Habitation Relay, are they really necessary?

[delphi]

I am planmning out my 12V electrics. Don't want anything too fancy. Just a split charge setup with a VSR. A switch/distribution/fuse box. Then from there some 12V sockets, lights, pump, hob ignitor. Seperate feed for a threeway fridge. I have been reading that if you have a modern vehicle with an ECU then you have to have a habitation relay, that switches off all you leisure devices when the engine is running. Is this really neccesary? I could do with having some 12V sockets working in the back when driving so the kids can charge up their idiot boxes.

 

[delphi]

Are they just for caravans?

 

[iampatman]

Hi Delphi,
Might be worth having a quick read of this?
A and N Caravan Services : How to Wire your Camper Conversion the Professional way and save money
But you knew I was going to say that didn't you
Pat

 

[wineciccio]

MY HOBBY 650 BUILT ON A LATE TRANSIT HAD THE HABITATION ELECTRIC S LIVE AT ALL TIME, IE.LIGHTS AND 12 VOLTS SOCKETS, SOMETHING THE BRITISH CONVERTERS SHOULD COPY PERHAPS:idea::idea::idea::idea::idea::idea::idea:

 

[molly 2]

On my van all the eiectrics turn of ex exept the the. Fridge when the engine is running. The only permanent. 12 v supply is from the solar panel control unit.

 

[molly 2]

On my van all the eiectrics turn of ex exept the the. Fridge when the engine is running. The only permanent. 12 v supply is from the solar panel control unit. Or you could take one from the engine battery.

 

[pughed2]

12 volt relay

as I understand it, and whats built into the italian made trigano tributes, you have to have a relay between the leisure battery and vehicle battery, but the object of that is so that when using the 12volt leisure stuff you never drain the vehicle battery so you always start ok.............the 12volt leisure sockets are always on, powered by the leisure battery, whether van is running or not.........I get additional charging power for all of it when running............steve bristol

 

[delphi]

That's the VSR, Voltage sensing relay. You can't do without that. A habitation relay cuts of all your a auxiliary stuff, pump, lighting etc when engine is running.


QUOTE=pughed2;502587]as I understand it, and whats built into the italian made trigano tributes, you have to have a relay between the leisure battery and vehicle battery, but the object of that is so that when using the 12volt leisure stuff you never drain the vehicle battery so you always start ok.............the 12volt leisure sockets are always on, powered by the leisure battery, whether van is running or not.........I get additional charging power for all of it when running............steve bristol[/QUOTE]u J

 

[sparrks]

That's the VSR, Voltage sensing relay. You can't do without that. That separated the two batteries from each other when the engine is running, otherwise your lights etc would be running off both batteries.. UOTE=pughed2;502587]as I understand it, and whats built into the italian made trigano tributes, you have to have a relay between the leisure battery and vehicle battery, but the object of that is so that when using the 12volt leisure stuff you never drain the vehicle battery so you always start ok.............the 12volt leisure sockets are always on, powered by the leisure battery, whether van is running or not.........I get additional charging power for all of it when running............steve bristol

It 'seperates' the two batteries when the engine is NOT running and 'connects' them when the engine IS running.

 

[delphi]

Yes, sorry, that is what I meant. My understanding is that a Habitation Relay, when the engine is running cuts off auxilliary leisure power, so power to pump, lights etc (not fridge which should be on a separate feed). This apparently is to stop any of the leisure electrics interferring with vehicular electrics, particularly the ECU on modern vehicles. There is lots of mention of them on Caravan websites, less so on campervan/motorhome sites. My 1997 T4 never had one. I am wondering if I need to fit one on my newer LT.

 

[sparrks]

Yes, sorry, that is what I meant. My understanding is that a Habitation Relay, when the engine is running cuts off auxilliary leisure power, so power to pump, lights etc (not fridge which should be on a separate feed). This apparently is to stop any of the leisure electrics interferring with vehicular electrics, particularly the ECU on modern vehicles. There is lots of mention of them on Caravan websites, less so on campervan/motorhome sites. My 1997 T4 never had one. I am wondering if I need to fit one on my newer LT.

I thought you did I can't understand how the habitation electrics could interfere with the ECU. If you used a Alternator to Battery charger then you would maybe run into problems with the higher than expected voltage but wouldn't have thought it likely with the split charge relay, but one never knows...........