Ablemail AMT12-2 Alternative Solution

SwissBob

SwissBob

Joined
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Location
L'Isle Jourdain, 86150 France
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C Class I think
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Just bought an Eriba FT 580
So living here in France on the wrong side of Brexit I discovered the Ablemail AMT12-2 is not available here. I've been around the houses trying to find a solution and here it is. The Büttner Elektronik Standby Lader Pro (also marketed by Dometic). Lifepo4 compatible. So easy to install and works a flipping treat. Choice of 2.5a or 5a depending on the number of leisure batteries and size of starter battey. Wa flipping hoo.
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Lenny HB said:
That is a re-badged Votronic, 12v Planet sell them for £42.
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this seems to have a lithium setting based on the picture and description? whereas the votronics in uk sellers all have a not-lithium note on them... any idea if any uk seller has this version? I'm just deciding which one of these to buy, the fact that the votronic says no lithium has it off my list at the moment.

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I'm just curious that you cannot find a seller who can send an AMT12-2 to France if that is the product you would prefer to have?
 
On the subject of Ablemail units - I have installed mine and the instructions say that you can connect (to one of the inputs) an ignition feed to disable it when the engine is running. does it really mean ignition, or D+? I can see the logic of it being ignition, as you probably want the unit disabled before you start the engine.
However, I have a handy D+ connection available for the B2B so I'd need to run another cable to use an ignition feed instead....
 
GrahamPye said:
On the subject of Ablemail units - I have installed mine and the instructions say that you can connect (to one of the inputs) an ignition feed to disable it when the engine is running. does it really mean ignition, or D+? I can see the logic of it being ignition, as you probably want the unit disabled before you start the engine.
However, I have a handy D+ connection available for the B2B so I'd need to run another cable to use an ignition feed instead....
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I would think either would work, the D+ would turn it off a little later I guess.

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Is there any benefit in having the ablemail turn off whe the engine is running?
 
Russell's Dad said:
Is there any benefit in having the ablemail turn off whe the engine is running?
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I guess with a b2b and smart alternator it may try to trickle the start battery when the smart alt is at low voltage output, so if switched of the smart system will be achieving what's intended.
 
GrahamPye said:
On the subject of Ablemail units - I have installed mine and the instructions say that you can connect (to one of the inputs) an ignition feed to disable it when the engine is running. does it really mean ignition, or D+? I can see the logic of it being ignition, as you probably want the unit disabled before you start the engine.
However, I have a handy D+ connection available for the B2B so I'd need to run another cable to use an ignition feed instead....
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I don't see that, there are 4 connrctions, starter & leisure battery, another for programing & sw2 which when connected to +12v forces the unit on.
 
Lenny HB said:
I don't see that, there are 4 connrctions, starter & leisure battery, another for programing & sw2 which when connected to +12v forces the unit on.
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It's not explicitly mentioned in the manual but I believe applying 12v to SW1 disables the charging.
Edit: Actually, it is mentioned in the manual!
Screenshot 2025-04-25 08.55.53.webp
 
yorkiebar said:
It's not explicitly mentioned in the manual but I believe applying 12v to SW1 disables the charging.
Edit: Actually, it is mentioned in the manual!
View attachment 1047911
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But won't that screw up the programming.

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I have fitted a NC push switch in the negative cable so I can restart the BT dongle, when required. Works for me, so would a relay do the same job but automatically, assuming it's correctly connected and is not something I will be exploring, just an idea.
 
Lenny HB said:
I know that but knowing what a pain they are to program I wouldn't want to risk it.
All other similar device like BM you leave them connected all the time.
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Mine is on all the time. I did think it might be good to turn it off when using the van because the CBE system does the job when there is solar or ehu, so it's a duplicate - but I don't think it's doing any harm, and I would no doubt forget to turn it back on.

If Ablemail did include it so the Smart alternator function would work as intended then I get it - but wouldn't bother to use it since it won't be doing any harm either. I don't have a smart alternator - happily, so don't have to consider it:giggle:
 
AdrianChen said:
Mine is on all the time. I did think it might be good to turn it off when using the van because the CBE system does the job when there is solar or ehu, so it's a duplicate -
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Also all the time your Multiplus is connected to 12v it will be charging the starter battery.
AdrianChen said:
. I don't have a smart alternator - happily, so don't have to consider it
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The smart alternator setting on the Ablemale is a waste of time.
I have a smart alternator, I use setting 5 as I want my lithium to charge the starter battery when there is no charge to the lithium.

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Lenny HB said:
Also all the time your Multiplus is connected to 12v it will be charging the starter battery.

The smart alternator setting on the Ablemale is a waste of time.
I have a smart alternator, I use setting 5 as I want my lithium to charge the starter battery when there is no charge to the lithium.
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Did you connect the second charge output then? I didn't - now I will worry about that!

Yes not sure why they bothered with the smart settings - but pretty sure that being able to switch it off when the engines running is what the SW1 is all about, just to preserve the OEM smart syatem.

From memory I also use 5 - but I have the BT dongle so I may have tweaked the settings, just to justify the cost and because it's so easy!
 
Lenny HB said:
What I did do was to connect sw2 via switch to 12v so I can force it on if I need to.
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Yes I have sw2 on one of the Victron relay's. Actualy at the moment its the load output on one of the solar controllers so can do the same.

Going to have to change it to one of the Cerbo relays because I will need to swap the 100/15 for a bigger version when another couple of panels go on the roof and the new one won't have the load output. Could programme the relay to come on when needed using Node Red, a bit like the Dump, but probably won't!
 
How does disabling the trickle feed when the engine is running 'help maintain a stop/start vehicle battery at a higer voltage of 12. 8v'?:unsure:
 
yorkiebar said:
How does disabling the trickle feed when the engine is running 'help maintain a stop/start vehicle battery at a higer voltage of 12. 8v'?:unsure:
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My guess was that if the leisure battery was high (perhaps because of a b2b), and the alternator was idling whilst the car was cruising, perhaps the amt would come to life if the start battery voltage met the parameters?

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AdrianChen said:
My guess was that if the leisure battery was high (perhaps because of a b2b), and the alternator was idling whilst the car was cruising, perhaps the amt would come to life if the start battery voltage met the parameters?
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Yes but why stop charging the starter battery? If the stated aim is to keep the starter battery at an elevated voltage level then why would stopping it being trickle charged be desirable?
 
Mmm when the engine is running I guess Ablemail want to avoid interfering with the Smart alternator/regen stuff.

I'm only guessing at this, since it doesn't affect my van at all.....
 
As an update about use of the SW1 terminal to disable the trickle feed when a 12V supply is attached, I Emailed Ablemail about it and received the following:

Hi

Sw1 is not needed . it was something we built in and then realised we did not need.

We monitor vehicle battery voltage and disable trickle charging if vehicle batteries high(engine running),
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So all good on the SW1 front, no need to connect to an ignition source.
 
yorkiebar said:
As an update about use of the SW1 terminal to disable the trickle feed when a 12V supply is attached, I Emailed Ablemail about it and received the following:


So all good on the SW1 front, no need to connect to an ignition source.
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Too late. I've already connected it! I don't suppose it will do any harm to give it some extra info about when to turn off. Pity they haven't updated the already rather vague instructions :-(
 

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