All things electrical question from a newbie

[todge]

Hi all,

Proud new owner of a Bongo, and first time poster here...please be gentle

I've a 1997 model converted by ECC. We've done a couple of short trips in her without too much trouble, but i'm still trying to figure out how the electrics are all wired up....the starter battery died the other day, and i had to get a jump-start, even though i thought i'd been quite frugal with the use of electricity.

It's fitted with a PMS3V power management system, leisure battery, fridge, twin 13amp sockets, a 16a mains hookup.

* I've not ever managed to get the 13amp sockets working....should I assume that these will only work if I'm connected to the mains (which I've not done yet)?

* Should both batteries charge simultaneously if I'm on the move, or plugged in to the mains without any other intervention from myself?

* The 'Battery Condition' indicator on my PMS3V....this means 'Remaining Charge' rather than the age/quality/condition of the battery right?

* Can anyone estimate what the charging rate would be while on the move? I've only seen them at 'Normal' and under.

* The fridge i notice remains on unless i turn it off manually...as in, it remains on if the source selector switch remains 'Off' on the PMS3V. Did the battery die because my fridge is drawing power from the car battery instead of the leisure battery?

* Other than the fridge, the only power i find i've needed has been for phones (USB from the 12v lighter socket) and a radio, which is rechargeable from 240v mains (meaning i have to charge it in my house before leaving). It would be great if the radio would charge while on the move, and that phones/ipads could be charged from the leisure battery. What are my options here?

Apologies if these are stupid questions. One day I might be in a position to actually offer advice on these forums, but for the time being I appreciate any thoughts you have!

Thanks again for your time

Tom x

[TheStinkyHippy]

Welcome to forum

I'm no expert.. but I have a PMS3V so I can share my experience..

13amp sockets only work when mains connected.

You will need to have 'Charger switch' on when connected to mains.
You will also need to have the battery selector Car/Off/Van switch on the correct setting (Van for me, Car does nothing (and is wired to nothing))
e.g. having mains connected, but battery selector to car/off for me doesn't charge the LB.

Mains connection doesn't charge the starter battery (although in the past i have used jump leads from LB to SB), but
it will charge the leisure battery (LB).
Mains connection when driving only works for a few meters!!

Driving (e.g. alternator) should charge LB and SB. (It all depends on the split relay setup you have, my split relay is under the bonnet on the passenger side above the SB)

Use a volt meter across the batteries to check for 13+ volts when connected to each.

Condition is the charge in the battery. When it is charging it is normally 1 down from high. Norm when not charging, Low when fridge has drained it

When engine is running for me, the battery condition shows 1 down from high.

My fridge is on when mains hook up, or if the battery selector is on van. I guess it depends on how it is wired up in the back.

To run radio and 12v sockets from leisure battery is a simple rewiring project in the fuse box. There are many examples on the forum on how change a few of the fuses to run off leisure bat.

Hi all,

Proud new owner of a Bongo, and first time poster here...please be gentle

I've a 1997 model converted by ECC. We've done a couple of short trips in her without too much trouble, but i'm still trying to figure out how the electrics are all wired up....the starter battery died the other day, and i had to get a jump-start, even though i thought i'd been quite frugal with the use of electricity.

It's fitted with a PMS3V power management system, leisure battery, fridge, twin 13amp sockets, a 16a mains hookup.

* I've not ever managed to get the 13amp sockets working....should I assume that these will only work if I'm connected to the mains (which I've not done yet)?

* Should both batteries charge simultaneously if I'm on the move, or plugged in to the mains without any other intervention from myself?

* The 'Battery Condition' indicator on my PMS3V....this means 'Remaining Charge' rather than the age/quality/condition of the battery right?

* Can anyone estimate what the charging rate would be while on the move? I've only seen them at 'Normal' and under.

* The fridge i notice remains on unless i turn it off manually...as in, it remains on if the source selector switch remains 'Off' on the PMS3V. Did the battery die because my fridge is drawing power from the car battery instead of the leisure battery?

* Other than the fridge, the only power i find i've needed has been for phones (USB from the 12v lighter socket) and a radio, which is rechargeable from 240v mains (meaning i have to charge it in my house before leaving). It would be great if the radio would charge while on the move, and that phones/ipads could be charged from the leisure battery. What are my options here?

Apologies if these are stupid questions. One day I might be in a position to actually offer advice on these forums, but for the time being I appreciate any thoughts you have!

Thanks again for your time

Tom x

[Cab-ova pete]

Sorry no answers for you tom But here is a warm welcome from me
Enjoy matey pete

[todge]

Thank you very much TheStinkyHippy

Very useful info...great stuff, and thanks for the welcome Cab-ova pete!

[Dodgey]

* I've not ever managed to get the 13amp sockets working....should I assume that these will only work if I'm connected to the mains (which I've not done yet)? This is a common question, and unless you can find a big chunky inverter somewhere then they will only work on Hookup.

* Should both batteries charge simultaneously if I'm on the move, or plugged in to the mains without any other intervention from myself? Only if either you have a split relay charging system (tell tale sign is a black box under the bonnet linking the two batteries with a wire, and fuses at each end by both battery live terminals) or a Zig unit or similar with an "On Site / Towing" selector switch. When you switch to "towing", if it's wired correctly, then both batteries will charge when the engine is running.

* The 'Battery Condition' indicator on my PMS3V....this means 'Remaining Charge' rather than the age/quality/condition of the battery right? Correct. It's a crude "fuel gauge" for your battery.

* Can anyone estimate what the charging rate would be while on the move? I've only seen them at 'Normal' and under. If you have a split relay charging system it charges your LB very quickly. You might expect it to be near-fully charged after driving for a few hours. Same with a "Towing" switch.

* The fridge i notice remains on unless i turn it off manually...as in, it remains on if the source selector switch remains 'Off' on the PMS3V. Did the battery die because my fridge is drawing power from the car battery instead of the leisure battery? Only way you'll kill your starter battery if either you leave the source selector switch on "Car", or, your fridge is not wired into the PMS V3 but directly to your starter battery, which it very much sounds like. When you put the switch in the middle (not car or van) the feidge should switch off.

* Other than the fridge, the only power i find i've needed has been for phones (USB from the 12v lighter socket) and a radio, which is rechargeable from 240v mains (meaning i have to charge it in my house before leaving). It would be great if the radio would charge while on the move, and that phones/ipads could be charged from the leisure battery. What are my options here? For USB charging, I install these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Generic-Marine- ... flush+dual . You coudl just install a 12v ciggy socket and use your devices' car chargers but my way eliminates the need for lots of car chargers. All you need are your USB leads. For your radio - look at the charger and see what voltage and current (Mah, or A) it is rated at....

Apologies if these are stupid questions. One day I might be in a position to actually offer advice on these forums, but for the time being I appreciate any thoughts you have!

Thanks again for your time

Tom x[/quote]