Kingham Vehicle Battery

USargent unit displays warning vehicle battery low on occasions, vehicle battery according to screen has 12.5 volts, solar smart charge is on, any idea why this is coming up?

On the specific occasions when it shows the battery as low, what does it show the battery voltage as?

It shows 12.5 volts.

Sargent readings can be suspect. I would take a reading directly across the battery.It may be higher.

Micky

Mel C wrote:It shows 12.5 volts.

Reason I asked is that if there's an intermittent connection (typically at a battery terminal or a fuse) then you can temporarily see a big drop which could trigger an alarm - but if it shows a consistent 12.5 volts it's not that. Generally the Sargent units are pretty unreliable for current readings, but I've never seen any "drift" in voltage, or any need to recalibrate (unlike the current readings). The battery warning thresholds are way way lower than 12.5 volts, so it seems it's not a voltage warning.

Which Sargent unit do you have? On some you can set the Ah rating of the batteries, and if that's wrong it may calculate the battery capacity incorrectly - perhaps that could explain it?

Have recalibrated ammeter settings and amp hr but think that only applies to leisure battery?

Have checked voltage across battery and that ties in with Sargent unit exactly.

My warick XL woke me up two nights with an alarm showing low vehicle voltage 12.6v. I emailed Sargent who said it would have to be switched to vehicle battery which it wasn't and in any case the warnings are at 10.9v. they have asked me to take a photo next time it happens!. I would add on both occasions it was a cold night?

woodlice wrote:My warick XL woke me up two nights with an alarm showing low vehicle voltage 12.6v. I emailed Sargent who said it would have to be switched to vehicle battery which it wasn't and in any case the warnings are at 10.9v. they have asked me to take a photo next time it happens!. I would add on both occasions it was a cold night?

Hi woodlice,
My Warwick (Duo but same electrics I expect) will give a low voltage alarm at 12.4V (with vehicle battery selected). If the alarm is not acknowledged then it switches to vehicle a few minutes after the alarm, it wasn't immediate when I tested it out but shortly after.
I know the manual says 10.9V but these units don't seem to do exactly what it says in the manual
Earlier I had been through the advanced settings and I seem to recall making changes, not totally sure. There are setting in there for such things as batery size, van make (I set to Peugeot), MH type which I set to AutoSleepers and other stuff. Not sure if it made any difference.

Thks Don but mines does it at 12.6 for the vehicle battery which is more or less fully charged allowing for a resting period and I had the Leisure battery selected. ( No fun in the middle of the night ).

The Sargent will swop to the vehicle battery when it drops to 12.4v which is correct why I and mel-c are getting alarms at higher voltages is baffling

Try changing it to FIAT thats what I had to do with mine, from Sargent info below.

MH Vehicle Type
This setting is used to change the system from the standard Fiat configuration to one tailored to meet the requirements of Peugeot. 
When set at Fiat the vehicle battery voltage cut-off is set at 10.9V, a usable yet safe level approved by Fiat.


When set at Peugeot the vehicle battery voltage cut-off is set at 12.4V, a level stipulated by Peugeot to meet type approval. This basically makes the vehicle battery unusable because as current is drawn the voltage drops and the cut-off is triggered. We recommend that all system are operated on the Fiat setting.

Thanks for that info, will try that tomorrow.

How do I change mine to fiat gp1069 is it in the advance setting's that you can get into by holding the top and bottom arrows? Thks

GP1069 wrote:Try changing it to FIAT thats what I had to do with mine, from Sargent info below.

MH Vehicle Type
This setting is used to change the system from the standard Fiat configuration to one tailored to meet the requirements of Peugeot. 
When set at Fiat the vehicle battery voltage cut-off is set at 10.9V, a usable yet safe level approved by Fiat.


When set at Peugeot the vehicle battery voltage cut-off is set at 12.4V, a level stipulated by Peugeot to meet type approval. This basically makes the vehicle battery unusable because as current is drawn the voltage drops and the cut-off is triggered. We recommend that all system are operated on the Fiat setting.

That's interesting. I think my Peugeot was supplied from new with the MH Type set to Fiat. It has certainly been set to Peugeot for the last 4 months, I may have changed it, because I don't want the electrics to drain the vehicle battery below 12.4V. I just felt 10.9V was too low. I am not getting the spurious alarms the OP is complaining of.
If I ever do then I will know what the cause is and I can change it back.

Yes gp1069 it's happening to me when I have the leisure battery selected and I think its because the vehicle battery is under the floor and the voltage dips a bit in the cold weather and it triggers the alarm. Sergent say it should only trigger at 10.9v plus only when vehicle battery is selected

Mel C wrote:USargent unit displays warning vehicle battery low on occasions, vehicle battery according to screen has 12.5 volts, solar smart charge is on, any idea why this is coming up?

Going back to the original fault. With the solar producing i would expect a higher voltage than 12.5.
Looks like the solar is not working.

Micky

Hi Mel C, the solar will charge the vehicle battery if it falls to 12.4v. my solar is definitely working and I get the warning at 12.6v

Thanks woodlice, solar display shows a charge and watching battery voltage display is working, was wondering if I change to Fiat setting whether that will alter point at which solar switches between batteries?

Well that's what I'm going to try, however I would prefer a vehicle battery warning that I could alter. I think 12.2 at rest would be at a level where the vehicle would still start

Yes that would be good, will try the Fiat setting myself, I always carry one of those incredible emergency start packs if I did ever get into trouble, incredible how such a small piece of tech gives so much power!

Mel C, could you post a link re power pack might be interested just for peace of mind as all this new vehicle technology new to me. I've just jumped forward 15 years, I only had 4 buttons on the old motorhome and I only used 2 of them

Have used several times to get friends vehicles going, they couldn't believe what they were seeing and all have gone on to buy one themselves
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Thanks looks a good but of kit.