So, this isn't really a query, more to ask if anyone uses or bought this kit: http://www.xtremevan.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=5262 ? The sums stack up pretty much, and the end product is/will be neater IMO. Question is, are they any good? Or is it worth sourcing the individual components?
Not used that kit, but for neatness the sargent unit is very neat, i fitted one in my last bus, and i'm currently looking at a PMS3 for the new one http://sargentshop.co.uk/epages/eshop328964.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/eshop328964/Products/WB6001 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PMS3-Powe...ervan_Caravan_Accessories&hash=item3ccc291ed6
The split charger bit is a bit over the top for a bay but the mains kit is very good with all the correct bits and at a very good price If you want a all i one kit the pms 3 is very good Have a look at my 2 how tos http://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/leisure-electrics-230v.5526/ http://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/leisure-electrics-12v.5390/
How much!! Good grief that is daylight robbery! As Matty says a bit over the top for a Bay? What are you going to do host Festivals from your van? hahaha I just fitted one of these £14 http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/VWP-onlinestore/accessories/towing.php#scr Leisure battery in the LHD engine bay compartment, cables through pipe across the top of the engine near the rear door hinges, the relay next to the Van battery to keep the wires all short. I got all the other bits and bobs (blade type fuse box in my cupboard) from Amazon for relative peanuts! Job done. The Mains feed will eventually be via expernal connectors on opposite side of Tow bar socket plate, and via a garden RCD unit under the seat and mains sockets inside the van cargo area. All cheap and easy to do. (althought not got around to that bit yet?) Good guide btw Matty
Oh the battery is a Lucas Calcium http://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/leisure-batteries/110-ah-lucas-leisure-battery/ be careful some are too high or too fat to go under that part of the engine bay?
Thanks all. Made a good point - 140A is probably a little too much capacity what does the dynamo output? I guess , like the PMS and Sargent, you pay more for an 'all-in-one' package that's not specific to any one application and end up over-speccing the installation. I'll continue my search for a lower-cost install. Anyone tried this? http://www.brocott.co.uk/electronic...ching-split-charge-relay-12v-30amp-h78-1.html
Can i ask, on the above link t a 30amp split charge relay, what does the 30 amp refer to. My leisure battery is 110 ah, would that charge it?
It would yep. 110ah is a quantity of energy (technically it isn't, energy would be VAs, but we know we are talking 12V), it will provide you 1a for 110 hours, 110a for 1 hour etc etc. 30a on the relay refers to the total current you can put through it (360w in 12v power terms) before things start to get a little warm and melt Most chargers capable of charging your battery would output around 10a. An alternator would provide far more if it could, so always use a fuse to protect things too just in case there was a short circuit of some kind.
Mine is similar to that, I got a higher amperage one just to be on the safe side. I think some people on here had been blowing 20A fuses on the charging circuit and had to got to 30A. So it should be OK. Remember its not just the alternator output but also the potential that if you completely flatten you leisure battery then start the engine up the relay will close and there will be an initial surge from both the alternator and the starter battery which will quickly fall back down to about 10A and then gradually reduce until the LB is charged. These "Intelligent" relays are voltage sensing so if the voltage on the alternator/starter battery side is above about 13.4v the relay closes. I use this feature in the winter, I have a combo charger and inverter in the van, if I want to keep both batteries topped up all I have to do is connect the mains power to it quickly after the engine is turned off and the relay doesn't open so the charger is charging both batteries instead of just the LB.
Interesting? So do you manually connect up the van battery to the power hook up charger or is it via a switch? Just a little worried it might start frying the rectifier in the Alternator?
If the relay is wired up right it will only switch when the engine is running and alternator is charging http://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/leisure-electrics-12v.5390/ On a normal 55amp alternator 30amp fuse/relay and wire is fine and i have never known a 30amp fuse blow due to over charging Personally i dont like the self switching ones for a number of reasons If the main battery is old it may not or take a longtime to reach the voltages it needs to switch so delaying charging the leisure. With a normal relay once the alternator is spinning and charging it does both battery's. This helps charge both battery's faster as the alternator has a bigger total load and so works harder.
If you connect the hookup shortly after stopping the engine the intelligent relay still has both batteries connected together for a short while until the voltage dissipates. The charger keeps the voltage above the threshold for the intelligent relay so both batteries can be kept topped up at the same time. There are no other switches involved. I have had no problems with the rectifier in the alternator, I know you are supposed to disconnect the starter battery before charging it, but I rarely bother on any of my cars and I've never had a problem
Theres a really good How To by MadFrankie on Leisure Electrics. DIY at a fraction of the cost, simple to do and I can vouch for it working. Mine works a treat. Cheers MF.
The basic split charge circuit is nice and cheap. Exluding the cost of the battery, up to an including the aux fuse box what - £25? (if that)
Hmmm mine is a boggo £14 split charge relay (think I posted earlier) and it works well? I was going to just wire in a seperate mains and RCD circuit then just plug in my mains battery charger after I had disconnected the van battery from the wiring as I would if I was charging the battery? I even thought of using a heavy duty switch like a quick cut off on the battery to save faffing, either way I would only really be bothered about charging the batteries if I was camping for a long time abroad? Probably stick to my manual method, just concerned about frying electrics then I am beached on the campsite! (knowing my luck) Thanks for the info btw
To answer the original question, yes I've fitted an Xtremevan split charger. Wow, yes it was expensive, but I liked the simplicity. And frankly the JK kit I'd got just didn't seem right. Because it's designed for a T5 I decided to shorten the main 12v cables and recrimp the ends (really to reduce the dead weight and be tidy). I installed it literally on top of the leisure battery using some really vicous Velcro (I know, but it's not going anywhere in a hurry) and re-used some of the old cables installed by Devon originally (twin and earth to be exact) to take the power to the old aux fuse box under the drivers's seat and the 12v fridge I've just put in. I suppose it's really designed for those with a mega sound system that needs shed loads of amps, but i was pleased with myself-I mean it!
