Several electrical issues - any help appreciated.

[GMJ]

Coming back from a month away, yesterday we encountered several issues which I'd be really grateful for some insight into if possible. Our MH is a 2017 Autotrail Comanche with a Sargent EC500 Power Supply unit with an EC480 Control Panel above the door. It has a small bank of fuses set into the floor immediately behind the drivers seat which would be above the hab batteries which are underneath in a locker accessible from outside.

Issue No1 - The small bank of fuses set in the floor behind the drivers seat (above the leisure batteries) started buzzing yesterday: an on/off regular buzz. This only happens when the ignition is not on. When I remove the 5A Tan coloured fuse marked 'Marker Lights' the buzzer stops. I have checked the fuse (looks OK) and also changed the fuse, to no avail. With a new fuse in, it still buzzes. As it stops buzzing with the ignition on I'm guessing it is something to do with the 12v electrics?

Issue No2 - The ECU500 has twice come up with a warning that the 'Vehicle Battery Voltage is Low'. This is accompanied by the bleeping warning and clears after 1 minute or so. The EC480 panel then shows the vehicle battery level as either around 12v or the display goes haywire between Green and Red and the max/min voltage. NB I fitted a brand new vehicle battery in April and the MH starts first time, no problem.

Issue No3 - The EC500 has started to switch itself off after only being on for a matter of seconds. I'm guessing that this could be a fail safe and maybe to do with the other problems.

Has anyone had any of the above issues? Or if not, could anyone make any sensible suggestions as to the causes and what I can do to solve? We are due to be going away again in 3 weeks time so I need to get this sorted sharpish.

I'm happy to add any more info; answer questions; or add piccies if needed.

Thanks

 

[AllanD]

I had similar to issue No2 with a Sargent EC700 so phoned the Sargent Technical support team (+44 1482 678981). The first suggestion was to reset the unit by completely shutting it down (off button on the controller itself, not the display) but ultimately I had to change the unit itself. Their tech support was very good and they provided the service exchange quite quickly.

 

[argoose]

What is the actual traction battery voltage.
Low voltage can cause issues.

 

[wildebus]

Coming back from a month away, yesterday we encountered several issues which I'd be really grateful for some insight into if possible. Our MH is a 2017 Autotrail Comanche with a Sargent EC500 Power Supply unit with an EC480 Control Panel above the door. It has a small bank of fuses set into the floor immediately behind the drivers seat which would be above the hab batteries which are underneath in a locker accessible from outside.

Issue No1 - The small bank of fuses set in the floor behind the drivers seat (above the leisure batteries) started buzzing yesterday: an on/off regular buzz. This only happens when the ignition is not on. When I remove the 5A Tan coloured fuse marked 'Marker Lights' the buzzer stops. I have checked the fuse (looks OK) and also changed the fuse, to no avail. With a new fuse in, it still buzzes. As it stops buzzing with the ignition on I'm guessing it is something to do with the 12v electrics?

Is this buzzing like a "proper" buzzing or is it more like a noise?
It kind of sounds like a "lights left on" warning if it only happens when the ignition is off and related to the marker lights? maybe a "bulb out" warning? have you checked that the marker lights are all working?

Issue No2 - The ECU500 has twice come up with a warning that the 'Vehicle Battery Voltage is Low'. This is accompanied by the bleeping warning and clears after 1 minute or so. The EC480 panel then shows the vehicle battery level as either around 12v or the display goes haywire between Green and Red and the max/min voltage. NB I fitted a brand new vehicle battery in April and the MH starts first time, no problem.

Sounds like maybe aa poor fuse connection? Yout could try removing both the Vehicle Battery and Leisure Battery fuses from the EC500 unit. That will kill all the 12V and also remove power from the Control Panel and give it a bit of a reset. I find with my Control Panel I sometimes have to do that when the 12V is playing up (or when I am messing around with it usually!). It might sort Issue #3 out as well?

Issue No3 - The EC500 has started to switch itself off after only being on for a matter of seconds. I'm guessing that this could be a fail safe and maybe to do with the other problems.

Has anyone had any of the above issues? Or if not, could anyone make any sensible suggestions as to the causes and what I can do to solve? We are due to be going away again in 3 weeks time so I need to get this sorted sharpish.

I'm happy to add any more info; answer questions; or add piccies if needed.

Thanks

 

[GMJ]

Thanks David, thanks all.

What I have done so far...

- I checked the vehicle battery and it shows 12.4v whilst at rest.

- I tested the habitation batteries and they show 12.5v at rest.

- I checked all the connections in and around the battery box (I have an inverter in there as well) and all seemed OK to me.

- I pulled the habitation and vehicle fuses as David said above, and replaced them.

- I did a manual reset on the EC500 using the black button.

The outcome...

Firstly, very positive. The panel stayed on and the buzzing fuse (David: it is definitely a proper buzzer sound rather than a background buzz) didn't buzz! After around 45 minutes though the panel switched itself off and the buzzing started again.

Now the panel will not switch on/stay on whether I switch it above the door or at the EC500.

David: excuse my ignorance but what are the marker lights? If you mean sidelights, I'll have to check them tonight as it's too bright out there at the mo to check those.

 

[wildebus]

The Marker lights are the ones at the top corners of the body (so pair of whites in the front, pair of reds at the back) that come on with the side lights. MOT requirement for vehicles over a certain height.
These lights are a bit renowned for playing up and having bad grounds (one of mine wasn't working as voltage too low - cleaned bulb connections and seemed ok again).
They can be a pain to check as they are fairly dull at the best of times and so inset you have to step a way back to be able to even see the bulbs, so maybe check around 8 o'clock tonight?
It could well be a red herring going down this path

The rest of the problem ... dunno You can get a replacement control panel, but that is £240! It doesn't sound very promising TBH.

 

[GMJ]

Thanks David

I'll check the lights tonight and I'll ring Sargent now.

 

[GMJ]

I spoke with Sargent who suggested that I check the connections in the back of the EC40 floor box. I have pulled that out and all the connections looked sound to me.

I have the control panel on now and it has been on for 47 mins and counting. Also no fuse buzzer either.

I'll keep an eye on it and check it periodically to ensure that it stays on.

 

[wildebus]

Fingers crossed. People have good things to say about Sargent support and they know their product best

 

[GMJ]

I'm not sure the lad I talked to was too impressed with me as I'm not too techie!

Anyway, the panel stayed on for 1h 45mns when I switched it off (and no buzzer either). I'll give it another go tomorrow and if all is OK I'll start putting the MH back together (I had to unscrew 2 pieces of trim to get to the EC40!!).

I'll check the marker lights later too when it gets dark

 

[GMJ]

The Marker lights are the ones at the top corners of the body (so pair of whites in the front, pair of reds at the back) that come on with the side lights. MOT requirement for vehicles over a certain height.
These lights are a bit renowned for playing up and having bad grounds (one of mine wasn't working as voltage too low - cleaned bulb connections and seemed ok again).
They can be a pain to check as they are fairly dull at the best of times and so inset you have to step a way back to be able to even see the bulbs, so maybe check around 8 o'clock tonight?
It could well be a red herring going down this path

The rest of the problem ... dunno You can get a replacement control panel, but that is £240! It doesn't sound very promising TBH.

I checked the marker lights and they all came on with the sidelights when on dipped beam.

Fingers crossed that it all works again today so I can put it all back together again. I'll just double check all the connections again just to be sure.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Marker lights to me are the orange ones down the side of a van/truck/bus, not sidelights.

That is the limit of my help sadly.

 

[GMJ]

It was explained to me by David that they are 2 white and 2 red lights at the upper front and upper back of high sided vehicles. I didn't know that as I thought they were the orange side lights/running lights as well.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Yes I forgot they sometimes are called running lights, but I think that is wrong, running lights to me are at the front and rear, and orange marker lights show to the side mainly so you can see a truck etc waiting at a side turning where you might not see the front or rear lights, I think there is a rule about how far apart they need to be depending on vehicle length, I only know as I was warned by Plodd when I didn't fit any to a trailer I'd built my LWB sprinter had three each side.

But back to topic.

 

[wildebus]

Yup, I think the side mounted low side markers and the top corners are both referred to generally as Marker Lights
Neither are usually called "side lights", but "side lights" (as in the dim ones with the headlights and the rear tail lights) are not side lights either, they are 'position lamps' officially. In effect the lower side lights and the upper marker lights are there to outline the vehicle for oncoming and following traffic. And all the above come on together anyway

Yes I forgot they sometimes are called running lights, but I think that is wrong, running lights to me are at the front and rear, and orange marker lights show to the side mainly so you can see a truck etc waiting at a side turning where you might not see the front or rear lights, I think there is a rule about how far apart they need to be depending on vehicle length, I only know as I was warned by Plodd when I didn't fit any to a trailer I'd built my LWB sprinter had three each side.

But back to topic.

Don't know about Trailers, but the side markers are not required for Motorhomes, irrespective of the length, even though a commercial of the same length may require them. (I had side markers on my LT LWB and left them when I converted it as why not).

 

[Pudsey Bear]

side markers are not required for Motorhomes, irrespective of the length

Not sure on that one David but, but you are probbly right, I'm pretty sure most of ours have had them and the Ace does too

 

[wildebus]

Not sure on that one David but, but you are probbly right, I'm pretty sure most of ours have had them and the Ace does too

Here are some offical descriptions for the lights we are talking about which the regs seem to bundle together in regulations ....
front and rear position lamps, (so these are the regular 'sidelights' that people are familiar with)
rear registration plate lamps, (number plate lights)
side marker lamps, (these would be the markers alongside a long vehicle)
end-outline marker lamps (these would be the lights in the top corners of a tall vehicle)

Are Side Markers needed on a Motorhome? I think it is one of these things where IF they are fitted, they need to be working, but if they are not present, it doesn't matter (so if say you had them and they were not working, it would fail an MOT, but if you removed them or put duct tape over them, it would pass).
Personally, I think they are a good idea and don't know why on a long Motorhome, it isn't needed but an equivalently sized 'working' van must have them. I guess some makers may add them for their own reasons, but not legally needed.

Example of a fairly long Motorhome without side marker lamps, but with end-outline marker lamps due to height ....

If this were a plain van of that length, it would have them for sure.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Wow, very surprised that doesn't have them when my <6mtr does, I wonder if cost and complexity decides it.

 

[wildebus]

Wow, very surprised that doesn't have them when my <6mtr does, I wonder if cost and complexity decides it.

if yours is a PVC, then maybe they were standard fit by the vehicle maker and so the conversion 'inheritated' them?
I think some people do add side reflectors (as opposed to actual lights) on their long motorhomes? Anything that helps being seen must be useful.
the Cheyenne in the picture is I think 8.4M long (model is an 840D) and well within scope of extra markers being handy

 

[Pudsey Bear]

No David, it's a Swift Ace Siena coach built.

As you can see it has upper white/red lights and 3 orange markers.