Solar Panel/SargentEC328/12v Electrical Fault

Cymro wrote:I'm a bit confused: your profile says that you joined the Forum in 2018. You also mentioned that you had a 2008 Nuevo (as also shown in your profile) 

But you are referred to as a new member, with a 2019 Nuevo..

Could you clarify please? Formerly a member with a different name?

Haven't heard of your EC328 problem before, so unable to comment on that I'm afraid. Hope you can sort it, and inform us. 

Cymro

les.hoyle wrote:Am i the only one who wishes they had never bought a Autosleeper.? So many problems with a 19 plate Nuevo.  Current major problem with power keep tripping off due to solar spikes. The control panel light goes off although the pump light stays on and the pump still works. Sent PSU  EC328 to Sargent for fixed price repair had new regulator and new charger fitted and still the same problem with power shutting off when sun comes out.
Skylight mechanism flimsy broke had to be replaced. Sink drainage pipe seems to be cut too short and keep falling off causing flooding in shower. I had a 2008 Nuevo much sturdier more reliable. Wish id bought a German built motorhome now. Any help would be grateful.

Sally wrote:
I can’t help with your Autosleeper regrets, as I honestly love mine. However, I had the same problem with the control panel switching off with sun spikes.

I had a 100W solar panel fitted, and every time the sun popped out from behind a cloud, the panel switched off. Mine is a different panel, but I suspect the issue is the same. I had originally had fitted a PWM controller with the panel. Advice on here explained how this could be the problem and that switching to a MPPT controller would resolve it.  It did, instantly.  No issues from the day it was changed. So if they’ve replaced a PWM regulator with another, then that could well be the problem and it’s a fairly simple and relatively inexpensive thing to do. By the way, it was solved with help on here, not Sargent and not the Solar fitter.

Peter Brown wrote:In my experience the EC328 is the most effective and reliable powers system produced by Sargent - much better than the later EC500 and EC700.

When it was first introduced circa 2012 the control panel software was version 2.20 and if a solar panel over 80w (up to the max allowed of 120W) the power would trip when subject to solar spikes.  A fault was found with the control panel software and version 2.22 introduced from 2013/14 ish.  Your 2019 van should have the newer software.  What size is you solar panel?

Peter Brown wrote:Sargent supply a complete electrical installation including wiring harness and its fitted by AS on the production line. The original fitted control panel was branded as AS - any replacement from another source branded as Sargent.

Have you had the van from new or has it been through a dealer as a pre-owned van where the panel could have been swopped with that from another van that had a problem.

When I swopped my EC325 for an EC328 I ran with the original control panel at v2.20 for a couple of years, it was largely ok as I had an 80w panel but I did get the occasional funny so bought a new panel with v2.22. I reconned that, taking into account the cost of postage and lead time at Sargent, it was as cheap to buy a new panel from a dealer who had one in stock than to send the old one back to Sargent for software upgrade.

The control panel can be configured for either the EC325 or EC328; there is an option for the AS EC328 but I found that the generic EC328 configuration worked for me.  I'm annoyed that I cant find the notes I made at the time and I no longer have that van so can't check.