Battery Charger

Discussion in 'Mech Tech' started by just-paul, Jan 12, 2019.

  1. I'm going to fit ctek charger to the camper to charge the leisure battery while on site hook up.
    The charger will be mounted under the bed next to the consumer unit and plugged into the 6amp trip.
    Is it best to run the charge wires back to the engine bay and connect direct to the leisure battery or
    can i connect to the 12v feed to the leisure battery fuse box inside the van ?
    Cheers
     
  2. Fuse box inside the van and run it through a fuse.
     
  3. I was hoping that would be ok .
    Cheers
    :thumbsup:
     
  4. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    Just remember the fuse should be at the battery end so it is impossible to melt the wiring with a not quite short circuit fault.
    Basically fuses protect wires.
    And ideally another one at the Ctek end..

    Otherwise when things go wrong there can be a trail of red hot copper wire and melted insulation running through your bus.

    Also having several fuses near power sources helps in fault finding or isolating a broken bit of kit without needing a screwdriver or wirecutters and insulating tape .
     
    Valveandy and theBusmonkey like this.
  5. Thanks for the replies,
    As it turned out it was easier to run he ctek wires back to the battery. I did put 1 inline fuse in the wiring at the battery but will add
    another one at the charger end if you think it needs one.
    Once it was all wired in i connected the bus to the mains to check the charger was working and it was, however when the charger
    is on the split charge relay kicks in and charge goes to the starter battery aswell .
    Do i need to fit an isolator switch to disconnect from the main battery when on hook up ?
    Cheers
     
  6. Voice of experience?
     
  7. I presume you’re split charge relay is voltage sense switching & not alternator triggered. I don’t see an issue with the ctek also charging the starter battery when the van is parked.
    If you’re using the consumables while the ctek is on & the battery voltage drops, the split charge relay should disconnect the two batteries anyway.
     
    theBusmonkey likes this.
  8. Yes it has a durite voltage sense relay.
    I never had any of the leisure electrics switched on when i tried the charger but will try it again with them on.
    Cheers
     
  9. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    Thats a good idea, the starter battery gets charged too. It obviously needs it as the VSR has determined the domestic battery is already reasonably charged.
    Dont worry, both batteries will be topped up together and you will not be suffering a flat starter battery for some reason.
     
  10. If its a durite VSR it will automatically "switch on" when the voltage goes above 13.2 volts or something similar. It isn't intelligent enough to charge one and then the other battery it is still realitvely dumb. It is in at a certain voltage allowing power to both batteries and off at a slightly lower voltage 12.8 for example. (Can't remember the exact Numbers)
     
  11. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    Exactly that. The same occurs with a solar charge into the LB. Once the LB is charged the excess charge is diverted to the SB. The Durite VSR is indeed 2 way, something they don't claim or list as a feature but one we discovered a few years ago. Both batteries are kept in peak condition :thumbsup:
     
    Iain McAvoy and Pickles like this.
  12. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    Being a cheapskate I just have a great big Schottky diode rated about 40 amps with a fuse between the LB and the SB so if the LB is being charged from solar or hookup then the SB is being charged at a slightly lower voltage.
    But I do have a zero volt charge splitter on the alternator a Mastervolt boat one bought as scrap for a tenner a while ago.
     
  13. So nowt to worry about :thumbsup:
    Cheers
     
    theBusmonkey likes this.

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