru

What is your general location, A GN may be able to help.

rgren2 · Guru

Could one of the batteries have dropped a cell? Look for battery case swelling or a bad smell.

Whenarewethere · Guru

I have had that on one of the batteries in my 3.0kVA UPS. Also my neighbour's starter battery lost a cell. both cases voltage was within reason, but no guts in the amps.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Jaycar have a DC clamp meter.

I have a Kyoritsu 2046 clamp meter I bought many years ago cost a fortune. Brilliant things. You can measure the amps easily.

https://www.jaycar.com.au/600a-true-rms-ac-dc-clamp-meter/p/QM1632

Tip: If you have very low amps to measure, loop the wire through it say 4 times & then divide reading by 4 for more accurate figure.

Bobdown · Guru

Nomad2019 wrote:
Thanks everyone, very much appreciated. Yes, an ongoing issue!! I just don't understand why my caravan doesn't work for me. I travel alone. Yes, I have a 190 ltr compressor fridge that draws heaps but there must be someone else out there who has the same as me with the same problem as me. BTW Retreat still sell caravans with that same fridge, I checked!! Maybe that's why I've noticed a lot of Retreat caravans on the road north of the NSW/Qld border and very few locally. I live on the Murray in Victoria. I'm reliably informed that if I get a supplement such as solar blanket or panels that my caravan wiring may disintegrate from over gunning of the solar controller. I have just had installed a Webasto diesel heater that I can't use and believe installation of lithium battery/batteries wouldn't be cost effective. A generator is a great idea but I can't lift the bloody thing!! I'm trialing the problem at the moment eg., fridge off not connected to power. Turning the fridge off overnight and on during the day may surely wear the fridge out, dunno at this stage. When recently away my reading got down to 10.9 and I had nothing for five days, no heater, no pump, no water, absolutely zilch and I wasn't impressed. I have an Anderson plug from my Toyota Landcruiser to the caravan. The Landcruiser is fitted with a dual battery system. My nose is out of joint because others are free camping and feeling sorry for me!! Still, I'm grateful for yous chatting to me. I just wondered if there was someone out there who is just like me!! Kindest regards from Merrill

Merrill, the fridge should not be the problem alone. I have a 2017 Retreat 210C, with the same fridge and it uses about 5 amps per hour when running.

It should use 120 amps in 24 hours max with constant running, but with thermostat off and on when it reaches the desired temp, it should maybe run for 14 hours @ 70A total. Compressor fridges are more efficient than 3 way.

Your 2 x 125A batteries should handle that easily with decent solar going in, there must be some other problem, you shouldn't be turning the fridge off and on.

I do have a portable solar panel that plugs in to the Anderson plug on the A frame for extra power on some days, that doesn't disintegrate the wiring either.

If you had a reading of 10.9, surely if you turned everything off, the solar would have charged up back up again and not been without power for 5 days.

A trip back to Retreat for a check up is in order........Cheers Bob

TimTim · Guru

Nomad2019 wrote:
Thanks everyone, very much appreciated. Yes, an ongoing issue!! I just don't understand why my caravan doesn't work for me. I travel alone. Yes, I have a 190 ltr compressor fridge that draws heaps but there must be someone else out there who has the same as me with the same problem as me. BTW Retreat still sell caravans with that same fridge, I checked!! Maybe that's why I've noticed a lot of Retreat caravans on the road north of the NSW/Qld border and very few locally. I live on the Murray in Victoria. I'm reliably informed that if I get a supplement such as solar blanket or panels that my caravan wiring may disintegrate from over gunning of the solar controller. I have just had installed a Webasto diesel heater that I can't use and believe installation of lithium battery/batteries wouldn't be cost effective. A generator is a great idea but I can't lift the bloody thing!! I'm trialing the problem at the moment eg., fridge off not connected to power. Turning the fridge off overnight and on during the day may surely wear the fridge out, dunno at this stage. When recently away my reading got down to 10.9 and I had nothing for five days, no heater, no pump, no water, absolutely zilch and I wasn't impressed. I have an Anderson plug from my Toyota Landcruiser to the caravan. The Landcruiser is fitted with a dual battery system. My nose is out of joint because others are free camping and feeling sorry for me!! Still, I'm grateful for yous chatting to me. I just wondered if there was someone out there who is just like me!! Kindest regards from Merrill

Hi Merrill, at least now we have a little information to work on but we need more and everyone here is happy to help you work out the issue.

Firstly you need to get your batteries recharged as quickly as possible and then test to see if they are holding charge. Do you have a multimeter? Test the voltage of your Anderson plug at the back Landcruiser. You will need to make sure when you are parked that you have no shading on your solar panels. What is the make and model of your solar controller?

You have not been reliably informed in relation to your solar controller as they can be over panelled and they limit the current. The general recommendation is not to over panel greater than 25% but you may also have provision of an Anderson Plug on the drawbar or side of the van to attach a solar controller and solar panel. Solar controllers are limited by volts and that is when you can fry them. In your case you will be well under the voltage limit.

I have just had an issue where one of my calcium batteries was kaput and overheating so preventing the other battery for being fully charged. By taking the faulty one out I was able to get my system working. Im lucky though as I have two battery systems. We need to work through though and work out what is happening with yours.

Good luck

Tim

-- Edited by TimTim on Saturday 15th of July 2023 05:23:01 PM

vince56 · Senior Member

Batteries have a habit of falling off the perch with little notice, I would say they may be history, 5 years old and perhaps have been run down a bit in their lives?

TimTim · Guru

Just had one calcium battery fail after 21 months and hadnt been run down. The other is working fine but will do a capacity test on it when I return home.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

For piece of mind . If solar is supplying enough to say 11 Am to charge ? My guess is the batteries.. make sure they are the same type . May pay to check the regulator setting ? A good DC to DC charger off your tow vehicle for the odd overcast day ? Our generator is fitted in vehicle and 40 -60 amp charger for the odd overcast days . 20min at 60 amps sure keeps batteries charged !!

StewG · Senior Member

I also have suffered loss of power recently in my caravan with solar and 2 x 120Ah AGM deep cycle batteries and 190 litre compressor fridge. The batteries are 5 years old and by not using lighting and other electrical facilities, the fridge kept running ok even down to 11 volts. So I bought 2 x new Full River batteries and checked the old Century Batteries. One Century was as good as dead and the other was still fine. So the near-dead one was always pulling down the good one as they were connected in parallel. I'm told that parallel is not a good way to connect two batteries, but it is common practice by manufacturers of vans for many reasons.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Victron 712 for two batteries (If you have 4 batteries you could do a hierarchy using 3 controllers).

I have 4 x 26AH Gel batteries (simply due to space around the car, would have been cheaper with one 100 AH Gel battery).

It is just something you have to keep a regular eye on & be intuitive when power is down a touch out of the normal.

Also isolation switches or Anderson plugs for each battery, so at least you can test each one separately & or divide the system for redundancy.

The advantage of 4 x 26AH batteries is 1040 amps to jump start or 360 amps for 5 minutes... & they are lighter!

Nomad2019 · Member

Hello Folks,
WOW that's fabulous, thanks again.
BTW "Merrill" is a girl name, I don't have "bloke" input so have to search for knowledge and the more the better!!
I live in Cobram in Victoria. What's a GN?
My technical expertise regarding uploading of photos requires investigation but here follows info I have gathered.

I haven't got an Inverter. I believe they are a pain and anyway they need charging!!

The fridge is a Dometic 190lt Compressor 12 volt fridge Model RPD190 Product No: 9360001572 and I have it set at the 2nd lowest temperature. The fan and condenser were cleaned in February this year. Blue and orange fan lights alternate but the orange light glows more often. The fridge was running at 10.9 but struggling, I couldn't use any other electrical (12v) facilities and the green light on the diesel heater flickered before it died.
I like my fridge!!

The Solar Controller (positioned in overhead cupboard) is PWM Solar Charge Controller CE ViewStar VS3024BN. Manual says it is set to be self-sufficient but I wonder what the readings should be anyway? I'm told it has a 330v maximum and if I attach a solar panel/blanket this maximum will be exceeded.
Perhaps I can access supplementary power on dull days by plugging a solar panel/blanket with additional solar controller, to what is already installed in the caravan, into the Anderson plug on the van (that plugs into the vehicle) when unhitched.

I don't use the TV or washing machine and I don't have a multimeter (bloke stuff) but will find someone who does.

The Webasto diesel heater, fitted in January 2023, is Air Top 2000 STC.

Wire in a cable from the vehicle charging through a connection on the drawbar to the van's batteries? The vehicle has a dual battery system with deep cycle batteries and there is already an Anderson plug fitting on the vehicle connecting to the one on the caravan when hitched up.
Does it make a difference if the "power" plug on the vehicle (and van) is only 7 pin and not 12?

The caravan is fitted with a 25amp charger and the monitor is in the same overhead cupboard as the solar controller. "The monitor enables alteration of charge rate as well as viewing the current voltage in the batteries". Perhaps I could play with this although am warned against doing so.

So that's me off for a glass of Chardy, or two!!

Thanks again and kind regards from Merrill

P.S. Retreat after sales service is non-existent.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Nomad2019 wrote:

I don't use the TV or washing machine and I don't have a multimeter (bloke stuff) but will find someone who does.

They are simpler than a washing machine, that's why we leave that to others!

TimTim · Guru

Hi Merril ,

A GN is a Grey Nomad so someone was hoping that there was possibly someone near you that could help.

300W of solar flat on a roof in Murray River region in winter will be lucky to get a 1/4 of of the output for a few hours each day and probably even less if you have trees shading. There is every possibility that your batteries have suffered already as they should be charged up every day.

Just so that you know, an inverter does not need charging but the batteries from which they draw their power do.

Ok your fridge. Here is the manual in case you dont have it. https://www.dometic.com/assets/87/21/rpd190-218--io-au-04_48721.pdf

It states that your fridge consumption is 3.1A so over 24 hours that is 74.4Ah you will have used from your 125Ah of usable power but you then have to replace that power you have used. So with your panels flat on the roof you will probably be lucky to put back in maybe 24Ah. These are just rough estimates but hopefully it will give you an idea at what Im getting at.

Your solar controller is an EPEver, a brand which Im familiar with. It is a 30A controller but as I said previously it just limited the output if you produce more.

https://www.epever.com/upload/file/1812/EPEVER-Datasheet-VS-BN.pd

Ignore what you were told about the maximum because as I said previously the output is limited by the controller if you produce more power. Your panels on the roof even at maximum output would not produce anywhere near what your controller can handle. In any case you could add a seperate portable panel with a seperate solar controller quite possibly to the the grey Anderson plug on the drawbar. If you had a 200W portable solar panel then expect to get about 80% of the stated output for say 5 hours a day. Dont bother with a solar blanket as we are currently travelling with a friend that has suddenly realised how useless they can be compared to my portable panel plus I have tested a few and have a low opinion of them.

My apologies as my post is a little rushed but hopefully it will help.

Tim