Question for the electrical gurus on here. Currently planning my build and was thinking of having a maintenance charger to keep both chassis and a single leisure battery topped up especially when sitting on the drive way between trips. Was wondering if this set up would work? Attach 4/6a maintenance charger to the chassis battery side and a split voltage sensing relay similar to one pictured linking the two batteries. My t2 has a dynamo output so not expecting big things from charging the leisure battery while running to be honest was more thinking about a split charger for this set up instead of the benefit from driving. Would this work to charge two batteries with one charger? Or will it cook one or both? Or just not work or is there a better option? Could just pop it on leisure battery but kinda like the idea of keeping both maintained at the same time automatically. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
i dont like them and prefer a normal relay on our old vans have a read of this http://www.thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/leisure-electrics-12v.5390/
Thanks. Does anyone know if you can link two batteries to charge together one standard car and leisure due to the different make up of the cells. If I link them how can I stop the leisure battery draining the chassis when on site? Or should I just buy two chargers Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
http://www.lidl.co.uk/en/our-offers-2491.htm?action=showDetail&id=40868 Yesterday I bought a couple of the above chargers, at that price it's cheaper than the relay I'll have a go with them today if I get a chance Cheers Andy
Wow that's good! Let me know how that goes be keen to see how you get on. I wonder if that could be left switched on when on a site and drawing current without damaging Battery or charger Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
They look good value to me, I wonder how they compare to the far more expensive ctek's http://www.lidl-service.com/static/65812880/92517_HR_RO_BG_EL.pdf
I know someone who had 2 of those both went wrong they also they needed resetting each time you plugged them
[QUOTE="Dripstand, post: 1258409, member: 16189" Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk[/QUOTE] I had one of these put on mine and it worked just fine.
Not sure what your attempting to achieve. Is it that you want to top up the van battery and a leisure battery when connected to the mains?
I thing the OP @Dripstand wanted to keep both his batteries topped up when stationary, using a maintenance charger and a split charger relay I have just been and bought one of the lidl specials, as I couldn't justify £100 on a proper ctek. My main & leisure battery top up ok when driving, but I want the ability to top up charge my batteries (without disconnecting) whilst not using the van or before a big holiday. I already have a very old school slow charger, but it doesn't auto turn off when the correct voltage is reached.
Yer pretty much that or when on site maybe pop the charger on overnight if can't be left on all the time to ensure both batteries remain tip top. I know the chassis battery should stay charged when on site but just encase left something on or my daughter caught the light switch . Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
^^ Is it a requirement for you that the starter battery is charging when on site? What are you proposing to run off the leisure battery when camping?....& how long do you usually stay on site?.... Fridge, heating, lights, radio, water pump, other DC accessories from power sockets etc. Do you have a 230v system installed or are you planning one? It'll help with answers that supplement Matty's link above if you have an idea about how you want to use the bus Saving up for the right kit may be a better long term economy than going for stuff now just coz it's cheap
We bought 4 of the lidl trickle chargers to keep our vans topped up when stored, they do a pretty good job and none have failed so far. They are pretty basic but do the job.
Can't go wrong with that Paul. It'll keep the batteries topped up nicely on the drive with no worrying about overcharging them
My simple twin battery set-up. Has worked well for many years, and I just use starter batteries. Just need to remember when to switch between batteries (after switching engine off on entering campsite)! Here's my setup in the garage, the charger is linked to the camper in the drive, together with gauges for current and voltage to show what's going on
Thanks for replies. I managed to bag a VW heritage split charge relay with wiring loom on eBay for less than £30 . So going back to this set up . I now have bought a Lidl charger also as seemed a good deal. If I connect this up in the configuration recommend will it allow me to connect 1 charger to either the chassis or leisure battery and that will then allow both to be charged and kept maintained when hooked up to mains and sitting on the drive as well as charging both when the engine is running? I'm guessing as this is not voltage sensing it will need connecting to the switch live of the coil to function? If so any preference on which battery I should attach the charger to? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
if you read my link its not a good idea to use the coil feed you need to use the alt warning light wire
