Basic battery charging info please...

  • Thread starter wandering photographer
  • Start date

wandering photographer

I have a leisure battery linked to my starter battery with a basic isolator switch which had already been fitted by the previous owner. We have had a few issues with it which resulted in a replacement leisure battery and a new alternator and because of this I am wondering if I would benefit from a split charging unit so I'm not over-charging?

I saw this on eBay Professional Smart Split Charge 70 Amp Kit | eBay and would appreciate advice as to whether this is the best thing for the job. I don't have solar and can't afford it at the minute, but would love to be able to charge up through the mains hook-up which currently the system does not.

I had also considered a second leisure battery to give me more back-up as I need to do a lot of charging on the road, we run 2 computers and 2 pro-camera outfits so we have a lot of batteries to fill!

So, the info I need is:

1. Most efficient and economical charging system whilst driving and through a 240v hook up
2. Basic principles of connecting 2 batteries as a back-up supply.

I am a total electrical newbie but am keen to learn and have a go.

Thanks in advance
Chris
 
oldish hippy

oldish hippy

Forum Member
do a seaerch on here look for for charging ,batterys,lesuiere battery ,split charge , relay,this has so many threads on here you should find one and ihave particpated in a few so lokk back through my post you should find your answer in so many ways
 

timetraveller

You have lots of choice

On the Ebay item is refers to the fact that "The kit is easy to fit as the only wires to connect are from one battery to another, supplied is a very clear, colour coded fitting diagram" - that worries me as I've never wired a split charge system quite in that manner - others may stand to correct me....(perhaps times and methods have changed). But if you want to charge 'on the move' then a split charge system is the way to go. However whilst stationary, solar panel(s) would help a great deal.

You will need to give the forum a little more info on what type of computers you run, their wattage and how you currently charge them ie are you using an inverter or have you got dedicated 12v/19v power supplies (most laptops run at 19v)
 

hextal

What is the rating of your alternator? As if the batteries voltages drops very low they may draw the max output. so if you have a 150amp alternator but a 60 amp kit you may find that the fuses will keep popping.

Probably ott but i have a 150 amp alternate so have used 170a relay, 200ish amp wire and150a fuses (iirc)
 
harrow

harrow

Forum Member
The basics of this is simple.

1. You want isolation between the so called leisure battery and the vehicle battery.
A. Use a relay, ignition switched on, operates relay and connects vehicle battery to leisure battery,
vehicle charges main battery that's linked via the relay contacts to the leisure battery and because the vehicle battery has a higher voltage it charges leisure battery.

2. All this talk about the number of amps it charges at is decided by the fixed resistance of the charge cable and how flat the leisure battery is, in practice it will only be a slow trickle charge.

3. Charging from a EHU or mains supply at home you need a car battery charger, get one that have voltage limiting and can be permanently connected simples.

4. Important the split charge set up is 12 volt to 12 volt. If 24v volt to 12 volt life gets a little more complicated as you would have to nip in between the 2 12 volt vehicle batteries but its nothing to loose sleep over.

5. The kits you show on line look expensive to me!
 

wandering photographer

Thanks for the replies, will update with more information when it stops snowing!

Chris
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Top