GROMIT69
Free Member
Thinking of buying a Vanbitz battery master , are they as easy to fit as the advert says , and do they work ok , and is there a discount code if so where do I find it , thanks
BATTERY MASTER
- Thread starter GROMIT69
- Start date
ManTheVan
LIFE MEMBER
Yes, very easy to fit.
I bought mine through MHF shop, which was the best price at the time.
Invaluable bit of kit and just works!
I bought mine through MHF shop, which was the best price at the time.
Invaluable bit of kit and just works!
eddie
LIFE MEMBER
No cheapest place to buy it is in Jim's Shop special price for Funsters
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I didn't know there was a shop, where is it please?
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My MH stood since end of September in a compound with solar panel defaulting to leisure batteries. On Saturday it fired up with fully charged vehicle battery thanks to Battery Master 
I think it's ... https://shop.motorhomefun.co.uk/product/battery-master/
Go for it. It works.
Yes. In theory you can run a separate wire from the starter and leisure batteries. However it's a low-current device, and there's already heavy-duty wires going from both batteries to the split charge relay or B2B, so often it's just wired into those.
Easy to understand instructions and work a treat.
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eddie
LIFE MEMBER
No to be honest we have a rubbish website, and the only thing that we offer on line is the Battery Master, and there is no ability to use the subscriber discount code. So to buy from us and use the subscriber discount code you have to phone the office.
As we are closed due to HM Governments lockdown no one can even do that lol
I purchased my Vanbitz battery master from Johns cross Motorhomes online and got the Motorhome fun discount which covered the postage.
I assume the OP realises that a Battery Master is only really useful if:
1) a solar panel is installed and only powering leisure battery
2) mains charger only charges leisure battery (most charge both leisure & starter battery)
In these scenarios the BM will provide a trickle charge to the starter battery.
If no solar is installed and operating off-grid, the BM will discharge the leisure battery to trickle charge the starter battery providing the difference in potential is greater than about 0.5v.
So, basically, solar essential in most circumstances.
1) a solar panel is installed and only powering leisure battery
2) mains charger only charges leisure battery (most charge both leisure & starter battery)
In these scenarios the BM will provide a trickle charge to the starter battery.
If no solar is installed and operating off-grid, the BM will discharge the leisure battery to trickle charge the starter battery providing the difference in potential is greater than about 0.5v.
So, basically, solar essential in most circumstances.
movan
LIFE MEMBER
I can't open the link to the MHF shop please.. The one above does not work. Help.
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Remove the last "/" in the link and works
Ignore that...... just refresh the screen when it fails to load and will usually load 2nd attempt.
eddie
LIFE MEMBER
No it will extend the time you can leave a motorhome and expect it to start as it will "share" the quiescent drain on the engine battery with the leisure battery.
That is obviously not open ended, but it will gain you potentially another two or three weeks without hassle
pappajohn
LIFE MEMBER
Didn't know you could get Covid from a phone line Eddie!
I'm sure you could sell on a mail order only basis without treading on governments toes.....after all, eBay and Amazon are still thriving.
eddie
LIFE MEMBER
No you misunderstand.
Van Bitz is closed, so no one to answer the phones if anyone phones up to buy a Battery Master and ask for the Funsters discount
If anyone orders one on line, its a bit more automated, but there isn't a discount facility as to be honest Fun is the only club we give discount to.
We used to have a discount code box but every bugger used to phone up and whine that they wanted a "discount code" and we only sell a handful a year online to Funsters, so easier to get them to phone up and loose the "discount code" box on line
Been open 30 years and never had a Pandemic before lol
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Last edited:
OP
OP
GROMIT69
Free Member
Thanks all , ordered through Jims shop , took two or three attempts to get in , and crashed a couple of times, but we got there in the end
Be great to know how you get on. I'm considering fitting one too as a solution to my dead Vehicle battery when everything is shut down for storage (I know there is a limited amount of sun for the solar over winter).
I'm considering this as my Auto-Sleepers manual says of the EC500 to put it in "shutdown" if leaving for long periods but, whilst not quite the contradiction, then says, "The EC500 PSU incorporates a built-in solar charge management feature, which will control the input from a solar panel (when fitted, maximum rating 120W). Depending on the charge state of the batteries, the solar power will be directed to the required battery, and continuously monitored to ensure optimum operation. For this system to operate intelligently, the shutdown button should be left switched on. If the shutdown button is turned off then the solar panel will charge the leisure battery only."
So my thinking is to put the EC500 in shutdown and use a battery master to feed the vehicle battery, however, is the EC500 going to stop when the leisure battery gets to optimum and so won't provide a charge and hence nothing to flow past it to the battery master?
Also, what would a B2B achieve in this scenario? B2B is the reverse is it not, in that it uses the alternator to charge the leisure battery?
Sorry, bit of a thread hijack there
Tombola
LIFE MEMBER
I ordered one and fitted it last week. (online doesnt take discount codes as Eddie said ) but not too arsed, its worth the money anyway.
We are all trying to make a living.
Anyway works a treat, fits easy. (ignore the first pic in the thread below)
www.motorhomefun.co.uk
We are all trying to make a living.
Anyway works a treat, fits easy. (ignore the first pic in the thread below)
Battery Master install like this
I have 2 16mm cables feeding a b2b charger coming from the cab battery into the leisure/charging area, about 1 metre away. I have ordered a battery master from eddievanbitz (funster code didnt work but hey ho) Am I ok to install the battery master like the pic below? behind the B2B
www.motorhomefun.co.uk
Tombola
LIFE MEMBER
no, as long as your leaisure battery is higher than the cab, it will drip a charge to it, then your solar will replace the leisure as neededBe great to know how you get on. I'm considering fitting one too as a solution to my dead Vehicle battery when everything is shut down for storage (I know there is a limited amount of sun for the solar over winter).
I'm considering this as my Auto-Sleepers manual says of the EC500 to put it in "shutdown" if leaving for long periods but, whilst not quite the contradiction, then says, "The EC500 PSU incorporates a built-in solar charge management feature, which will control the input from a solar panel (when fitted, maximum rating 120W). Depending on the charge state of the batteries, the solar power will be directed to the required battery, and continuously monitored to ensure optimum operation. For this system to operate intelligently, the shutdown button should be left switched on. If the shutdown button is turned off then the solar panel will charge the leisure battery only."
So my thinking is to put the EC500 in shutdown and use a battery master to feed the vehicle battery, however, is the EC500 going to stop when the leisure battery gets to optimum and so won't provide a charge and hence nothing to flow past it to the battery master?
Also, what would a B2B achieve in this scenario? B2B is the reverse is it not, in that it uses the alternator to charge the leisure battery?
Sorry, bit of a thread hijack there
I have the EC 500. If you leave on it will
need some power to keep going but will charge either battery if in smart mode.
ok if on EHU. But if only solar then :
Turn off completely and solar defaults to leisure battery.
Battery master will do the rest
See my post #6
need some power to keep going but will charge either battery if in smart mode.
ok if on EHU. But if only solar then :
Turn off completely and solar defaults to leisure battery.
Battery master will do the rest
See my post #6
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Some other brands of battery maintainer have a voltage threshold, and won't charge the starter battery unless the leisure battery is being actively charged by the solar. The BatteryMaster doesn't have a voltage threshold, it works whenever the starter battery is a fixed amount below the leisure battery.
A split charge relay connects a second battery to the starter battery, and the alternator charges both as if they were one big battery. That's OK if the second battery is the same type as the starter battery. If it isn't, or you want to boost the charging higher than the alternator normally does, then a proper battery charger, taking its power from the alternator, is what's needed. That's what a B2B is.
There's no reason why a battery maintainer circuit couldn't be built into a B2B, but I don't know of any designed like that.
dipsie
Free Member
So Eddivanbitz if my Van Bitz alarm/immobiliser goes on strike have you a back up whereby someone can sort the problem out, like we had an Alfa Romeo brought in a few days ago with as many lights on the dash lit up it put Blackpool in the shade.
Our techi guy said something like, f————— Italian electrics, phone the RAC ! We called in an auto electrician we have used before, who at the time was at another emergency, an hour after he eventually arrived he had the lights restored and it was the immobiliser had failed to recognise something in its system.
Just wondering !
BernieT
Our techi guy said something like, f————— Italian electrics, phone the RAC ! We called in an auto electrician we have used before, who at the time was at another emergency, an hour after he eventually arrived he had the lights restored and it was the immobiliser had failed to recognise something in its system.
Just wondering !
BernieT
westfielder
Free Member
westfielder If your solar is only charging your leisure battery at the moment , adding a Vanbitz battery master will enable the starter battery to be trickle charged as well , from the leisure battery , when solar is charging .
They are easy to fit and If you decide you want one they can be found in the Motorhome Fun shop that can be found in the blue section at the bottom of this page. (and elsewhere) , the Vanbitz website describes its operation very well if needed
They are easy to fit and If you decide you want one they can be found in the Motorhome Fun shop that can be found in the blue section at the bottom of this page. (and elsewhere) , the Vanbitz website describes its operation very well if needed
- Apr 6, 2019
- 5,065
- 10,240
- Funster No
- 59,702
- MH
- RV
- Exp
- FourWinds Windsport 6.8L V10
.
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