Does my leisure need replacing?

[Campervanningwithkid]

We are staying off grid with a solar panel, this is day 4, the fridge keeps turning itself off via the control panel, and last night the heater wouldn’t stay on either.
The solar panel looks to be like it’s working, but I’m wondering if the battery needs replacing. I’ve attached the control panel as it stands now - fridge had gone off again - 2 phones charging and the solar info from my app.
I profess to not knowing anything about it really, but I thought the solar would keep us going so I assume the battery needs replacing?
Thanks for any help

 

[AlanC]

The first question is do you have a Cali or a Beach?
The Cali has two leisure batteries while the Beach only has one.

A Cali will last for about 3-4 days on its leisure batteries if they are in good condition and fully charged, and you are careful what current you draw from them. With a solar panel, they should last much longer.

It doesn't look to me that the solar panel is charging anything.
The control panel says the battery is at 11.09 volts which means the battery/s are flat and you are still drawing 3.2 amps of current from them. Drawing any current when a battery is flat will damage it.

I suggest you disconnect your phones, turn off the fridge, and keep the lid closed (assuming you have a Cali) as much as possible to keep it cold. also use as few lights as possible tonight. Wait until tomorrow for the sun to come and ensure the solar panel gets as much sun as possible. That may mean moving the van to a sunnier place.

Hopefully, by the end of the day, the leisure battery/s will be charged and you should be OK.

If that doesn't happen you may well have a problem with the wiring of the solar system.

Hope that helps.
Alan

 

[Campervanningwithkid]

Thanks, we have a Cali Ocean. Have turned everything off for now. Maybe I was naive in thinking that the solar would just keep the battery fully charged, and so it wasn’t full when we started, and now the solar can’t keep up? We’ve not had an issue before, it’s been quite bright, but overcast at times.
I think it has the original leisure so might be time for new ones anyway.

 

[capt kirk]

How big is your panel in watts, if its only producing 19 watts in full sun im guessing its faulty or not big enough. At 5.15 it should still be sunny enough to produce more than 19 watts. It would be intresting to see the history.

 

[yossarian]

Let's see your history in the Victron app.

 

[Campervanningwithkid]

History is below, battery must have been better before?

 

[capt kirk]

Looking at your history i rekon youve got 1 100 watt panel, i may be wrong but your panel is barley providing enough to run the fridge. I am also assuming that after a run your batterys are at 100%. If not the solar dont stand a chance. I would make sure your battery is on hookup for a good 24 hrs and check it is at 100%. On 100% battery the fridge should last about 4 days with nothing else on. With a full battery and good sun 100 watts will just about keep up if not i would get your batteries checked out. I dont think youve said how old they are. Hope this helps and im sure others will jump in with opinions and ideas.

 

[yossarian]

You have about 1000Wh of useable energy in your batteries assuming they are in good condition.

Your panel has added an extra 100 - 130Wh per day over the last few days.

It looks like your batteries have not been fully charged for some time.

My opinion: one can't gauge the battery condition because you're not seeing their performance from fully charged. Even if they were fully charged there are still many variables that complicate gauging battery health.

Your solar looks too be working normally assuming you have a 100W panel.

Expect your fridge to use around 350Wh a day in cool weather.

If your batteries are not periodically charged and held at float voltage for 24 hours or so a deposit of lead sulphate will build up on the plates and reduce their performance.