Split charge relay - standard or intelligent type?

How do I connect the charger in circuit then, just leave it connected to the battery terminals all the time and it will only run when the 230v is connected, or can that damage anything when the van is being driven ie can it back feed or anything?

 

chrisselby, apols for not replying sooner, here is the wiring for the split charge leisure battery wiring.

 

no it will be fine

 

..... the voltmeter is only in the picture to show how to test that the leisure battery is being charged once the engine is running andthe alt is charging.

All of the components can be got from Maplins.

To charge the LB from a 240v hoook-up I have a c-tek charger permaanently attached to the LB terminals. The c-tek is then wired to the 240v consumer unit on its own 6amp MCB so that I can switch it on and off when 240v is connected to the van.

There is no worries about drain-bacck with a c-tek charger - they have a clever bit of internal circuitry to prevent that.

The only thing I would guard against if charging the LB from the 240v hook-up and then starting the engine at the same time - haven't tried it and I ain't going to.

Hope this is help.

 

or this way a bit cheaper and more than up to the job
http://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/leisure-electrics-12v.5390/

 

^^^^ wot Matty says.

For the split charge and leisure batttery:
Fuse holders (jumbo blade type) £6
Wire £4
Crimps and terminal connectors £2
Cigar lighter sockets for anciliaries insiide the van (fitted to the front of the r-r bed) £10
Fuse box with nice modern blade fuses for the ancilliaries £8
Leisure Battery -- Lucas 85aH marine/caravan battery £60

for the 240v bit:
consumer unit £35
c-tek charger £60
hook-up socket for outside the van £7
2.5mm artic cable blue (2mtrs) £3
240v double socket for inside the van (for wifes hair dryer) £8 - its a brushed stainless decorative type
15mtrs of hoook-up cable with the fittings at each end £18
4mm earth bond cable (1mtr) £2

Thats about it - personally well worth it as I intend to do France next July for 2 weeks to follow the TDF and we will be using French campsites, hence the 240v hookup and LB charging arangements.

 

Wicked mate thanks for all the above, you too matty

 

About the hook-up cable. We had a 10m cable and found that it was too short. A couple of times when sharing an outlet, we ended up a little closer to neighbouring caravans than we (and they) would have liked.
Bought a 25m one yesterday.

 

Standard is 25m as this is the max distance between hook up points in the regs
http://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/leisure-electrics-230v.5526/

 

matty do you have a mains fitting wiring diagram that you can post up or send. what equipment is needed?
finished split charge system with your info. cheers

 

This has all the correct bits you need and is a very good price it comes with instructions
http://www.xtremevan.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=5013

 

cheers matty. looks quite easy to do. other half has finished the split charge system and that looks tidy and, rewiring most of the kitchen so should be ok.
cheers again

 

matty what do you think of this kit http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/INTELLIGE...ervan_Caravan_Accessories&hash=item3f24ff3aa9

 

Way over the top for what you need but will do it
have a look at this thread at the bottom of the page is a list of parts i tend to use
http://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/leisure-electrics-12v.5390/

 

the kit your looking at is the same as what we have just fitted to our van. easy to fit ,get a crimping tool or a good soldering kit