What did you do to your van today?

Update to Post #5318, and a big thank you to Barry (Molly3) who suggested yesterday that the Lithium SOC reading was not broken, but not getting enough charge quickly enough (despite 3 days light battery use and solar yields of 930Wh, 1050Wh and 1200Wh in last 7 days), leaving the SOC reporting 6%, even at 13.6v

Plugged into a mains socket and at 16 amps + charge, SOC remained at 6 or 7% at 13.5v then took off like a rocket! 3 hours after plug in, the SOC steamed up to 100% and the charging voltage plummeted to 0.49amp

Still need to get a more powerful battery, but at least the current model is out of ITU now and able to get back to work now

Thanks again, Barry!

Steve
 
Today, whilst rummaging around underneath the shower room sink I discovered that plastic sinks become brittle with time!!! Oh did I say "oh bother" a few times after knocking the drain pipe and seeing the base of the sink quite literally break all around the plug hole "oh bother"!! But I suppose after 8 years these vac formed plastics do become somewhat brittle.

Lucky for me that the always brilliant https://magnummotorhomes.co.uk/ will be delivering a like for like replacement by 10.30hrs this morning.
 
I was concerned about being away in the van for any length of time that my beer would go off due to heat, but no noo! A wee maxi 110 chiller 6mtr of copper coil hey presto a keg cooler. I have some armcell insulation to make a jacket for the keg as well😂20230603_103530.jpg
 
Millie Master said:
Today, whilst rummaging around underneath the shower room sink I discovered that plastic sinks become brittle with time!!! Oh did I say "oh bother" a few times after knocking the drain pipe and seeing the base of the sink quite literally break all around the plug hole "oh bother"!! But I suppose after 8 years these vac formed plastics do become somewhat brittle.

Lucky for me that the always brilliant https://magnummotorhomes.co.uk/ will be delivering a like for like replacement by 10.30hrs this morning.
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Most here grp around the plug hole underneath about 6 ins out, me id just make a grp plug and make a new one.
 
marchie said:
Update to Post #5318, and a big thank you to Barry (Molly3) who suggested yesterday that the Lithium SOC reading was not broken, but not getting enough charge quickly enough (despite 3 days light battery use and solar yields of 930Wh, 1050Wh and 1200Wh in last 7 days), leaving the SOC reporting 6%, even at 13.6v

Plugged into a mains socket and at 16 amps + charge, SOC remained at 6 or 7% at 13.5v then took off like a rocket! 3 hours after plug in, the SOC steamed up to 100% and the charging voltage plummeted to 0.49amp

Still need to get a more powerful battery, but at least the current model is out of ITU now and able to get back to work now

Thanks again, Barry!

Steve
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Think you may be being over-optimistic? The same issues will return without too much delay.

There are quite a few folk on the unfunny forum with KS Energy Batteries and bad data. And KS Energy will do nothing about it as that part of the battery is not part of the normal 5 odd year warranty. (they WILL fix it if you pay them, of course ;) )
www.motorhomefun.co.uk

KS ENERGY BATTERY UPDATE & WARRANTY

As some of you will know, Alan recently had problems with his KS energy battery, and in particular the app showing 60 odd percent one minute then battery went flat the next and vice versa. Alan sent it back to KS energy for the battery to be tested. Its just been tested and below is his reply...
www.motorhomefun.co.uk www.motorhomefun.co.uk

I love the suggestion from KS Energy that sums up the confidence they appear to have in their product .... "Alternatively, you could fit the Victron Smart Shunt or the BMV712 either one will help measure the correct State of charge within the battery."
 
wildebus said:
Think you may be being over-optimistic? The same issues will return without too much delay.

There are quite a few folk on the unfunny forum with KS Energy Batteries and bad data. And KS Energy will do nothing about it as that part of the battery is not part of the normal 5 odd year warranty. (they WILL fix it if you pay them, of course ;) )
www.motorhomefun.co.uk

KS ENERGY BATTERY UPDATE & WARRANTY

As some of you will know, Alan recently had problems with his KS energy battery, and in particular the app showing 60 odd percent one minute then battery went flat the next and vice versa. Alan sent it back to KS energy for the battery to be tested. Its just been tested and below is his reply...
www.motorhomefun.co.uk www.motorhomefun.co.uk

I love the suggestion from KS Energy that sums up the confidence they appear to have in their product .... "Alternatively, you could fit the Victron Smart Shunt or the BMV712 either one will help measure the correct State of charge within the battery."
Click to expand...
I wouldn't buy another KS Energy product, as I think you are aware from our last conversation, David. However, I have managed to get the SOC reading accurately, and, for now, should be able to manage with it

I need a larger capacity battery, but the space in the Battery Box is quite limited (less than 42cm for the length, because of the Van heater pipe that takes up 9cm+), and most of the other Lithium Suppliers batteries are between 420 and 505mm in length. The only (almost) like-for-like Battery I can see is a Fogstar 300Ah

EDIT: KS Energy dimensions are 330mm L x 170mm W x 215mm H. Fogstar are 345mm x 190mm x 245mm, with the latter just leaving drop in room (and knuckles still at risk!)

Steve
 
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marchie said:
I wouldn't buy another KS Energy product, as I think you are aware from our last conversation, David. However, I have managed to get the SOC reading accurately, and, for now, should be able to manage with it

I need a larger capacity battery, but the space in the Battery Box is quite limited (less than 42cm for the length, because of the Van heater pipe that takes up 9cm+), and most of the other Lithium Suppliers batteries are between 420 and 505mm in length. The only (almost) like-for-like Battery I can see is a Fogstar 300Ah

Steve
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The heater pipe is an interesting thing.
since our conversations, I have looked at two other vans which had heater pipes in the box where the batteries need to live..... there are always options (y)
 
wildebus said:
The heater pipe is an interesting thing.
since our conversations, I have looked at two other vans which had heater pipes in the box where the batteries need to live..... there are always options (y)
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The heater pipe is linked to a vent hole and there isn't any other space to locate it (quite apart from the aesthetics of drilling another large aperture!). I would also like to get the Victron MPPT 75/15 into the Battery Box (above the Heater Pipe) rather than being wedged on top of the Electroblok, so need to think about extending the cabling. Lastly, the Fogstar has both terminals at one end of the Battery, and the transfer of some of the negative cables might be a close run thing!

Steve
 
No external power. 🤔

Checked the van's main fuse and all fine. Took apart mains hook-up and it was obvious, the live feed had snapped inside the blue connector. Fixed it and all ok again. Brownie points from Yvonne.

The best bit is that we can now walk to a bar. Sorted and two happy bunnies! 🙂
 
Tidied up the bombsite that the interior had become on the 3 back-to-Back Rallies, then did a '5 minute' quick mini wash of the cab and leading edges of the hab area. 90 minutes later I gave up trying to remove splattered insects and bugs ... They are at least clean dead insects now :rolleyes:

Steve
 
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The van is still in its post return from France state, i.e. very untidy, stuff everywhere and in need of a good clean inside and out. Anyway made a start by cleaning and flushing out a very smelly grey tank.
 
marchie said:
Tidied up the bombsite that the interior had become on the 3 back-to-Back Rallies, then did a '5 minute' quick mini wash of the cab and leading edges of the hab area. 90 minutes later I gave up trying to remove splattered insects and bugs ... They are at least clean dead insects now :rolleyes:

Steve
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Good product for removing the bugs ... G101 from Autosmart. spray (diluted from concentrate), leave to dwell for a few seconds and then you just wipe away with virtually no pressure or effort.
 
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