Installing a Powerpart PDU
- Thread starter FactionRaptor
- Start date
Couple of first thoughts/questions...
Has it ever worked, i.e. is this a recent change or a problem from install?
There are no fuses in the first two positions marked V battery and L battery - from the catalogue picture those are white fuses so likely 25A which is about right - have there ever been fuses there? (Don't rush to replace them, if it was like that at conversion there may be a reason in the way it is wired - or it's possible that the system has been left for an easy upgrade to lithium)
The uncovered battery terminals near the seat frame make me a bit nervous, would be good to get those protected long term with some covers:
Has it ever worked, i.e. is this a recent change or a problem from install?
There are no fuses in the first two positions marked V battery and L battery - from the catalogue picture those are white fuses so likely 25A which is about right - have there ever been fuses there? (Don't rush to replace them, if it was like that at conversion there may be a reason in the way it is wired - or it's possible that the system has been left for an easy upgrade to lithium)
The uncovered battery terminals near the seat frame make me a bit nervous, would be good to get those protected long term with some covers:
Battery Terminal Cover - Right Hand Entry - Positive (Red)
PVC battery terminal cover for the positive post with the cable entry point on the right hand side of the cover.
www.12voltplanet.co.uk
Hi there. Are you saying that when plugged into the 230vEHU, your Leisure Battery (LB) does charge? Forgive me, but what do you mean by split charging not working.
My LB is charged by the vehicle running using the Sterling Power Unit.
Access to the rear of my PDU is tricky, I'll take a look though.
What size are those fuses on the LB and Vehicle Battery (within the PDU?)
Yeah mine charges on 240, just plugged in and flip the big switch on the front. I do get a green light behind the vent but in the front when the charger is on and a gentle hum
I meant being charged by the vehicle running yeah, but I see with yours going through the sterling it won't help me anyway so don't worry about the picture
My starter and LB are wired into into those first two fuses that yours is missing, which I think is the split charger in the PDU, but it's not charging mine with the vehicle running
There is no split relay in any of the descriptions of the Powerpatrt PDU online (at least the first page of google results).
The Magnum Motorhomes description confusingly says:
"Float charger for charging leisure batteries when travelling (please note if you have a smart alternator on your van you cannot use this feature)"
But it also says:
"What you do not get in the kit and you may need to add
- A form of split charge relay (to charge you leisure battery while travelling)"
How weird, it's strange how little info there is on these the manual is terrible.
Where that arrow is on mine (corresponds to the front 25a fuse) I have a wire attached to the starter battery and it gets 14+ volts with the engine on.
Then the one next I just get whatever reading the leisure battery is on, but it also has a midi 30a fuse on that wire to LB. I was wondering if I am missing a ignition switch wire based off what the person who started this was asking, but it may just not have a split charger at all I guess it's certainly not working if there is one
Not sure why my photo shows no fuses in the LB and Vehicle B points, There are yellow 20ampo fuses in both. Still no charging of the LB from the 230EHU. The light behind the mesh come on, the van 240v sockets work.
Reading the description, it seems it will provide 12v power from the 240v, and if not then either the Leisure or the Vehicle battery. Many PDUs have the option to run the 12v from the starter battery in extremis.
I think it might also have said one one of the sites that it would charge the Vehicle battery on hook-up?
I queried this with Pennine Leisure Supplies who still sell this PDU
Q: "HI. Does the Powerpart PDU (BC21001) have a Leisure battery charger included? i.e. charger LB when connected to 230V EHU."
A: This unit does include a Charging unit.
My sockets work regardless when the vans plugged in but it only charges the LB with the front switch on.
I'm in Turkiye ATM but next time we get to a campsite I'll plug it in and try and see where the charge goes from when it's on
If you do have a pic of the back then if/when you have it out that would be great
Yeah it definitely has a 230 charger that works for me. In the original post of this thread the guys looking for advice of what a certain wire is he was provided, and he says he emailed them they confirmed it was ignition for split charge - sorry I'm new not sure if there's an easier way to link to tag
None of my wires have the original colours as far as I can tell though, it thinks I'm maybe missing that ignition connection but not sure, was hoping someone could confirm from the picture of the back.
Admittedly I'm more holding out on hope I do have one so I can hopefully fix it though
From this photo are you able to identify which one runs from the PDU to charge the Leisure battery? TIA
The red one to right of the arrow, on the same 8pin is connected to the LB with a 30a midi fuse on it too, but im not sure if it's related to the charger on EHU, because I'm not on it ATM to check sorry.
Will turn it on and check the voltage next time I'm plugged in though.
There's definitely none in the photo you posted!
Have you read either of these?
Seems to be some talk on caravan forums that the charger (12v power supply) fails.
The manual confirms it is a 13.8v supply which will act to charge the leisure battery. Similar to what I have as a stand-alone charger not ideal, but will do a job.
Definitely no split relay in the PDU. The "ignition signal out" will be to trigger a separate split relay, which will charge the leisure battery when the engine is running.
Weekend job I'm afraid.
Fuses def installed. Must have uploaded the wrong bloody pic. These are the latest ones, showing the fuses and the wiring back
Makes sense. As a real non electrician - how do i check whether the PDU battery charger is working? I need too find out if the fault is with the PDU charger itself, or somewhere further down the line with fuses tripped maybe?
