Opened up a Votronics Battery Master, supprised to see it only had five components, a diode, two resistors and two resettable fuses. I see the Vanbitz Battert Master is twice the price of the Votronics one. In what way is the Vanbits item better?
Battery Master
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funflair
LIFE MEMBER
Well if nothing else my understanding is that the vanbitz one works differently in that it is triggered by a differential of approximately 0.65v between the two batteries where I believe the likes of the Votronic need a specific voltage ie hook up or solar to trigger the trickle charge, this is certainly how the CBE CSB2 works.
To many of course this might not matter but I had a specific requirement to maintain the starter battery while in a shed with no hook up or solar so the starter battery was maintained by the Vanbitz BM switching in at say 12.3v on the starter battery and then pulling down the leisure batteries to a point that the EFOY would automatically switch on at a preset 12.2v, our van also had the CBE CSB2 but that only worked on solar at a LB voltage over 13.6v.
Another difference is that the Votronic and Buttner BM units say that you can not use them Lead acid to LiFePO4 where Eddie says that this is OK with his unit.
Martin
To many of course this might not matter but I had a specific requirement to maintain the starter battery while in a shed with no hook up or solar so the starter battery was maintained by the Vanbitz BM switching in at say 12.3v on the starter battery and then pulling down the leisure batteries to a point that the EFOY would automatically switch on at a preset 12.2v, our van also had the CBE CSB2 but that only worked on solar at a LB voltage over 13.6v.
Another difference is that the Votronic and Buttner BM units say that you can not use them Lead acid to LiFePO4 where Eddie says that this is OK with his unit.
Martin
The Votronics device as described simply splits the charge in favour of the starter battery. A more complex and effective solution "boosts" the alternator output to change the leisure battery at higher rate initially then lowers the charge to maintain it. I suspect the Vanbitz device is of the latter variety. Eddie just might be along to give you a more comprehensive reply. Or you could ask him ?.
Lenny HB
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I just looked up the spec on the Votronic one appears to work the same way as the Battery Master.
eddie
LIFE MEMBER
Why not open up a Battery Master and compare?
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OP
OP
Firstly I am certainly no electronics expert.
The Votronics circuit shows current will flow through the two parallel resistors then the two parallel resettable fuses and finally the diode.
I think the diode is there to make sure the current can only flow from the leisure battery to the starter battery.
The resistors control the current in a crude manner.
The resettable fuses protect against current inrush and help to control the current.
Of course current can only flow if the leisure battery is at a higher voltage than the starter battery.
There seems to be no way the device makes any voltage specific 'decisions', if the leisure battery voltage is higher than the starter battery there will be a flow.
If the voltage difference between them is very high the fuses open and the flow stops, using two may mean the open in a cascade and so reduce any inrush, they then reset and assuming the difference is now not too great allow flow again.
It is actually a very neat solution using very few cheap components.
So why is the Vanbitz item twice the price, I ask as this forum seems to actively promote the Vanbitz Battery Master, many threads even suggest it is the cheapest.
The Votronics circuit shows current will flow through the two parallel resistors then the two parallel resettable fuses and finally the diode.
I think the diode is there to make sure the current can only flow from the leisure battery to the starter battery.
The resistors control the current in a crude manner.
The resettable fuses protect against current inrush and help to control the current.
Of course current can only flow if the leisure battery is at a higher voltage than the starter battery.
There seems to be no way the device makes any voltage specific 'decisions', if the leisure battery voltage is higher than the starter battery there will be a flow.
If the voltage difference between them is very high the fuses open and the flow stops, using two may mean the open in a cascade and so reduce any inrush, they then reset and assuming the difference is now not too great allow flow again.
It is actually a very neat solution using very few cheap components.
So why is the Vanbitz item twice the price, I ask as this forum seems to actively promote the Vanbitz Battery Master, many threads even suggest it is the cheapest.
eddie
LIFE MEMBER
OP
OP
Well I do not have another Batter Master so cannot look inside on. I am asking about these devices as I ooked around the net and bought the Votronic unit. Then looking on this forum the Vanbitz item is often mentioned yet is dearer, beginning to think I had made a mistake going for the cheaper one I opened it up. So I am now thinking I should perhaps go for the Vanbitz item as it seems so popular. My question, I suppose, is in what way is it better, does it really have any sophisticated electronics? Please understand I am in no way criticising the Vanbitz product, I cannot as I know nothing about it.
Edit. You are right, noone has suggest the Vanbitz Battery Master is the cheapest, I mistakenly took on board the several comments that a Funster chould buy one cheaper from Vanbitz. My apologies if my earlier omment caused offence.
Edit. You are right, noone has suggest the Vanbitz Battery Master is the cheapest, I mistakenly took on board the several comments that a Funster chould buy one cheaper from Vanbitz. My apologies if my earlier omment caused offence.
Last edited:
eddie
LIFE MEMBER
No offence taken at all, the Battery Master is bullet proof, virtually literally
100% waterproof, 100% dust and vibration proof, you can connect it in a short circuit situation, in a bucket of water and leave is shorted out, submerged for a week, take it out, connect it the right way around and it would start to work
Made in small batches in the UK for us by a small electrical manufacturer, not China, and honestly, and I am not having a pop, I don’t give a flying hoot if anyone ever buys one again, as I am often quoted on the internet
i designed it years ago when 100% of Motorhomes did not charge the engine battery, ever! I used to sit and make them at night after I had finished fitting alarms during the day, needed as people didn’t realise that all motorhomes are based on delivery vans and not meant to be parked up for weeks on end.
Then, as my business prospered, I had less and less time so we gave a sample to he experts, who laughed and said we can do this and that and make it better!
So, other people use them and re-sell them, great, Van Bitz fit them as they don’t go wrong, cause problems and do the job, personally I like things to be that way which is why out Growler alarm has a lifetime warranty, parts and labour
I will tell you exactly how it’s made when you tell me the exact recipe for KFC and Coca-Cola as, as I write, I am sat in the Sun, in the garden, watching a Chicken rotisserie thinking how much I love Chicken and Rum and Coke!
Proper, original Coke mind you, lots of Ice and Havana Seven year Old Rum
Tesco’s basic cola and Matey Pirate Rum doesn‘t hit the same spot for me.
But each to his own ?
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