Battery problem or not?

Battery problem or not?

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Brownbetty · Jul 16, 2023

Hi All. Having a problem with battery power resulting in my fridge switching off. I have a solar panel and two varta leisure batteries that are 3 yrs old if that. Both batteries tested okay. After just one night with the TV on for a couple of hour the fridge switched off. At a loss what the problem is. TIA. Wendy

flying banana · Jul 16, 2023

what battery percentage and voltage does the display show ? 11.7V is flat. 12.7V is full.

Brownbetty · Jul 16, 2023

We phoned Tanya batteries. The guy said to take each battery out and put in charge. Husband has took first one out .it's reading fully charged.about to get the back one out now . Both were bought together and are still in warranty . We are thinking could it be a connection between them that is the problem.

dspuk · Jul 16, 2023

I believe the fridge switches off (and the heating refuses to work) when the batteries drop to a certain level. This is to protect them and any remaining voltage left in them. Not sure how a T5 works but if they are dropping that far it could be that they are not fully charged or your TV draws too much passive power.

Brownbetty · Jul 16, 2023

dspuk said:
I believe the fridge switches off (and the heating refuses to work) when the batteries drop to a certain level. This is to protect them and any remaining voltage left in them. Not sure how a T5 works but if they are dropping that far it could be that they are not fully charged or your TV draws too much passive power.

We are at a loss as to where the problem lies . Both batteries been tested at local garage ,they are fully charged now on charge here at home. The solar panel has been checked via phone messages from Roger Donahue. We only had a night away ,no heating or lights needed ,just husband watched some tennis ,and then the next morning once again the fridge was off. We are due to go away for a week off grid and would love to get this sorted but just can't find the problem

Brownbetty · Jul 16, 2023

We are at a loss as to where the problem lies . Both batteries been tested at local garage ,they are fully charged now on charge here at home. The solar panel has been checked via phone messages from Roger Donahue. We only had a night away ,no heating or lights needed ,just husband watched some tennis ,and then the next morning once again the fridge was off. We are due to go away for a week off grid and would love to get this sorted but just can't find the problem

flying banana · Jul 16, 2023

Again. Can I ask what your control panel says? I have solar. My experience is the voltage remains high but the control panel says 20% . That's because the calculations don't take into account thhe current going in. An engine start up usually sorts this. BUT. I also notice my batteries seemed to last longer without the solar panel. Controversial? I just don't know. Anyone else noticed this?

WelshGas · Jul 17, 2023

Brownbetty said:
We are at a loss as to where the problem lies . Both batteries been tested at local garage ,they are fully charged now on charge here at home. The solar panel has been checked via phone messages from Roger Donahue. We only had a night away ,no heating or lights needed ,just husband watched some tennis ,and then the next morning once again the fridge was off. We are due to go away for a week off grid and would love to get this sorted but just can't find the problem

Until you can tell us what the Control Panel voltage is/was after the fridge stopped working we will not be able to go any further in helping you.
It could be the fridge at fault or the batteries.

Brownbetty · Jul 17, 2023

WelshGas said:
Until you can tell us what the Control Panel voltage is/was after the fridge stopped working we will not be able to go any further in helping you.
It could be the fridge at fault or the batteries.

Hi W/G, I can't believe I'm having troubles with the electrics!
The batteries were taken off last night put on a charger both reading four bars fully charged took them off left them off till next day & put back on both flashing three bars for a minute or two then back to four settling at 13.5v.
After a day with fridge on number 4 setting & TV on for 3hrs the control panel reads 12.5 & on the morning it's off, but the sun in the morning puts it back up to 13.3 & I can turn it back on & works till the night again, is there any fuse in-between the batteries I don't know of?
The solar works, the cube fuse is ok I just don't know what to do!
Any help well appreciated

Steve1 · Jul 17, 2023

Brownbetty said:
Hi W/G, I can't believe I'm having troubles with the electrics!
The batteries were taken off last night put on a charger both reading four bars fully charged took them off left them off till next day & put back on both flashing three bars for a minute or two then back to four settling at 13.5v.
After a day with fridge on number 4 setting & TV on for 3hrs the control panel reads 12.5 & on the morning it's off, but the sun in the morning puts it back up to 13.3 & I can turn it back on & works till the night again, is there any fuse in-between the batteries I don't know of?
The solar works, the cube fuse is ok I just don't know what to do!
Any help well appreciated

I don't completely understand, what you are getting at, but what I can say is that 12.5 is a good almost full (80%) level so sounds good.

Brownbetty · Jul 17, 2023

Steve1 said:
I don't completely understand, what you are getting at, but what I can say is that 12.5 is a good almost full (80%) level so sounds good.

Yeah I know everything looks ok that's the problem, why does it keep losing power and knocking the fridge off on the night then in the morning with the sun charging it up I can restart the fridge!

Steve1 · Jul 17, 2023

Brownbetty said:
Yeah I know everything looks ok that's the problem, why does it keep losing power and knocking the fridge off on the night then in the morning with the sun charging it up I can restart the fridge!

When was the 12.5 read early morning before sun up or last thing at night after dark ?

Brownbetty · Jul 17, 2023

Steve1 said:
When was the 12.5 read early morning before sun up or last thing at night after dark ?

Last thing at night.

Steve1 · Jul 17, 2023

Brownbetty said:
Last thing at night.

So obviously at that voltage it should last the night, but it would be worth trying to have a look early morning before the solar charges to see what voltage it's down to. If it's above 12.0 then it sounds like a problem with the fridge not the battery

Brownbetty · Jul 17, 2023

Steve1 said:
So obviously at that voltage it should last the night, but it would be worth trying to have a look early morning before the solar charges to see what voltage it's down to. If it's above 12.0 then it sounds like a problem with the fridge not the battery

The fridge works great all day, what about when I want lights on & TV ect, everything should work for at least three days off grid, the batteries are only 2.5 yrs old plus a solar panel!!

Kingfisher · Jul 17, 2023

I don’t really see why the batteries should be the culprit here. Your problem is “fridge turning off”. Search the forum for that and you’ll find a few threads. One thing to try is resetting the control panel.

yossarian · Jul 17, 2023

Suggestion: keep a log tonight. Something like this:

Voltage and amps are available from the control panel.

yossarian · Jul 17, 2023

flying banana · Jul 17, 2023

Get rid of the TV. Problem solved and no sh1t to look at. I refuse to watch TV when away and won't have one. Music only

Brownbetty · Jul 17, 2023

yossarian said:
Suggestion: keep a log tonight. Something like this:

Voltage and amps are available from the control panel.

Will do

Brownbetty · Jul 17, 2023

flying banana said:
Get rid of the TV. Problem solved and no sh1t to look at. I refuse to watch TV when away and won't have one. Music only

You're probably not a tennis fan, the TV is not the issue, these things should work.

flying banana · Jul 17, 2023

Brownbetty said:
You're probably not a tennis fan, the TV is not the issue, these things should work.

You sussed me

Roger Boeken · Jul 18, 2023

We need more history information: did everything work fine before solar installation?
did problems start after installing TV ? Give us some timeline what came when and when trouble Started.
how much power is TV using (amps or wattage ) ?
does fridge keep running after one night not watching TV?

Perfectos · Jul 18, 2023

Assuming the TV is your problem (noted you say it is not).

Is the TV 12v or are you using the inverter ?

what is the Volts / Amps / watts rating of the TV ?

Brownbetty · Jul 18, 2023

Perfectos said:
Assuming the TV is your problem (noted you say it is not).

Is the TV 12v or are you using the inverter ?

what is the Volts / Amps / watts rating of the TV ?

TV is 12v for campervan,
I left the fridge on all night & put the heating on number one setting for 30mins,
This morning everything was ok with control panel reading 13v 90% .
I'm going away for five days off grid on Friday so will get a better idea what's happening & what reading I'm getting if or when the fridge turns off.

Fridge On?