Sargent EC400+ Series Systems
Official technical documentation and workshop diagnostics for EC400+ Series Systems.
Technical Specifications
Master Troubleshooting & Diagnostics Matrix
| Error Code / Indicator | Symptom / Meaning | Step-by-Step DIY Fix | Suggested Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
N/A | Water pump turns off after about 10 minutes, requiring the pump button to be turned OFF and ON again at the control panel to work again. Possible Cause: The Autofill option is switched on in the EC445 PSU, causing the system to treat the water pump as a filler pump. | Go to the PSU, press the yellow button to scroll to the TANKFILL screen, and press the red button so that 'OFF' is shown in the display. Your pump will now stay active all the time the pump button is ON. | DIY Safe |
N/A | Inaccurate battery amp-hour (AH) reading on the EC480 control panel, occurring because the leisure battery has been removed from the van and charged independently, or an additional/larger battery has been fitted. Possible Cause: The AH calculation is out of sync due to independent battery charging or a battery change, requiring a reset of the AH start point. | Turn off the 12V Power to the Van. Scroll to the manufacturer logo screen (E.g. Autotrail). Press and Hold the Up and Down Scroll arrows to enter the programming mode. Use the scroll keys to navigate the menus to b) AH Start Point. Use the Select ( < ) key to adjust the setting to the estimated battery capacity, i.e. 100% when fully charged. Scroll to 'Exit Advanced' and use the Select key to exit. | DIY Safe |
N/A | Inaccurate current (A) reading displayed on the EC480 or EC300 control panel, which can be caused by a replacement control panel being installed. Possible Cause: The ammeter within the EC500 PSU is uncalibrated relative to the control panel. | Turn off the 12V Power to the van. Turn off the Battery Charger. Where possible solar panels should be covered. Scroll to the active battery screen (Battery Current Screen on EC300). Press and hold the select button (<) to start the calibration process. Note the 'A' / 'Batt Amps' Reading reset to 0. Once calibrated you should see a more accurate display of the current. | DIY Safe |
N/A | Leisure batteries are discharging or not lasting as long as expected Possible Cause: A faulty or deficient battery (even a new one) is the cause of the problem. | Fully charge the leisure battery for at least 24 hours. Turn off the charger until starting any testing. Disconnect or cover your solar panel to ensure no readings are affected. Disconnect the Stinger alarm (if fitted). If two leisure batteries are fitted, test one battery at a time. To test the PSU system draw, fit an ammeter or plug-in meter in place of the leisure battery fuse. With the PSU shutdown button out, record the reading; if it is not zero, disconnect any equipment not part of the original installation that is using current. With the PSU shutdown button in, record the reading and compare it to the system Power OFF column. With the PSU shutdown button in and control panel power turned on (with all items turned off), record the reading and compare it to the system Power ON column. To test the battery charger, record the leisure battery voltage on the control panel or across the battery terminals with a volt meter (expected around 12.7V, or 13V to 13.5V if it has recently been on charge). Turn the mains charger on and observe the voltage display rise and settle into float mode of 13.6V. Turn a few lights on and verify the battery voltage changes from 13.5V to 14.4V. To test the battery capacity, turn the control panel power on and turn on some lights until you have about 5A shown on the ammeter, and start a stopwatch or note the start time. Allow the battery to discharge until the voltage reaches 10V where the control panel will emit a warning and switch the power off, then note the elapsed time. Calculate the actual power delivered by multiplying the discharge rate by the hours elapsed. If you get a low reading, repeat the test to see if you get the same result. Poor batteries should be returned to the supplier or manufacturer for discharge testing and confirmation of your results. | DIY Safe |
N/A | With the PSU shutdown button out, the ammeter reading is not zero Possible Cause: Some other equipment which is not part of the original installation is connected and using current. | Disconnect this extra equipment. | DIY Safe |
N/A | Water pump turns off after about 10 minutes, requiring the pump button to be turned OFF and ON again at the control panel to work again. Possible Cause: The Autofill option is switched on in the EC445 PSU, causing the system to treat the water pump as a filler pump. | Go to the PSU, press the yellow button to scroll to the TANKFILL screen, and press the red button so that 'OFF' is shown in the display. Your pump will now stay active all the time the pump button is ON. | DIY Safe |
N/A | Inaccurate battery amp-hour (AH) reading on the EC480 control panel, occurring because the leisure battery has been removed from the van and charged independently, or an additional/larger battery has been fitted. Possible Cause: The AH calculation is out of sync due to independent battery charging or a battery change, requiring a reset of the AH start point. | Turn off the 12V Power to the Van. Scroll to the manufacturer logo screen (E.g. Autotrail). Press and Hold the Up and Down Scroll arrows to enter the programming mode. Use the scroll keys to navigate the menus to b) AH Start Point. Use the Select ( < ) key to adjust the setting to the estimated battery capacity, i.e. 100% when fully charged. Scroll to 'Exit Advanced' and use the Select key to exit. | DIY Safe |
N/A | Inaccurate current (A) reading displayed on the EC480 or EC300 control panel, which can be caused by a replacement control panel being installed. Possible Cause: The ammeter within the EC500 PSU is uncalibrated relative to the control panel. | Turn off the 12V Power to the van. Turn off the Battery Charger. Where possible solar panels should be covered. Scroll to the active battery screen (Battery Current Screen on EC300). Press and hold the select button (<) to start the calibration process. Note the 'A' / 'Batt Amps' Reading reset to 0. Once calibrated you should see a more accurate display of the current. | DIY Safe |
N/A | Leisure batteries are discharging or not lasting as long as expected Possible Cause: A faulty or deficient battery (even a new one) is the cause of the problem. | Fully charge the leisure battery for at least 24 hours. Turn off the charger until starting any testing. Disconnect or cover your solar panel to ensure no readings are affected. Disconnect the Stinger alarm (if fitted). If two leisure batteries are fitted, test one battery at a time. To test the PSU system draw, fit an ammeter or plug-in meter in place of the leisure battery fuse. With the PSU shutdown button out, record the reading; if it is not zero, disconnect any equipment not part of the original installation that is using current. With the PSU shutdown button in, record the reading and compare it to the system Power OFF column. With the PSU shutdown button in and control panel power turned on (with all items turned off), record the reading and compare it to the system Power ON column. To test the battery charger, record the leisure battery voltage on the control panel or across the battery terminals with a volt meter (expected around 12.7V, or 13V to 13.5V if it has recently been on charge). Turn the mains charger on and observe the voltage display rise and settle into float mode of 13.6V. Turn a few lights on and verify the battery voltage changes from 13.5V to 14.4V. To test the battery capacity, turn the control panel power on and turn on some lights until you have about 5A shown on the ammeter, and start a stopwatch or note the start time. Allow the battery to discharge until the voltage reaches 10V where the control panel will emit a warning and switch the power off, then note the elapsed time. Calculate the actual power delivered by multiplying the discharge rate by the hours elapsed. If you get a low reading, repeat the test to see if you get the same result. Poor batteries should be returned to the supplier or manufacturer for discharge testing and confirmation of your results. | DIY Safe |
N/A | With the PSU shutdown button out, the ammeter reading is not zero Possible Cause: Some other equipment which is not part of the original installation is connected and using current. | Disconnect this extra equipment. | DIY Safe |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I charge the vehicle battery from my system?
Our electronic PSU systems fall into two categories regarding vehicle battery charging: systems not based on CAN-bus and newer CAN-bus based systems. For Manual Charging only systems (PSU2007 with EC200, EC225 with EC100, EC325, EC328, EC155 with EC50/51, EC176 with EC361/2/3): The default battery is the leisure battery. If the control panel power button is OFF, the mains charger charges the leisure battery as soon as it is switched on. If you turn the control panel ON, the mains charger stays connected to the leisure battery to keep it charged and powers the leisure loads along with the leisure battery. If you wish to charge the vehicle battery from the mains charger, you need to turn the control panel ON and then select the vehicle battery. The charger will then charge the vehicle battery and any switched-on leisure loads. Note: On EC100, EC200, EC325, and EC50/51 control panels, you cannot select the vehicle battery if it is below 10.9V. On EC328 control panels (V2.21 software), if the vehicle battery is above 2V and the mains charger is switched on, it can be selected for charge. If the mains supply disconnects while charging the vehicle battery, leisure loads will draw current from and discharge the vehicle battery. If the voltage is under the 10.9V cut-off, it switches back to the leisure battery; if above, it switches back when it reaches 10.9V. The leisure battery has a 9V cut-off which disconnects leisure loads to prevent further discharge. For CAN-bus based systems (EC400, EC450, EC500, EC600, EC700, & EC800): These incorporate a smart charge feature which is on by default but can be disabled. When the mains charger is switched on, it connects by default to the leisure battery, but the vehicle battery is monitored. If the vehicle battery drops below 12.4V, the mains charger switches over to it for 4 hours, then drops back to the leisure battery for 4 hours, repeating if the vehicle battery is still below 12.4V. The smart charge feature does not require the control panel to be ON; as long as the system shutdown button is switched on, the feature operates unless disabled. If the control panel is ON, you can manually select the battery of choice on the control panel at any point in the charge cycle.
Q: What are the differences between the EC400 series PSU and control panel versions?
When the EC400 was introduced in 2010, there were two versions of PSU (EC440 low spec and EC445 high spec) and two matching versions of control panel (EC441 low spec and EC446 high spec). The EC445 PSU and EC446 control panel were fitted into caravans featuring an on-board water tank with multiple tank filling arrangements, featuring an LCD screen on the PSU for changing settings like 'Autofill' and a water level display on the control panel. The EC440 PSU and EC441 control panel were fitted together in caravans without an internal water tank, meaning the EC440 had no LCD display and the EC441 had no water level display. Some mid-range vans without water tanks had the option to fit a tank later, so they were fitted with the EC445 PSU and the EC441 control panel.
Q: How do I calibrate the EC480 battery amps and battery size?
To calibrate or set the battery size and options on the EC480 control panel: Turn off the 12V Power to the Van. Scroll to the manufacturer logo screen (E.g. Autotrail). Press and Hold the Up and Down Scroll arrows to enter the programming mode. Use the scroll keys to navigate the menus to a) Battery Size (Set to Appropriate Size) and b) AH Start Point (Set to Estimated Battery Capacity, I.e. 100% when fully charged). Use the Select ( < ) key to adjust the settings. Scroll to 'Exit Advanced' and Use the Select key to exit.
Q: I would like to fit a Lithium battery
Most Sargent systems have a Battery Charger like a PX300 or PF200 connected to the system. If your vehicle has another charger fitted, please consult the manufacturer's manual to check its compatibility with Lithium batteries. The PX300 charging profile is suitable for many Lithium batteries designed for the leisure industry that are fitted with an internal Battery Management System (BMS). You can find a downloadable attachment detailing the charging profile and voltages on the PX300 product page, and you will need to ask the battery manufacturer of your choice if the PX300 charger would be suitable for their battery. Sargent systems fitted with a PX300 are: EC328, EC400 Series, EC500, EC600, EC700, EC800, and EC400+. If your system is NOT fitted with a PX300 then your charger will have a fixed voltage of 13.8V and this is normally considered to be unsuitable to fully charge a Lithium battery. You will also need to consider if you need to install a DC-DC charger when changing your battery to Lithium to limit the charging current.
Q: I would like to fit a second battery to my Auto-Trail motorhome
Fitting a second leisure battery to an Auto-Trail vehicle is usually straightforward. All current and most older models come equipped with a dedicated connector to allow an additional battery harness to be plugged in, making the whole process plug and play. When fitting a second battery, it is always best to fit the same manufacturer, type, and capacity as the original. If this isn't possible, try to keep to the same capacity and do not mix battery types (i.e. do not mix 'wet' and AGM). The battery harness is available from the web shop (https://sargentltd.co.uk/shop/product/auto_trail_additional_battery_harness_2011-2016/229). This is the new type as fitted to Auto-Trail vehicles from 2011 onwards. If you have an older van, you can order the older type, but the newer version will also fit your vehicle as the battery connector is the same. To install: 1. Connect the harness to your new leisure battery, ensuring both terminals are good and tight and that the terminal covers are in place. 2. Fit and secure the battery in the battery box or compartment (depending upon year/model), ensuring the harness is not trapped. 3. Remove the protective cap from the vehicle's additional battery connector. 4. Plug your new battery into the vehicle harness. If you have an EC328 or EC700 system, you are now ready to charge and use your additional leisure battery. If you have an EC500 fitted with the EC480 colour LCD control panel, you should set the battery capacity to match your new configuration (i.e., if you had a single 100Ah battery and fitted a second 100Ah battery, change the battery capacity to 200Ah in the advanced settings) and calibrate the current sensor. To access the advanced settings: 1. On the home screen (the one with the company / brand logo), press and hold the up and down arrows together. 2. Continue holding these buttons until the screen changes. 3. Scroll down to 'Battery Size' then use the select button to increase to the required battery size. 4. Scroll up to 'Exit Advanced' and use the select button to go back to normal operation. Note: After this, the Ah reading will have reduced; this will take several cycles of charge and discharge to get into sync with the actual battery capacity – this is quite normal and nothing to be concerned about. To calibrate the current sensor: 1. Turn off the charger and the control panel power button. 2. Scroll to the active battery screen. 3. Press and hold the select button until the 'calibrating please wait….' message is shown. 4. Release the select button. The procedure is complete.
Q: I would like to fit a different AGM battery
Whilst we do not recommend any specific make or model of battery, the PX300 charger used in systems including the EC400/EC400+, EC500, EC600, EC700, EC800, and EC328 is compatible with the majority of good quality AGM batteries available in the UK. The charge profile of the PX300 is shown in the instruction manual attached below. If you are in any doubt as to the fitment of a battery you should confirm with the battery distributor or manufacturer that the PX300 charge profile is suitable.
Q: Can I add extra solar panels to my system?
The limiting factor on how much solar you can connect to a Sargent PSU (Power Supply Unit) is dependant on the fuse that is protecting the solar circuit, which differs depending on your system. Maximum recommended solar wattage connected via the PSU for each series is as follows: EC325 – 120w, EC328 – 120w, EC400 – 80w, EC500 – 120w, EC600 – 120w, EC700 – 150w, EC800 – 150w, and EC400+ - 150w. You can add more solar if you connect the extra panels directly onto the leisure battery via a regulator and an appropriately sized fuse to protect the circuit. The downside to connecting directly onto the leisure battery with your extra solar and not connecting it through the PSU is that you will not get a solar reading on the control panel for the additional solar input. Other systems in our range do not have a solar input on the PSUs, so these would all need to be connected directly onto the leisure battery via a regulator and an appropriately sized fuse to protect the circuit. There is no limit to the amount of solar wattage you can install if you are connecting the solar directly onto the leisure battery.