Electro BP-400 Faulty
Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 08, 2022 at 15:14
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143817
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Daniel G3
HI
I have an Electro BP-400 battery protector fitted to my caravan. I have always had the selector on off so the feature is not utilised.
As I walk into the caravan there is a switch to turn on/off the 12 volt system.
Over the past few months this switch will not always work so a number of flicks and power comes on after hearing something like a contact/relay noise coming from the BP-400..
Now it will only work for a short period of time and then goes off and on like a hot/faulty connection may be present.
I have just installed Lithium batteries so probably do not need this component any more.
Do these things fail? I was just going to join the incoming (red wire) to outgoing (white wire) bypassing the unit.
I cannot access the rear to
check connections.
The amber light comes on but with some load such as 5 led lights and 2 sirocco fans on full it will work for maybe 5 minutes ,
orange light goes off and than turns back on in less than a second.
Could the switch on the unit (BP-400 be faulty).
I cannot find and bad connections so am thinking it is the unit.
I am assuming that the switch near the door operates on the negative wire.
Any advice or suggestions are appreciated
Daniel
Reply By: Member - Dick L - Wednesday, Jun 08, 2022 at 15:23
Wednesday, Jun 08, 2022 at 15:23
Did a quick google search and found a manual for the device
Manual Electro BP 400
AnswerID:
640798
Reply By: Member - Jim - Wednesday, Jun 08, 2022 at 16:37
Wednesday, Jun 08, 2022 at 16:37
Daniel,
I would be looking (in the first instance) at the switch near the door.
It is a standard light switch mechanism, and these do not necessarily like DC, vibrations, let alone dust.
I have had to replace the mechanism in a number of my light switches because of dust.
Cheers
Jim
AnswerID:
640799
Follow Up By: Daniel G3 - Wednesday, Jun 08, 2022 at 17:00
Wednesday, Jun 08, 2022 at 17:00
Jim
Thanks for the information I will definitely
check the switch for continuity.
Just had a look and nothing was working gave the BP-400 a shake and it was like being in a disco with flickering lights and chattering relays.
I was of the impression that the switch operates the negative wire, this would mean no voltage only return path current
FollowupID:
919855
Reply By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Wednesday, Jun 08, 2022 at 17:24
Wednesday, Jun 08, 2022 at 17:24
.
Hi Daniel,
As Jim has said, it is most likely that the switch at the door is faulty. If you turn the main switch on the BP400 to the 'on' position it will over-ride the door switch and should then maintain supply to your loads. However, in this position, the BP400 will continually draw a small amount of power so should be turned off if the van is in storage. The door switch does operate in the negative line but this has no bearing on your problem.
If you wish to do away with the BP400 then joining the red & white wires will maintain supply to your loads at all times but, as above, the BP400 will continue to draw some small current unless switched off. The BP400 can be fully disconnected by cutting the red & white wires entering the unit. The blue & black wires do not matter but could also be cut if you wished.
Your lithium batteries would have a Battery Monitoring System so that you no longer need the function of the BP400 to disconnect on low-volts to protect your battery.
AnswerID:
640802
Follow Up By: Daniel G3 - Wednesday, Jun 08, 2022 at 19:15
Wednesday, Jun 08, 2022 at 19:15
Allan
I appreciate the reply. I did try the main switch on the unit and still had no power as you have suggested is its normal operation to then bypass the switch at the door.
This then leads me suspect that the BP400 is faulty or the active wire going to the unit has a bad connection.
I will take the cover off the unit to see if supply is on the red wire coming in to the BP400.
I also started to suspect the switch on the unit as it looks like a week point
FollowupID:
919857
Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Wednesday, Jun 08, 2022 at 19:44
Wednesday, Jun 08, 2022 at 19:44
.
Daniel, sounds like the sooner you get that BP400 out of the van will be the better. Your "shaking with a disco response" is not a good portent. Poor electrical connections can lead to fire which is not what you need!
Just make a good new connection between the Red & White wires.
FollowupID:
919858
Follow Up By: Member - McLaren3030 - Thursday, Jun 09, 2022 at 09:35
Thursday, Jun 09, 2022 at 09:35
Have to agree with Allan B, electrical fire waiting to happen.
Macca
FollowupID:
919864
Reply By: Daniel G3 - Sunday, Jun 12, 2022 at 07:35
Sunday, Jun 12, 2022 at 07:35
Hi
I thought I would give an update on what I found.
I had someone upgrade my batteries to Lithium and install a DC to DC charger.
They removed the internal solar regulator by simply connecting the wires together and them moved this to the solar input of the DC to DC charger.
When I tested the voltage it was 20.68 volts at the distribution board (unregulated Solar voltage).
There is no other supply to this point and it seems most manufacturers of caravans only run one wire to the output side of the solar regulator as a power source for distribution board.
I had to then install an extra wire directly from the battery to the distribution board which has now fixed the issue. I did remove the BP-400 as it is no longer required.
The higher voltage may of damaged my radio which I will have to replace.
A word of warning for anyone contemplating just by passing internal mounted solar regulators is you will require another power wire to power your distribution board.
Thanks to all who have responded
AnswerID:
640828
Follow Up By: Member - McLaren3030 - Sunday, Jun 12, 2022 at 09:16
Sunday, Jun 12, 2022 at 09:16
Hi Daniel,
Wow, a trap for the unwary. Now let me state that I am not a qualified Auto. Elec. or even a 12 volt expert, but I have to make this comment, whoever made the alterations when installing the Lithium Batteries should not be allowed anywhere near electrical wiring again. Thankfully it was only low voltage and not 240 volts. If this was a “qualified” Auto. Elec. then they need to go back to school.
Macca.
FollowupID:
919879
Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Sunday, Jun 12, 2022 at 16:29
Sunday, Jun 12, 2022 at 16:29
.
Good that you got rid of the BP400.
However, the installer of your DC-DC charger made an error in the wiring and had the supply to the distribution board coming directly from the solar instead of from the battery. A new wire may not be necessary in all cases depending on the original arrangement. Your warning may have been better to beware using incompetent persons on your electrics.
FollowupID:
919883