Another Battery Master query

[Gixer]

If it wasn't for current [and future]lockdowns, I'd visit Vanbitz but hey ho - I have a Solar Panel but as the MH is in storage, the cab battery is slowly losing charge and I can't drive it, would like to fit a Battery Master but have minimal electronics experience - can anyone help with idiot's guide to wiring it in if I order one - I have a Ford based Chausson with cab battery under drivers seat and Leisure battery under passenger seat. I have seen people mention 'split charger' but no idea what that is, and also some wire BM from battery to battery.

 

[XxAnthxX]

If you Chausson has a CBE system that contains these relay boxes....locate the BM beside it as all three required connections are in there (leisure +12, starter +12 and negative.

eddievanbitz will be able to advise,,,,,,

and I believe the price maybe discounted for members on here.....tho I’ve never found it

 

[LesW]

There are just three wires to connect, the one I used had very simple instructions included, you don't have to be an electronics wizard to fit one.

 

[Gixer]

There 2 of these boxes behind the driver's seat - will it matter which, or should I connect the 2 positives [1 from each box]

 

[RandallC]

Why not email eddievanbitz , explain your situation vis unable to visit, ask for simple step by step instructions and full kit of bits, together with option for telephone/skpe support.
He can help, may cost a bit more but you'd save a fair few quid in fuel and earn me a few discount points

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[andy63]

Thats the two relays as mentioned above... you needto connect the battery master up to the wires supplying g each relay box..
The onlynegative available in either relay box will be the relay coil returns..the small spade terminal with the black wire attached...or you could just go to the start battery negative which is easily accessed under the seat..
Andy.
Me fag paper drawing.

 

[TheBig1]

It really is simple, put it right by the van battery under the drivers seat. Accessed by pulling the seat forward.
Wire direct to the van battery terminals and run just one wire to connect to positive on the leisure battery. This can be accessed on the relay box that was pictured or can be the actual leisure battery terminal, both are electrically the same

 

[XxAnthxX]

Please see this thread but eddievanbitz will confirm.

Both relays have a large 10mm2 Red cable and a large 10mm2 brown cable going to the screwed terminals inside them and a small black negative cable (on a spade connector) between them.

I believe one wire goes to the large brown wire in each box and then a negative from either box’s black cable on a spade connector.

 

[Nasher]

and I believe the price maybe discounted for members on here.....tho I’ve never found it

Link here:

Battery Master

Suggestion to the OP can you get an auto electrician to fit it, it wouldn't be very expensive as it takes very little time

I'd offer to help, but for lockdown .....

 

[Sapper520]

If it’s a new vehicle are you sure it didn’t come with a system that tops up your vehicle battery? Mine did, and now with the solar panel fitted it charges the leisure batteries and keeps the vehicle battery ticking over.

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[Gixer]

If it’s a new vehicle are you sure it didn’t come with a system that tops up your vehicle battery? Mine did, and now with the solar panel fitted it charges the leisure batteries and keeps the vehicle battery ticking over.

Doesn't seem to charge cab battery - monitor on controller shows nothing and Control Panel shows reducing level whilst stored

 

[Sapper520]

Sounds complicated to me. According to my manual, the vehicle battery is maintained with a float charge.

When I had my alarm fitted at Vanbitz I asked about the Battery Master, but was informed I wouldn’t need one with my system.

Needs to be a simple system for my simple brain.

 

[andy63]

If it’s a new vehicle are you sure it didn’t come with a system that tops up your vehicle battery

Thats common enough if you are on hook up say.. when the power supply unit fitted senses the mains charger is on...or if you have solar that is wired through the vehicle power supply unit whatever make that might be..
The problem is usually that a lot of solar is connected directly to the leisure battery and the vehicle power supply unit doesn't cater for charging the start battery under those circumstances.. thats where these battery type relays are so useful..
Andy

 

[Kannon Fodda]

If it’s a new vehicle are you sure it didn’t come with a system that tops up your vehicle battery? Mine did, and now with the solar panel fitted it charges the leisure batteries and keeps the vehicle battery ticking over.

No this isn't a standard. In my 2019 PVC I could manually switch the solar to charge either the leisure or the engine battery, but not simultaneously. If on EHU power went to the leisure only, not that good if you like to sit in your van running the cab radio most of the day. So only whilst driving could both batteries be charged.

There are some solar controllers that can do a split charge, most to the leisure and a fixed percentage to trickle via added wiring to the motor. It's a sophisticated PSU controller that will trickle the motor with prime charge to MH on the EHU. Very few systems will do the Vanbitz battery master function of trickle charge of motor from leisure, even when the leisure is not being charged, simply by a differential in battery voltages.

 

[Clivefog]

If the control panel shows the cab battery it would suggest that it is linked and should be trickle/float charged does it not?

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[Sapper520]

Now you guys are loosing me. The dark magic of electric’s / electronic’s is completed lost on me.

I understand that when the vehicle is on the road everything gets charged, in whatever order. I understand when on EHU everything gets charged, in whatever order.

When I asked for solar to be fitted to our new PVC, I made sure to ask that it should also be connected to the vehicle system to keep the vehicle battery topped up as well. The Dealer assured me it was sorted that way.

Therefore, I can’t see I need a Battery Master........unless I’m missing something?

 

[Clivefog]

OK we are talking just the solar charging. May not be wired that way as someone said above. If you had it installed by a dealer get them to check they have wired it correctly as you requested.

 

[Gixer]

Ordered a Battery Master anyway - belt & braces [I hope]

 

[PhilandMena]

If your vehicle is in storage and your S.P. is unable to maintain your cab battery what is the logic of fitting a battery master ! I assume your thinking by connecting all batteries together you can extend the life of your cab battery ? If so ! why not just connect the positive terminals of cab and leisure batteries together whilst in storage ? Or disconnect your cab battery ?

 

[Gixer]

If your vehicle is in storage and your S.P. is unable to maintain your cab battery what is the logic of fitting a battery master ! I assume your thinking by connecting all batteries together you can extend the life of your cab battery ? If so ! why not just connect the positive terminals of cab and leisure batteries together whilst in storage ? Or disconnect your cab battery ?

Solar Panel is charging Leisure Battery but not connected to Cab Battery as far as I can tell

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[andy63]

what is the logic of fitting a battery master !

Because if your solar is capable of maintaining your leisure batteries why not use it to safely look after your start battery as well ..in a controlled manner rather than just running a wire between the two batteries..
Depending on the device you choose you will be able to prioritise which battery battery bank will take priority..
Some work on a voltage differential most seem to work on a threshold voltage..
That allows the start battery to run with its small constant load and still have it well charged..

Or disconnect your cab battery ?

Again why...
that means possibly having no alarm on ...

on modern vehicles that can have other effects on the ecu which can at least be an inconvenience in terms of it relearning etc..

For the sake of fitting a simple device ...
i think thats why they are so popular..

How they fit in with different battery chemistry is an ongoing watch and see for me atm..
my device which happens to be stirlings version of the battery master is pretty well on all the time since the lithium leisure went in..
it used to shut down with the solar on a night when both banks were lead acid and the voltage on the leisure bank dropped..
Andy..

 

[Ingwe]

Link here:

Battery Master

Suggestion to the OP can you get an auto electrician to fit it, it wouldn't be very expensive as it takes very little time

I'd offer to help, but for lockdown .....

I decided to use an autoelectrician. He did a really good job, soldered the connections rather than using the connectors supplied with the BM ( he says the shaking of motorhomes can cause the wires to come out of the connectors) and charged £60 including travelling 50 miles, all checks etc. I was well pleased and usually forget about the BM's existence. But no flat vehicle battery since.

 

[mitzimad]

if its just for the time in storage just a fused wire pos to pos will connect both batteries to provide top up provided your solar is providing enough power you will have the link needed how easy depends how far a part the batteries are use a low rated fuse and this will pop if you try to start the van without removing the link you could do the same across the relay displayed above