Kemerton Leisure Battery care

Guys
During the winter I connected the van to the mains every 2 weeks for 24 hrs thinking sufficient to charge the leisure batter, plus took the van out for 4-8 miles to keep the van battery charged etc.
I now find after 3 or 4 hrs of using lighting etc the EC51 control panel goes "dead" that is, no leisure battery green light, can't change to van battery and orange flashing light in centre of level display. I am assuming the lesser battery is on the way out as if I plug in the mains again for 24 hrs all "appears" fine again, but same issue after testing light on etc.
I will get the battery checked out but thinking, how best to take care of a new battery (take it off in winter and connect to a battery charger etc)
I have only had the van for 6 months or so so don't know if this is the original 2012 battery. 
Any thoughts etc would be helpful.

Regards Keith

Hi Keith
Welcome to the forum from sunny Bridlington (no snow) some very good info on batteries if you type battery into the search box.
I've just replaced my leisure battery after 3 winters.
Boaby

keithc wrote:and orange flashing light in centre of level display.

I've not come across this before. Assuming you have an EC155 power control unit (which is the one normally used with an EC51 control panel), a low leisure battery state should flash the red LED at the bottom of the level display.

If you take a look on Sargent's website at the instructions for your controller, you may see what this is meant to signify, but I couldn't see it at a quick glance through. Failing that I would contact Sargent technical support and ask them what the flashing orange LED means.

Ok thanks for the response.
Regards Keith

keithc wrote:
During the winter I connected the van to the mains every 2 weeks for 24 hrs thinking sufficient to charge the leisure batter,

Perfect

keithc wrote:plus took the van out for 4-8 miles to keep the van battery charged etc.

That's not long enough, 30 mins minimum but a better plan is to switch the charger to the vehicle battery for the 24 hrs after you charge the leisure battery.

keithc wrote:
Any thoughts etc would be helpful.

Regards Keith

Its pretty certain that the leisure battery has had it.

Thanks Peter, that's my conclusion, just haven't seen any reasons for the orange flashing light on the EC51 panel.
Regards Keith

The (single?) orange light is a bit odd. I would suggest trying to reset the EC51 software, as this is a simple task and you might just clear the problem.

To reset the panel, slide the bezel down (can be a bit stiff), undo the two screws and unplug the three cables going to the panel. Wait for a minute, then re-plug and see if the panel now works correctly.

Thanks for this, will try that as I can't see any reference to this flashing light issue.
i have sent the question to Sargent's also for their thoughts.

Regards Keith

Guys for info' this was the response received from Sargent's, I will check this out further. Regards Keith

The EC51 is displaying that the engine is running which will shutdown the 12V in the vehicle. This indicates that there is voltage in coming on the engine run feed. I have attached a document that may help you with this.
 
You will need to check if there is a voltage on this pin and try to trace where it has come from. That would explain the display you are getting.
 
Kind Regards
Tim Sanderson
Technical Specialist

On my Warwick Duo, when the engine is running, the power on/off blue light and the engine (starter battery) blue light flash to indicate that the battery is being charged. This also shows that the 12 volt to the habitation area is now switched off. The middle orange light on the EC51 does not flash at all.

Ok thanks, I have booked the van in with Simpsons where purchased.

Just an update, although the problem was there when I dropped the van off at Simsons, so at least they could see the issue, when their electrician ran tests he could not replicate the problem. It appears to have gone away (I wish) will see if it returns this weekend when we use the van.

Our Warwick Duo is always connected to the mains when at home.
Before we started doing that we had problems with low battery voltage which upset the ECU and put the Engine Management Light on.
Every few days I change from Leisure To Vehicle and back.
On the EC51 panel you charge the vehicle battery by turning the panel On and pressing "V"
The panel has a single flashing light when the engine is running.
On our panel it is green.
PeteJ

Thanks Pete. Interesting to know you had issues when L battery was low.
Hopefully the EC51 fault has cleared, will know more after we use it for the next 4 days.
In case others read this thread, my Kemerton (2012) I understand does not charge the vehicle battery when plugged into mains, yours might be different.
So every two weeks we took the van for a 10 mile or so drive. we did then plug the van into the mains for 24hrs + every two weeks.

My only issue now is very little flow since de-winterising from sink taps (shower room taps/shower fine) but I have posted this thread and had some helpful responses although no joy to date.
Perhaps a drive to shake it up, another drain down (get rid of Milton fluid) and refill might improve the situation.

Regards Keith

keithc

Assuming that you have the 155 power unit with the EC51 control panel then in order to charge the batteries do the following:

Firstly ensure that the 155 power unit is turned on (red light on unit fitted under the kitchen sink).

1) To charge the vehicle battery, press the top left-hand button on the EC51 (the vehicle battery is selected by default)

2) To charge the leisure (habitation) battery, after doing 1 above, press the top right-hand button on the EC51 (this changes from the vehicle battery to the leisure battery). You can only charge one battery at a time.

3) You must leave the EC51 switched on (top left light lit and either the vehicle or the leisure light lit). Doing this will leave either the vehicle or the leisure battery on charge all the time the mains is connected.

Best of all, fit a Battery Master type of controller and this will pass charge from the leisure battery to the vehicle battery automatically when the leisure battery is on charge.

Extract from EC155/EC50 User Manual

The Leisure battery is selected automatically when the control panel is turned on.

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Spospe wrote:keithc

Assuming that you have the 155 power unit with the EC51 control panel then in order to charge the batteries do the following:

Firstly ensure that the 155 power unit is turned on (red light on unit fitted under the kitchen sink).

1) To charge the vehicle battery, press the top left-hand button on the EC51 (the vehicle battery is selected by default)

2) To charge the leisure (habitation) battery, after doing 1 above, press the top right-hand button on the EC51 (this changes from the vehicle battery to the leisure battery). You can only charge one battery at a time.

3) You must leave the EC51 switched on (top left light lit and either the vehicle or the leisure light lit). Doing this will leave either the vehicle or the leisure battery on charge all the time the mains is connected.

Best of all, fit a Battery Master type of controller and this will pass charge from the leisure battery to the vehicle battery automatically when the leisure battery is on charge.

I am covered in shame!

Please reverse the above, for leisure read vehicle and for vehicle read leisure.

Sorry, sorry.

Interesting to know you had issues when L battery was low.
Sorry, I was referring to the Vehicle battery

my Kemerton (2012) I understand does not charge the vehicle battery when plugged into mains, yours might be different.
Who led you to understand that?

The EC51 charges the Vehicle battery using the procedure which I posted:
On the EC51 panel you charge the vehicle battery by turning the panel On and pressing "V"

If that does not work then there is a fault.
PeteJ

pjkxpjkx wrote:

my Kemerton (2012) I understand does not charge the vehicle battery when plugged into mains, yours might be different.

With the mains connected, the control panel switched on and vehicle battery selected, the vehicle battery is charged. You can confirm this by noting the respective battery voltages as you switch between Leisure and Vehicle batteries.

The panel has a single flashing light when the engine is running.
On our panel it is green.
Ho hum, the flashing light is actually blue
PeteJ

Thanks guys, it was the suppliers technician who I believed said I needed to actually run the vehicle as Conecting to the mains would only charge the Leisure battery, better if I can now charge both by selecting this on the EC51. Just tried this, the led lights on the right hand side (water level indicators) run down in rapid sequence from green down to red, what ever that indicates! when either battery is selected.

Anyway the original issue that I raised seams to have disappeared. Good news, all I need to sort now is virtually no water from kitchen taps (shower and shower room taps are fine) since refilling also the water level led as above show red but I believe water tank is full.
Guessing an air lock but having no luck in clearing.
The joys of motorhomes.

Keith

Can someone advise how to change leisure battery on autosleeper Warwick 08 please ?
Do I need unbolt the driver seat (Alan key bolts on slide rail) ?
Can't see how to access it otherwise !
Thanks

Keith[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

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 by [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] on Sun Mar 20, 2016 4:18 pm
info kindly supplied by Dutto

Air locks are very common and easy to cure.
Fill the tank to overflowing with water.
Close off all of the taps.
Fit a length of plastic hose to a cold water tap. (Or the spigot of a mixer tap.)
Open the cold water tap that has the bit of hose attached.
Start the pump.
Start sucking on the plastic hose.
When you start to choke on the water stop sucking and let the water keep flowing.
 
[follow the same procedure as above with the mixer tap turned to hot water]. 
When the flow of water is 'air-free' close of the tap.
At this stage the pump should stop automatically on high pressure.  If it doesn't you have a different problem.
Mel

Can someone advise how to change leisure battery on autosleeper Warwick 08 please ?
Do I need unbolt the driver seat (Alan key bolts on slide rail) ?
Can't see how to access it otherwise !
Thanks