Battery Charging

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Hi Folks
Subject has probably been covered many times, but I am still new to motorhoming, so appologies but here goes:
Fiat Ducato 1.9 td 2001 coach built .
When on electric hookup , how can I check IF my 12v engine battery is being charged at the same time as the leisure battery, or if once the leisure battery is charged, it switches to then charge the engine battery?
Is this in fact possible as standard or do I need some special kit fitted?
Thanks in advance.
PS any advice please make it simple if possible.
Ta v. Much

 

[Stealaway]

Do you have a voltage meter on your control panel. It should read about 14V when it is charging. As should the leisure batteries.

 

[DBK]

You should check first with a voltmeter, you can get a good multimeter from places like Screwfix for around £10. Check the cab battery voltage after the vehicle has stood with engine off for a couple of hours. It should be around 12.5 volts. Now plug in EHU and check again. If it reads over 13 you have a system which will keep the cab battery charged.

If the voltage didn't change, and assuming there isn't a fault somewhere, you could buy a Battery Master from Vanbitz for around £60 which will do the job and isn't hard to fit.

 

[TheBig1]

the best way to test a charging system is invest in a cheap multimeter. check the voltage at the battery whilst resting. then with electric hook up on and again with the engine running

 

[TheBig1]

a 2001 van wont have a smart charger and most you select which battery to charge when on hook up from the control panel

a good fix is to install a battery master type device that diverts some charge to the engine battery when the leisure battery is fully charged. a cheaper version is the cbe2 relay, but not as smart. both take only 3 wires to connect.... leisure battery positive and negative and van battery positive

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[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Do you have a voltage meter on your control panel. It should read about 14V when it is charging. As should the leisure batteries.

No we have no metering system showing voltage

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

You should check first with a voltmeter, you can get a good multimeter from places like Screwfix for around £10. Check the cab battery voltage after the vehicle has stood with engine off for a couple of hours. It should be around 12.5 volts. Now plug in EHU and check again. If it reads over 13 you have a system which will keep the cab battery charged.

If the voltage didn't change, and assuming there isn't a fault somewhere, you could buy a Battery Master from Vanbitz for around £60 which will do the job and isn't hard to fit.

Thanks DBK.
Have a multimeter so will experiment.
When you say cab battery do you mean the engine battery?
I know the leisure battery charges when on EHU because we have an led light system showing the leisure battery condition from a third, half to full

 

[Stealaway]

Install one of these - and a second one connected to the leisure batteries.
It will also tell when they are flat

5-48V car marine motorcycle led digital voltmeter voltage meter battery gauge Wi | eBay

Universal for: Motorbike Car / Boat / ATV / UTV / Camper / Caravans / Travel Trailer etc. LED Light Color: Green, Red, White, Orange, Blue. High-brightness LED three-digit display for easy viewing.

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[TheBig1]

cab and engine battery are the same thing

 

[DBK]

Thanks DBK.
Have a multimeter so will experiment.
When you say cab battery do you mean the engine battery?
I know the leisure battery charges when on EHU because we have an led light system showing the leisure battery condition from a third, half to full

Yes, cab, engine or vehicle battery. Same thing.

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[Captain Yoghurtpot]

a 2001 van wont have a smart charger and most you select which battery to charge when on hook up from the control panel

a good fix is to install a battery master type device that diverts some charge to the engine battery when the leisure battery is fully charged. a cheaper version is the cbe2 relay, but not as smart. both take only 3 wires to connect.... leisure battery positive and negative and van battery positive

Hi big1
When you say select which battery to charge I don’t think that’s an option.
When EHU on a light shows indicating I’m on 240v and I assumed that was just putting 240v to my 12v leisure battery and charging it, as well as powering my 3 pin sockets but with 240v via my consumer unit.
Sorry if this seems simple to you but I want to fully understand what Iam doing as the next stage is to look at solar panels and inverters, but I am really scared with that and getting it wrong.

 

[HandyAndy]

Is it an Electrobloc EBL99 in that?
If so it should charge both cab and hab batteries at the same time.
Multimeter is indeed the way forward here.
If they are at or above 13.8v its charging them

 

[Stealaway]

They are not dear---- a must have in any motorhome.

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[Wagoneer]

It would help if you told us what van conversion you have.

Ideally, update your avatar to show the MH model. From that, most contributors will then have an idea what charging system you have, ie. CBE, Schaudt, Sterling etc.

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Install one of these - and a second one connected to the leisure batteries.
It will also tell when they are flat

5-48V car marine motorcycle led digital voltmeter voltage meter battery gauge Wi | eBay

Universal for: Motorbike Car / Boat / ATV / UTV / Camper / Caravans / Travel Trailer etc. LED Light Color: Green, Red, White, Orange, Blue. High-brightness LED three-digit display for easy viewing.

rover.ebay.com

Thanks stealaway.
Ordered from eBay...........coming from China?
We will see if I can fit them properly and use some checks with voltmeter.
Says they will be here by 27th......, but not which Month! ?

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[Captain Yoghurtpot]

It would help if you told us what van conversion you have.

Ideally, update your avatar to show the MH model. From that, most contributors will then have an idea what charging system you have, ie. CBE, Schaudt, Sterling etc.

Good idea Waggoner. Never thought of that.
Not being tech savvy, I will try and update picture, but may need to involve the grandkids.

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Thanks to all who gave advice and help.
Have also changed profile picture to help with motorhome identification as advised.
Looking forward to doing some checks at the weekend.
Cheers
Iain

 

[Wagoneer]

Thanks to all who gave advice and help.
Have also changed profile picture to help with motorhome identification as advised.
Looking forward to doing some checks at the weekend.
Cheers
Iain

It's useful to have a pic of your MH.......but it would be even more useful for you to add motorhome type in your profile.

"Coachbuilt cab over" could be any of a multitude of conversions. What's required is the name of the MH converter such as Auto-sleeper, Auto-trail, Elddis, Swift, Compass etc. Then, if a contributor has a similiar model, they can give a more meaningful response.

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Thanks Waggoner, done that and hopefully ok but can't find how to check its actually listed.
I am to technology what King Herrod was to babysitting!