75 Series Troop carrier auxiliary battery charge problem
Submitted: Thursday, Apr 13, 2023 at 13:08
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145528
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Chris L28
Hi, I run a duel battery setup in my 75 series troopy which charges a 60l engel fridge and only a few small lights in the evening. The starter battery and aux battery are near new. The alternator was only replaced a year ago too.
The problem I have is that the alternator only seems to be charging the aux battery up to 12.9V max, even after I have been on the road for hours. My battery monitor is set to shut the system down when the aux charge drops down to 11.9V to save my aux battery from being damaged. Last time I camped, I drove for three hours and I parked up at 4pm. I woke up at 6am the next morning with a warmish fridge full of food. It was reading at about 8 degrees which means that the aux battery charge would have dropped down to 11.9 and shut the fridge off quite a few hours earlier on in the night.
Has anyone had this sort of problem?
Shouldn't the alternator be charging my aux battery to a higher voltage after I have been on the road for so many hours? Surely it should be reaching up to a high enough voltage that I can at least park up in the evening and keep a fridge running for one whole night easily.
Thank you!
Chris
Reply By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Thursday, Apr 13, 2023 at 18:13
Thursday, Apr 13, 2023 at 18:13
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Hi Chris,
We are going to need some more information to address this. Can you answer the following:
a) Did the system ever work correctly to your satisfaction?
b) After driving for a time, and with the engine still running at idle, what is the voltage at the aux battery terminals and what is the voltage at the engine battery terminals?
c) What is the size in Amp-hours of the aux battery?
d) What is the wiring connection that charges the aux battery. Is it connected to the engine battery/alternator directly or is there a relay/solenoid between them?
e) When the aux battery is charged to 14V by the solar, does the battery then maintain the fridge adequately for the overnight?
AnswerID:
643307
Reply By: qldcamper - Friday, Apr 14, 2023 at 08:07
Friday, Apr 14, 2023 at 08:07
Personaly I would start at the beginning which is your alternator, as suggested earlier with increased engine speed
check the voltage at the start battery, even a smart alternator should be at least low 13s, then carefully take a reading directly at the alternator, it should be just a little higher than at the battery depending on the current flowing, 0.5v ish tops.
Extreem care around the alternator, slip with the probe and you will be seeing a
bright spot in the middle of your vision for a while and probably blow your main fuse.
Also that drive belt wont stop for fingers, just chew them up and spit them out in an instant.
If thats ok follow it through one step at a time till you find where the voltage drops off checking the negative side as
well.
Feel connections for heat after you have been driving for a while with a flat acc battery.
Dont rule out a faulty new battery.
AnswerID:
643310