B to B or split charge relay charger in Elddis Accordo? (1 Viewer)

[BillyboyfaeBuckie]

I have an Elddis Accordo 120 and would like to know what sort of split charge system is fitted. I can find nothing in the van to give me a clue apart from the attached photos of something on the negative of the starter battery. The year of manufacture is 2017.

 

[Richard n Ann]

On ours the +ve red cable goes to a relay box in the pillar behind the drivers seat then onto the BCA fuse box where there's about 10 more relays, I suppose a relay connects the two batteries when D+ is 14v

 

[Lenny HB]

The positive terminal is just all the standard Fiat fuses.
The relay in the negative terminal is a high power latching relay not seen one of those fitted before, often used for emergency battery disconnect.

2017 so unlikely to have a B2B so you probably will have a relay for split charge somewhere.

 

[rod_vw]

The positive terminal is just all the standard Fiat fuses.
The relay in the negative terminal is a high power latching relay not seen one of those fitted before, often used for emergency battery disconnect.

2017 so unlikely to have a B2B so you probably will have a relay for split charge somewhere.

Were Ducato models not fitted with 'stop-start' and intelligent alternators by 2017?

Rule of thumb is if the vehicle is fitted with the above then it should have a B2B unit to charge the leisure battery(ies). Not as though this seems to have been implemented by many motor home builders. The exception is when the leisure battery(ies) are integrated into the OEM charging system with battery monitoring working with the alternator controls. i.e. the latest VW Grand California etc. which of course is built as a motor caravan by base vehicle manufacturer.

 

[Lenny HB]

Were Ducato models not fitted with 'stop-start' and intelligent alternators by 2017?

Vans were but Motorhome chassis didn't get smart alternators until Euro 6d around September 2019.

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[The Artilleryman]

If it's a BCA pdu then it's highly unlikely to a smart alternator.

On BCA pdu's the split charge relay in built in to the pcb and a real pain to work out which relay it is - need to sort out my Bailey MH, but it's been to cold recently.
Now I've got xmas and frozen MH pipes to sort out 1st - drained down but taps left closed.

 

[autorouter]

On BCA pdu's the split charge relay in built in to the pcb and a real pain to work out which relay it is

Do you have a photo of the BCA PDU, with the PCB visible? Usually the split charge relay is on the shortest path between the leisure battery terminal and the starter battery terminal. With some short wide PCB tracks to the relay power terminals. And it will be one of the biggest relays on the PCB.

 

[The Artilleryman]

Unfortunately Bailey have put the BCA PDU in the bottom of the wardrobe which is extremely difficult to access.

I will probably have to dismantle the wardrobe when I install Votronic B2B, Victron IP22 mains charger & Ablemain (which is stuck in a sorting office que), which will be after I sort out the damage to the water pipes, as I failed to leave the taps open after draining down. So may be a few months away.

 

[GeoffnDee]

There is a wiring diagram for the Elddis BCA fuse/relay box in the Manuals for Motorhome stuff section of the Resources section (Page 1) that may be useful.

 

[BillyboyfaeBuckie]

Thanks guys for the help so far. My Pdu is indeed at the bottom of the wardrobe, just a sealed white box with the fuse panel built in so that you can access all the small blade fuses from the front and also the 240v circuit breakers. I have come to the conclusion that I don't have a B2b system. I would love to fit a Victron to back up the split charge relay but it all looks a bit beyond my capabilities. I see that you can buy a kit so I might look into that. Sorry to hear about your frost damage Artilleryman, haven't tried mine yet but usually withstand any amount of frost as long as all taps open.

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[BillyboyfaeBuckie]

 

[The Artilleryman]

At least my PDU is set back so I can access the screws that mount it to the floor, my access flap is by the entry step, with another access panel at the front of the wardrobe.

I'm hoping that the floor panel of the wardrobe unscrews and the shelf underneath is the same.

As I've already (just) installed a LiFePO4 120AH battery and Victron SmartSolar mppt 75/15, the rest will need to be done before next season.

 

[The Artilleryman]

At least my PDU is set back so I can access the screws that mount it to the floor, my access flap is by the entry step, with another access panel at the front of the wardrobe.

I'm hoping that the floor panel of the wardrobe unscrews and the shelf underneath is the same.

As I've already (just) installed a LiFePO4 120AH battery and Victron SmartSolar mppt 75/15, the rest will need to be done before next season.

Photo's

 

[rod_vw]

Vans were but Motorhome chassis didn't get smart alternators until Euro 6d around September 2019.

A very tongue in cheek reply...

Sorry to hear that the Ducato chassis specifications were so far behind the other manufacturers. My 2016 T6 VW has a smart alternator so I thought most other makes would be up to the same level of technology.

 

[Lenny HB]

A very tongue in cheek reply...

Sorry to hear that the Ducato chassis specifications were so far behind the other manufacturers. My 2016 T6 VW has a smart alternator so I thought most other makes would be up to the same level of technology.

Not behind they held off the smart alternator for Motorhome converters as a standard alternator is more suitable for use in a Motorhome.

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[BillyboyfaeBuckie]

If I don't have a smart alternator then at least I'm getting full voltage all the time through the split charge relay. Not ideal but better than having a smart alternator but without a B2B. Anyway I might take the plunge and go for a B2B kit from Simply Split.

 

[BillyboyfaeBuckie]

There is a wiring diagram for the Elddis BCA fuse/relay box in the Manuals for Motorhome stuff section of the Resources section (Page 1) that may be useful.

Can't find the resources section, sorry.

 

[Lenny HB]

Can't find the resources section, sorry.

At the top in the blue banner you might have to scroll along. May not be available to you as you are not a paid up member.

 

[The Artilleryman]

If I don't have a smart alternator then at least I'm getting full voltage all the time through the split charge relay. Not ideal but better than having a smart alternator but without a B2B. Anyway I might take the plunge and go for a B2B kit from Simply Split.

I would suggest the Votronic 3324 VCC 1212 30 as this gets good revue's here, not sure about a pre made cable kit - but then I have crimping tools so am confident about my crimped joints - and I can choose where to fit all the components, rather than how long are the cables.