another electrics question

[griff71]

so i'm looking at installing a b2b charger to my 1996 swift kontiki 640. the van has a pms4 ehu charger but as far as i'm aware it has no split relay, (according to the previous owner)
i haven't had chance to fully check out his info as i've spent the last several months fixing damp and refurbing the van.
if i was to install a b2b would i take it through the pms4 or just go straight to the leisure batteries?
also i intend to install solar maybe next year, would that be compatible with the pms4 or would i have to take it out and reconfigure the electrics?
any info will be greatly appreciated.
cheers

 

[Lenny HB]

Connect it straight to the leisure batteries. Unless you know what size alternator you have I would only fit a 30 amp B2B.

You can check if you have a split charge relay by measuring the leisure battery voltage. If you have one, the voltage will rise with the engine running.

Important to disconnect a split charge relay when a B2B is fitted.

 

[griff71]

cheers for that, will crank the engine up and check the leisure batteries.
i've been looking at the victron b2b which is 30a.

 

[BillyKontiki]

Yep victron 30 Amp BtB from KS Energy funsters discount.

 

[griff71]

cheers

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[griff71]

ok so today i started the engine, got out my multimeter and checked for split relay, there isn't on. the engine battery will charge from ehu but definitely no aux battery charge from altenator, there are 3 relays under the dining room seats but there's no power going to them either, when i rebuild kitchen and reinstall the cascade boiler back under the seats i may have some work to get everything working but thats another bridge to cross down the track, at least i know i can install the b2b without any split charger issues.

 

[Itsmcb]

I've got the same van as you, same year too. I have two relays under the bonnet, One is the fridge supply, the other is the split charge relay. There is a little 4 way fuse box just next to them, one of those fuses may have gone, or your relay may have failed. I've had to change both relays in the past. The one with the red and yellow cable at the back is the one which feeds to the hab battery.

 

[griff71]

I've got the same van as you, same year too. I have two relays under the bonnet, One is the fridge supply, the other is the split charge relay. There is a little 4 way fuse box just next to them, one of those fuses may have gone, or your relay may have failed. I've had to change both relays in the past. The one with the red and yellow cable at the back is the one which feeds to the hab battery.

ok thanks for that info. my relays are on a board under the dining area seats. i think they're all knackered, the one with red and yellow cables has had the cables cut so someone previously must have disconnected the split charger. there's also a 3 core orange cable that runs from that area to the battery area with battery connectors on it but that is also dead, doesn't look like it was part of original set up.

 

[Itsmcb]

ok thanks for that info. my relays are on a board under the dining area seats. i think they're all knackered, the one with red and yellow cables has had the cables cut so someone previously must have disconnected the split charger. there's also a 3 core orange cable that runs from that area to the battery area with battery connectors on it but that is also dead, doesn't look like it was part of original set up.

Sounds like someone has decided to move everything from under the bonnet at some time in the past. The third relay is probably the one that cuts off the 12v habitation electrics when the engine is running. Mine is hidden away behind the electrical control box in the wardrobe.
You won't need any of them if your fitting a B2B and a 230v fridge

 

[griff71]

Sounds like someone has decided to move everything from under the bonnet at some time in the past. The third relay is probably the one that cuts off the 12v habitation electrics when the engine is running. Mine is hidden away behind the electrical control box in the wardrobe.
You won't need any of them if your fitting a B2B and a 230v fridge

yeah its a bit of a shambles there tbh. i will probably remove a bit of it once i get to that part of the rebuild, (and once i work out whats what) been using this last run of good weather to paint the final bit of the outside so will come back to the inside after wednesday when the painting should be finished

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