Split charge relay - standard or intelligent type?

The schematic for my system, which uses two engine batteries, and gives ME total control over the charging. It's a simple system, used successfully in small yachts for decades

 

Yes the battery's are only connected togeather when the alternator is charging

 

Totally agree i want to get away from tvs etc

 

Mine is a Tec3m pretty widely available on eBay

 

Have a read of my Battery Brain review on this site.

 

Hi - I went the way you were thinking - leisure battery (85Ah Lucas) on a split charge relay triggered by the alternator starting to charge.

240v hook-up with a c-tek charger permanently attached to the LB.

All the camping bts running of the LB (fridge, sounds, lights, ancilliaries).

Beauty of the 240v hookup is I can leave the LB on charge at home, ready for those spur of the moment outings, and we don't take a TV with us but if there is a 240v hook-up avaiilable then things like the wife's hair drier and straighteners come out.

 

Be careful with the switch - if it is a boat one then there is an off position . If you turn it to that position with the engine running depending on the alternator regulator, the 'load dump' could give up to 100v on the output of the alternator.
Goodbye stereo and anything else vaguely electronic rather than electrical.

Because of this , some boat switches have another pair of contacts that open in the 'off' position so that you can connect the field winding of the alternator in series with the second set of contacts so the alternator shuts off as well.

 

Yes, I know. In fact there's a warning on the switch about never turning the switch off with the engine running. There's also the strong chance that you'll fry the alternator diodes by doing this!!

 

This is exactly what I wanted, do you have a wiring diagram for your setup?

How did you connect the charger onto the circuit, and do you have a switch for it that you need to turn off when the engine is running?

Not fussed about a tv really, I will probably get or make some sort of iPad mount and stick some kids program's on it for if they get bored during bad weather, then I'd only need a cigarette outlet nearby for the charger

Other than that I only really want to run the stereo and some lights off it! And if we have a 230 hookup then we can have some further luxuries, but with 2 small children we will prob need a hookup to run a tube heater until I can afford a propex!

 

All this electrical stuff in vans makes me chuckle TBH. We camped for years and years with growing up kids and nothing even vaguely electrical other than the standard westy light in the back. How do people in tents manage? Did the kids die of cold? No - they put their jumpers on. Paraffin lamp or two in the awning, cook on gas. It's fun - like when you have a power cut and the candles and cards come out - sad when the power comes back on!

I admit I have an Eber, but only because it was free, I wouldn't consider buying one. 240V isn't camping IMO, maybe some of you would be better off in a hotel!

Hair straightners, TV's, computer games etc are all things that I go camping to escape from and better left at home.

Just my opinion of course. As you were.

 

In some ways zed you are totally right, but 1 x 2 year old and 1 x 12 week old you need some things ie steriliser for bottles, heater etc!

 

I would rather have all the luxuries of a hotel in my van, why be cold when camping? why not have a cold beer when camping? why not have lights at night so you can read a book or have the ability to charge your ipad so you can err, read a book? there is a balance but as technology moves on why not use it? I have electricity in my house my grandparents didn't but it doesn't mean they didn't embrace it when it was available.

My tuppence worth

 

Fair enough - camped once with 3 month old and it wasn't worth the stress, waited until they were 2 or 3 years old and hired cottages in the meantime.

Drink red wine and warm ale? Play chess and cards, buy a pressure lamp with a mantel? My phone runs out of battery and that's that - peace and quiet.
Charge your Ipad? er no thanks, not for me and the kids always happy after 10 minutes with a stick, a penknife, a torch, crab lines and a kite. Rounders stuff to get all the kids on the site making friends.

I'm a different generation aren't I?

 

You are an old fart but the para family like all of the above whilst camping

 

That's all what we do mate, we will be camping with family and friends so should have enough to do, but seeng as I'm a spark and can chuck in a 230v and 12v system for peanuts out of stuff I've already got left over from jobs I may as well have some luxuries after all that's why we have a camper and not a tent

 

I have a camper for the bed, to save loading a car with camping gear and no pitching tents in the rain, unless your rickyrooo1
Add a bag of clothes and shop for food on the way. Well I do, - no kids, wife or dog.

 

hahahhhahaaaaaaaaa i do take a LOT of stuff - you should have seen when we towed a caravan with the disco...... this is small fry.

 

And you put your awning up in the rain instead of waiting 20 mins for it to stop. That was funny.

 

yeah yeah hilarious....