Electrical Jayco Standard Electrics

[Bellbirdweb]

You don't want to route a fixed panel and a portable thru the one controller @Boots in Action then you cannot use the poratable anywhere else and the anderson plug can only be used for that panel, seperate controllers means you have some versatility

I agree with this, the portable panel will have its own controller, if using it as an extra boost to your fixed panels it's best to leave it as a stand alone system

QUOTE="Drover, post: 180251, member: 3287"]
and if the anderson is direct to battery it be used to run a compressor, the drifter doesn't matter, who wants to sit and look at a stupid meter all day plus dragging a load like a compresssor thru a shunt means more resisitance.
[/QUOTE]
I would connect it to the load side of the shunt as the drifter panel needs to know what is coming in and out. The standard shunt is capable of handling 100A and only has a voltage drop of 75mV, so will allow a compressor to operate unimpeded.

I'm just about to install a big inverter which will pull 160A so have ordered a 400A shunt to ensure I'm always getting accurate values on the drifter no matter what the current draw is.

QUOTE="Drover, post: 180251, member: 3287"]I'd just get the batteries hooked up first and worry about the rest later on and that includes testing all the other stuff and swapping controllers, they probably all work quite well, one step at a time.[/QUOTE]

Agree, just fix the obvious stuff and see if it's working in the real world the make incremental changes until you have it working the way you need

 

[mikerezny]

QUOTE="Drover, post: 180251, member: 3287"]I'd just get the batteries hooked up first and worry about the rest later on and that includes testing all the other stuff and swapping controllers, they probably all work quite well, one step at a time.

Agree, just fix the obvious stuff and see if it's working in the real world the make incremental changes until you have it working the way you need

Hi @aspiremr, @Drover, @Bellbirdweb,
I also agree.

KISS principle.

cheers
Mike

 

[Boots in Action]

THanks @Drover , I'll cross my fingers re the batteries in teh real world.

I'm going to take the thicker cable that was on my batteries in to a electrical supply shop and see what thickness it is.

I think this thickness cable is probably only needed for connecting the batteries in parallel. But I am interested, how do I tell what the thickness of the cable Jayco has already used is? Is there a simple way to tell or do you need a specific measuring tool to know what thickness a cable is?

Also, silly question - what does B&S stand for?

Thanks
MR

Hi @aspiremr , I have been quiet for the last few days just watching your progress under the guidance of @mikerezny and @Drover . Whilst trolling around on the net, came across the attached regarding wire types and suggested thickness for different applications. This may be useful in selecting cable for connections and leads for a portable solar panel later if required. Just remember, the thickness refers to the copper wire only and does not include the insulation!!

 

[aspiremr]

Hi @aspiremr , I have been quiet for the last few days just watching your progress under the guidance of @mikerezny and @Drover . Whilst trolling around on the net, came across the attached regarding wire types and suggested thickness for different applications. This may be useful in selecting cable for connections and leads for a portable solar panel later if required. Just remember, the thickness refers to the copper wire only and does not include the insulation!!

THanks @Boots in Action, heading out saturday morning to by cable and clamps before finishing the recable of batteries and install of anderson plug this weekend. Wil read that through before hitting the shops. Appreciate the advice.

Thanks
MR

 

[mikerezny]

THanks @Boots in Action, heading out saturday morning to by cable and clamps before finishing the recable of batteries and install of anderson plug this weekend. Wil read that through before hitting the shops. Appreciate the advice.

Thanks
MR

Hi @aspiremr,
what capacity have you ended up getting out of battery B?

cheers
Mike

 

[aspiremr]

Hi @aspiremr,
what capacity have you ended up getting out of battery B?

cheers
Mike

Hi @mikerezny ,

I'm actually in Sydney at the moment for work so haven't got info with me. But from memory the capacity of both batteries really didnt change.

Gave them each one more full charge and full discharge, and now their back in the van, just waiting for me to get cable and clamps to put them in parallel properly.

Need to have the van ready for a weekend away weekend after this, so have run out of time with work travel to put any more cycles through them or test again, until after the next trip away.

Having said that, it will be interesting when away weekend after next to be able to trust the Drifter in terms of power draw and watch how batteries cope now I can trust the readings for power being drawn.

Thanks
MR

 

[mikerezny]

Hi @mikerezny ,

I'm actually in Sydney at the moment for work so haven't got info with me. But from memory the capacity of both batteries really didnt change.

Gave them each one more full charge and full discharge, and now their back in the van, just waiting for me to get cable and clamps to put them in parallel properly.

Need to have the van ready for a weekend away weekend after this, so have run out of time with work travel to put any more cycles through them or test again, until after the next trip away.

Having said that, it will be interesting when away weekend after next to be able to trust the Drifter in terms of power draw and watch how batteries cope now I can trust the readings for power being drawn.

Thanks
MR

Hi @aspiremr,
you posted the results for testing battery A done over the weekend:

I've cycled the batteries a couple of times and Battery A does not get more than 7.5 to 8 hours, so it's cactus.

but unless I missed it, the only test results you posted for battery B was done during the week and was not a full test:

10 pm reading, taken under load. 11.54 volts
Reading appr 5 minutes after load removed. 11.77 volts

Disconnected, time for bed. Appears battery b in better condition than battery a. Probably means i need to test it again this weekend, but put the load on prior to bed Friday night, so i can then monitor Saturday morning after it has already had some 10 hours of draw before is start monitoring.

cheers
Mike

 

[Bellbirdweb]

Hi @mikerezny ,

I'm actually in Sydney at the moment for work so haven't got info with me. But from memory the capacity of both batteries really didnt change.

Gave them each one more full charge and full discharge, and now their back in the van, just waiting for me to get cable and clamps to put them in parallel properly.

Need to have the van ready for a weekend away weekend after this, so have run out of time with work travel to put any more cycles through them or test again, until after the next trip away.

Having said that, it will be interesting when away weekend after next to be able to trust the Drifter in terms of power draw and watch how batteries cope now I can trust the readings for power being drawn.

Thanks
MR

If you want to look at how mine is set up while you're in Sydney, give me a yell

 

[aspiremr]

Hi @aspiremr,
you posted the results for testing battery A done over the weekend:



but unless I missed it, the only test results you posted for battery B was done during the week and was not a full test:


cheers
Mike

HI @mikerezny , My second test for Battery B was also done midweek overnight, so again I didnt get it to conclusion. BUt the battery was on for 11 hours overnight, and still had 11.48 volts the next morning while under load. When I got home after work that day, after sitting all day with no load and no charge, it had recovered up to 11.88 volts.

I think based on this I can count on approx 60 Amps capacity for this battery.

My guesstimate is I can probably stretch these batteries out for the rest of this winter, however in the absence of getting better charge into them from my solar, i expect by the end of this winter's riding season they will both be pretty dead, and then I will replace them pre next winter. But I will test them again once I am ready to pack the van away later this year.

Thanks
MR

 

[aspiremr]

If you want to look at how mine is set up while you're in Sydney, give me a yell

THanks @Bellbirdweb , really appreciate that offer. I'm actually home today, and my 3 days here were jam packed with conference all day and then various meetings over dinner etc at night.

If I get back later in the year and am not so obligated with commitments I'd love to take you up on that.

Thanks
MR

 

[aspiremr]

Good Morning Gents,

Bought the cable and clamps and recalled the two batteries yesterday. Sorry, I know it is a long slow process but that is the challenge when the can is so far from home. Never mind, I now have 8 B&S cable paralleling the two batteries. The negative load cable is coming off one battery, and the positive load cable is coming off the other battery. I didn't get to putting the anderson plug on yet, but I have bought the plug and will do this in due course.

Photos attached - love some feedback, an anyone see if i have made any silly mistake here when re-connecting. Hope the photo's are clear enough, really difficult to get the focus right, enough light, and clarity with all the cables and caravan frame etc.

 

[aspiremr]

Pic 2.

 

[Bellbirdweb]

Good Morning Gents,

Bought the cable and clamps and recalled the two batteries yesterday. Sorry, I know it is a long slow process but that is the challenge when the can is so far from home. Never mind, I now have 8 B&S cable paralleling the two batteries. The negative load cable is coming off one battery, and the positive load cable is coming off the other battery. I didn't get to putting the anderson plug on yet, but I have bought the plug and will do this in due course.

Photos attached - love some feedback, an anyone see if i have made any silly mistake here when re-connecting. Hope the photo's are clear enough, really difficult to get the focus right, enough light, and clarity with all the cables and caravan frame etc.View attachment 56633

Looks correct to me @aspiremr

 

[aspiremr]

Final pic. Pic 3 of 3.

 

[mikerezny]

Hi @aspiremr,
yep, looks good.

Looks like you have two feeds coming off the batteries:
Probably the cable using the big fuse goes to the Setec. That will be easy to check.
The second probably goes to the Solar controller.

When you get around to tidying things up, it would be worth supporting the tiny wires that go to the drifter panel. At the moment the strain is all on the connections and they will easily break off. I would probably cable tie the black in-line fuse holder to the cable near to it.

Also, do you have replacement fuses for these three inline holders as well as some for the ones in the Setec?

cheers
Mike

 

[Bellbirdweb]

Hi @aspiremr,

Also, do you have replacement fuses for these three inline holders as well as some for the ones in the Setec?

I got around the spare fuse issue by replacing all of the fuses in the van with circuit breakers.

Whilst I don't blow that many, it will always be at a time when you don't have the correct spare.

 

[aspiremr]

Thanks Gents,

I will make those changes @mikerezny with regards to cable tying and supporting all the thin wires for the drifter cables. Will also make sure I have spares for all the different fuses.

Installing a circuit breaker panel is probably beyond me @Bellbirdweb , but thanks for the idea and pics.

In terms of tidying up, other than supporting those small cables what else is it possible to do? I actually thought it was way tidier than before with less joins and one less in line fuse.

Any Other suggestions appreciated.

The good news is now batteries are definitely connected with the correct cable and I can trust the readings from the shunt.

Next fine free weekend day I will try to get some readings from the solar inputs and check the cabling there, and take pics for feedback.

Regards
MR.

 

[Bellbirdweb]

Thanks Gents,

I will make those changes @mikerezny

Installing a circuit breaker panel is probably beyond me @Bellbirdweb , but thanks for the idea and pics.

If you can pull out the fuse and plug in the circuit breaker I reckon you could manage it

You just plug them in where the fuse goes

 

[mikerezny]

If you can pull out the fuse and plug in the circuit breaker I reckon you could manage it

You just plug them in where the fuse goes

Hi @Bellbirdweb,
the circuit breakers are certainly a good idea for the fuses in the Setc panel. Do you know if there is snough clearance for them to operate correctly inside an online fuseholder?

@aspiremr, if you decide to get them and want to save a few dollars, only replace the fuses where they are actually being used
Jayco are well-known for not labelling the fuse diagram correctly. So, if you want to save yourself a hassle, it would be worth identifying what is fed from each of the fuses.

If you can easily get to the top of the Setec unit, you will see the terminal block where all the cables come in, so you can then easily see what terminal are not being used.

While you are in that area, it would be a good idea to have a close inspection of the quality of the terminations. Many, many people have found these terminations to be very poor and have been the cause of many problems.

I checked all my connections and fortunately my Penguin must have been built on a good day since all the connectors were terminated correctly.

Yes, the cabling does indeed look a lot neater. But more importantly, you now have a really good idea of how it is wired and where to look when things go wrong.

cheers
Mike

 

[aspiremr]

If you can pull out the fuse and plug in the circuit breaker I reckon you could manage it

You just plug them in where the fuse goes

Thanks @Bellbirdweb ,

Can you just clarify. Are you saying that circuit breakers just plug straight into the current fuse attachment in line, or fuse plug in setec panel etc.

I thought from your pic that you had put a separate box or panel in and wired all the cables via that panel, and the panel contained the circuit breakers.

Did you mean that you simply replace fuses as and where they are with circuit breakers instead? If that's the case then it's a no brainer, why wouldn't everyone have circuit breakers everywhere instead of fuses?

Tell me what I'm missing here.

Thanks
MR