PMS 3h - Power Management System

I only get 12v when van selected yes. 240v all works fine even when selector is neutral. Should I have 12v system available regardless of position?

I’ve got a victron 15A on order next day with Amazon
 
No 12v should only be available in either Car or Van position only. In your case Van only as your starter battery is not connected to the PMS. The Victron will sort you out no problem.
 
Ok so 12v is available in van position as I’ve only wired that in to power that system. The battery charger should still charge the leisure battery though right?
 
Are all your fuses ok? There’s a yellow blade one on mine that I’m sure someone has previously said was for the charger. Mine is wired differently for some reason and if I pull that fuse, I get no power to or from the battery.
 
Yeah the fuses are all good and I pulled this bladed fuse and checked it was intact. When I pulled the connections from the battery and put a multimeter on the connections and turned the charger on and set to van I was getting nothing but someone mentioned you need a load on it for it to start delivering charge
 
I am pretty sure you need your source selector to be in Van position when charging. The charger has an output of up to 18amps. Can you hear any sound from the charger?
 
Good point. This is definitely the case with mine. Keeping that selector in the middle is the only way I can use shore power whilst keeping the rubbish charger of the PMS away from my lithium battery.
 
Just don't turn the charger on. I never use it. My Victron charges the Lithium LB. Surely you need to select Van to run your 12v system even on shore power.
 
Mine is strange. The “charger supply” button needs to be on or I get no shore power to the system. I’m eventually going to remove the PMS altogether, my fridge and lights are on separate fuses anyway and my diesel heater is wired via a fuse direct to the battery.
 
Yeah I tried with the switch selected to Van but not noticed any noise or even a flicker in increased voltage. In any case I’ve gone down the victron route. Seems to be one of the best solutions and I’m only using 2 out of 3 mcb’s so could either hardwire it into the unit or simply run it off a socket. Thanks for all the advice and support
 
PKK1973 said:
Mine is strange. The “charger supply” button needs to be on or I get no shore power to the system. I’m eventually going to remove the PMS altogether, my fridge and lights are on separate fuses anyway and my diesel heater is wired via a fuse direct to the battery.
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Your PMS is not correctly wired. Check it out. The problem with removing the PMS which I considered is it leaves a big hole. :(
 
Jollyvan said:
Your PMS is not correctly wired. Check it out. The problem with removing the PMS which I considered is it leaves a big hole. :(
Click to expand...
I know it's not wired as per the instructions, but it works as per the printed instructions from Camper Versions who did the conversion. I've got separate fuses outside the PMS for the PMS itself, the fridge, the pop-top lights and a voltage meter. I've thought that when I get round to having the PMS removed, I'll use the big hole for a new shelf.
 
My main motivations for removing it are that the charger is useless for my battery and that I don't understand what's going on inside the (literal) black box. It's too opaque. I'd much rather have the fuses for everything clear and visible and easy to problem solve. At the minute as I don't use the charger, it's mainly just for EHU (which I very rarely use anyway).
 
travelvolts said:
Sorry to disillusion you but the PMS 3 will not charge your leisure battery correctly, either from the engine of from the mains. You will find that your battery slowly loses its full charge over a period of time and will subsequently be damaged beyond recovery.
You need a DC-DC charger to charge from the alternator and the PMS mains "charger" is only really a power supply for your 12 volt circuits when hooked up to the mains. At 13.8 volts it will maintain a full battery will not charge a depleted one.
Click to expand...
Hi travel volts,

I saw your post about this charger and wondered if you could help? I have one in my t5 and have the issues you've identified about it not really charging the leisure battery, assume from what you say as only puts out 13.8v.

When plugged in, would it be OK to use a standard battery charger (I have an aa smart as one I use) to plug into the 3 pin socket in the van and charge the lesuire battery off that? (with charger supply on but battery selector rocker set to nothing)

Also, do you know anyone near Newton abbot that would be able to look at my install and see if it makes any sense?

Thanks in advance, I've been a bit stuck up till I saw your post. The fridge is the problem, it's ice cold whe the engine is running ie plugged into mains, but any other time it doesn't seem to work very well.

If I could pay for a zoom call with you that would also be great.

Cheers

Ollie
 
Ollie1 said:
Hi travel volts,

I saw your post about this charger and wondered if you could help? I have one in my t5 and have the issues you've identified about it not really charging the leisure battery, assume from what you say as only puts out 13.8v.

When plugged in, would it be OK to use a standard battery charger (I have an aa smart as one I use) to plug into the 3 pin socket in the van and charge the lesuire battery off that? (with charger supply on but battery selector rocker set to nothing)

Also, do you know anyone near Newton abbot that would be able to look at my install and see if it makes any sense?

Thanks in advance, I've been a bit stuck up till I saw your post. The fridge is the problem, it's ice cold whe the engine is running ie plugged into mains, but any other time it doesn't seem to work very well.

If I could pay for a zoom call with you that would also be great.

Cheers

Ollie
Click to expand...
He has retired and closed up the business and no longer on here as far as I know.
 
There is plenty of knowledge on here, as this thread highlights.
Why not post some pictures of what you have and see what advice is forthcoming.

Pete
 
Jollyvan said:
The charger is very poor and only puts a small current into the battery. Most people with PMS use a Victron type charger run off your 240v outlet to charge the leisure battery whilst on hook up.
Click to expand...
@Ollie1 Put more info on with details of model of fridge and how wired into the van. As @Pete C says
 
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