2020 Ducato Cab Battery Charging

[G30rge]

I had my 2020 Elddis CV20 delivered just after lockdown so its currently parked up.

I would like to give the cab battery a charge now and then and have a Victron charger to do this.
The charger came with a remote socket to permanently attach to the battery so I could just plug it in without having to remove the battery cover from the floor, however, as the vehicle has stop/start, the manual states that I should remove a lead from the negative side of the battery before charging.

My question for the techies is: Do I have to do this?

If so, then its not really possible to have this socket wired direct as I would need to remove the cover each time to disconnect the lead.

Also fitted to the vehicle is a b2b charger, could I utilise this somehow for the cab battery?
going forward (when lockdown is over) I will be fitting another leisure battery and having cab battery wired into solar controller.

 

[rosalan]

I do not know the answer but wonder if a switch could be fitted to break the cable when driving.

 

[G30rge]

I do not know the answer but wonder if a switch could be fitted to break the cable when driving.

But if I break it while driving would that not stop the vehicle?

 

[ManTheVan]

When you plug in to EHU it should charge both batteries. If A B2B is already fitted then you shouldn’t have a problem. Just plug in?

 

[G30rge]

When you plug in to EHU it should charge both batteries. If A B2B is already fitted then you shouldn’t have a problem. Just plug in?

Not according to the manufacturers manual, it quite specifically states that ONLY the leisure battery is charged whilst on EHU.

I believe the B2B is fitted to charge the Leisure Battery because it is a smart alternator, so a standard split charge relay system cannot be used.
Also, the terminals on the B2B for Starter Battery do not have any cables connected.

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[Pausim]

When you plug in to EHU it should charge both batteries. If A B2B is already fitted then you shouldn’t have a problem. Just plug in?

A B2B on a smart alternator should be triggered by a D+ signal from the alternator. A voltage sensing one will not overcome the smart alternator issues.

 

[Deneb]

The reason that your manual states that is because vehicles with start/stop systems and smart alternators have a battery sensing monitor (a shunt) in line with the negative terminal of the vehicle battery, which the battery monitoring system uses to determine the state of the battery and to correctly assess charging requirements and control operation of the start/stop system.

If you connect an external charger directly to the battery earth terminal you bypass the shunt and upset the BMS software, which can result in various functions on the vehicle being disabled or not working properly until it sorts itself out (usually either by reprogramming the BMS or leaving the vehicle locked and parked for several hours with no charge or draw to the vehicle battery, which may be difficult on a motorhome if you have other charging sources to the vehicle battery such as solar.

You can use a smart charger to charge the vehicle battery, but you'd need to connect the charger earth lead to a separate earth point on the body, not the battery directly.

 

[G30rge]

The reason that your manual states that is because vehicles with start/stop systems and smart alternators have a battery sensing monitor (a shunt) in line with the negative terminal of the vehicle battery, which the battery monitoring system uses to determine the state of the battery and to correctly assess charging requirements and control operation of the start/stop system.

If you connect an external charger directly to the battery earth terminal you bypass the shunt and upset the BMS software, which can result in various functions on the vehicle being disabled or not working properly until it sorts itself out (usually either by reprogramming the BMS or leaving the vehicle locked and parked for several hours with no charge or draw to the vehicle battery, which may be difficult on a motorhome if you have other charging sources to the vehicle battery such as solar.

You can use a smart charger to charge the vehicle battery, but you'd need to connect the charger earth lead to a separate earth point on the body, not the battery directly.

Thank you, that does make a bit of sense to me now and a great explanation

So, would I need to connect to a different earth point than the battery is connected to (as in photo) or could I connect to the same one?

 

[PhilandMena]

My question for the techies is: Do I have to do this?



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I think you would be unwise to disregard manufacturers instructions on a brand new M'home, or even and older model.

 

[berni109]

Based on what's been said above the 12v negative connector from the battery charger could be connected under that big bolt with the existing battery body earth. That should keep the BMS informed (but is it clever enough to wonder where this new charge is coming from - for now battery charger and in future solar charge? Deneb )

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[Deneb]

Based on what's been said above the 12v negative connector from the battery charger could be connected under that big bolt with the existing battery body earth. That should keep the BMS informed (but is it clever enough to wonder where this new charge is coming from - for now battery charger and in future solar charge? Deneb )

It doesn't care where the charge is coming from, it just needs to know what is coming into or going out of the battery. The bolt at the body end of the main battery earth cable should be fine. As you can see from the diagram, the sensor (C) is mounted on the connection plate by the battery negative terminal.

A regulated low current smart charger will be fine to connect in that way, but were you to use a bulk charger it would be wise to disconnect the battery as per the vehicle handbook to avoid any risk of damage to the sensor electronics.

I regularly use a Ctek smart charger on my Volvo in that way, when we are away in the van, and it has been connected to the charger using a similar method for the last month.