D3 fridge battery charging anomaly.

[shack]

Hi all, hope this hasn't been covered before....I can't remember it if it has.

After getting Jack of Optima D34 battery failures - we've probably had 5 fail prematurely, I bought an SSB HVT-50D.

Imagine my excitement tonight when I went out to test fridge operation and resting voltage...

Fridge won't operate, battery at 12.15 volts.


So I start the car, as per normal....charging voltage jumps straight to 15.1 volts, and stays there for 25 minutes, this from what I can understood is normal behaviour on a battery that is somewhat discharged, the alternator is not old and is genuine, and the one I pulled out did exactly the same.

I have always been extremely disappointed with auxiliary battery failures on this vehicle and have now been running a few possiblities through my mind.

Possibility 1.

Optima have dropped off considerably in quality, this is probably a known fact.

Possiblity 2.

We drive our car on lots of small journeys on school runs.

This means the car gets used twice a day for 18 minutes.

Based on my calculations tonight, the Traxide SC80 does not connect the batteries until the charging voltage drops under 15 volts.

Our car also does not drop under 15.1 volts for the first 25 minutes of running.

This means the auxiliary battery NEVER gets charged by the SC80 unless we drive for longer than 25 minutes....

Is this correct or have I got something wrong with my system, or have I blind spotted myself?

If correct It would certainly explain the battery failures!

Cheers
James

[scarry]

The SC80 isolates the batteries at around 12.0V,and connects them at around 13.2V.

You need to regularly charge the batteries,every few weeks,as the vehicle is not getting good enough runs to charge them.

Pretty common problem.The Traxide unit also drags a bit of current out of the system.

I put a switch on the earth wire for the SC80,so i could isolate the batteries if needed,and for charging if i wanted.

Our D4 also did relatively short runs, at times,and i put the batteries on charge overnight, every 2 to 3 weeks.

[shack]

The SC80 isolates the batteries at around 12.0V,and connects them at around 13.2V.

You need to regularly charge the batteries,every few weeks,as the vehicle is not getting good enough runs to charge them.

Pretty common problem.The Traxide unit also drags a bit of current out of the system.

I put a switch on the earth wire for the SC80,so i could isolate the batteries if needed,and for charging if i wanted.

Our D4 also did relatively short runs, at times,and i put the batteries on charge overnight, every 2 to 3 weeks.No doubt you are correct, but I really shouldn't have to, and I don't want the hassle.

I have done that on a number of occasions though despite my frustration.

I guess the 15 volt charge is trying to overcome that issue, but the Traxide effectively negates that, although it could be reasoned that some secondary batteries would not like 15 volts, even for 20 Minutes.

So anyone who only does 25 minute runs once a day will NEVER be charging the secondary battery with the D3 system??

[drivesafe]

Hi James and unfortunately you must have one of the very few isolators I produced with the 15.0v Over Voltage setting.

In a D4, this is not a problem as they will not charge at any higher than 14..9v ( here in Australia ), but D3s can go as high as 15.5v, which I found out the hard way, when customers in Arctic Circle locations had the same problem as yours.

I need to reset the Over Voltage protection level in your SC80 and this is a Warranty fix.

I will PM you my Return address and will reset your SC80 and this should fix your problem.

NOTE again, only very small number of isolators had this low setting.

[Narangga]

Hi James and unfortunately you must have one of the very few isolators I produced with the 15.0v Over Voltage setting.

In a D4, this is not a problem as they will not charge at any higher than 14..9v ( here in Australia ), but D3s can go as high as 15.5v, which I found out the hard way, when customers in Arctic Circle locations had the same problem as yours.

I need to reset the Over Voltage protection level in your SC80 and this is a Warranty fix.

I will PM you my Return address and will reset your SC80 and this should fix your problem.

NOTE again, only very small number of isolators had this low setting.

That's Orroroo this time of the year...

[shack]

That's Orroroo this time of the year...Damn straight!

[discorevy]

Was the town supposed to be called Oroo, but the first Mayor dictated it to the secretary in winter?

[shack]

Was the town supposed to be called Oroo, but the first Mayor dictated it to the secretary in winter?Such rudeness, which I could normally take as I have a relaxing Ale after work, but with the fridge not working, all my beer is frozen and I'm stuck!!

(We normally use the fridge to STOP the beer from freezing here in winter, we set it on 4 degrees .)

[veebs]

Such rudeness, which I could normally take as I have a relaxing Ale after work, but with the fridge not working, all my beer is frozen and I'm stuck!!

(We normally use the fridge to STOP the beer from freezing here in winter, we set it on 4 degrees .)

Need a reverse cycle fridge...

[shack]

Need a reverse cycle fridge...Thermoelectric!