I've got the battery monitor connected ok for the leisure battery, but not 100% sure about the starter battery. Can I connect the auxiliary cable provided to the "starter battery plus" terminal on the solar regulator as shown in the attached photo?
Connecting Victron battery monitor
- Thread starter acropolis22
- Start date
I think that would be fine. The amps along that wire is very small, probably less than 1A, so the voltage drop will also be very small. The error compared with running a separate wire all the way to the starter battery will be negligible.
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OP
OP
Thanks! 
Should I disconnect the negative cable first from the regulator like you normally would when disconnecting the battery? Sorry if it's a dumb question. At least people can be entertained by this thread.....
Should I disconnect the negative cable first from the regulator like you normally would when disconnecting the battery? Sorry if it's a dumb question. At least people can be entertained by this thread.....
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If its to read the charge to the cab battery it needs to got the starter battery signal.
If you look up the lt 320 wiring on line there 3 wiring options for what you are looking to achieve
If you look up the lt 320 wiring on line there 3 wiring options for what you are looking to achieve
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OP
OP
No, it doesn't read charge, only battery voltage. Basic I know, but it will do.
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I think it would be sufficient to just pull the fuse from the other end of that wire, near the starter battery. That will isolate the wire. The negative is common to the starter and leisure batteries, so no need to get involved with that.Thanks!
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OP
OP
Ok, so the other end of that wire, (marked "starter battery plus"), goes to the Electroblock. How about if I remove the solar feed negative, then remove the 20A fuse marked "Solaire" on the Electroblock?
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Which EBL is it? The 'Solaire' fuse will only act on the leisure battery bit, so it won't isolate the starter battery wire. If it goes to the centre pin of the 3-way connector, you could isolate that by pulling the 20A fuse by the starter battery, which is the wire for the fridge 12V element. Perhaps check with a meter to make sure, if you're not convinced.
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OP
OP
It's a 271. I'm only painting by numbers here. 
. You've lost me a bit. I think I may have to call in someone who knows what they are doing...
. You've lost me a bit. I think I may have to call in someone who knows what they are doing...Subscribers do not see these advertisements
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Yes, it's not exactly intuitive. When you said the wire goes to the EBL, I was thinking it might go the the centre pin of the 3-way connector (Bloc 2) that is used for the solar connections. Pin 1 is the common negative, pin 3 is for the solar to the leisure battery, and pin2 (the centre pin) is used for the solar to the starter battery.
There is a wire from the starter battery that supplies the fridge 12V element power to the EBL. On this wire, near the starter battery, is a 20A fuse. It should be just next to the other main starter battery feed to the EBL, which has a 50A fuse near the starter battery.
The EBL uses this fridge power wire when the engine isn't running, to send power to the starter battery, from the mains charger and/or the solar connector. So if you pull that 20A fuse, it should cut starter battery power to that solar connector centre pin. You can then work on the wire from the solar controller safely.
There is a wire from the starter battery that supplies the fridge 12V element power to the EBL. On this wire, near the starter battery, is a 20A fuse. It should be just next to the other main starter battery feed to the EBL, which has a 50A fuse near the starter battery.
The EBL uses this fridge power wire when the engine isn't running, to send power to the starter battery, from the mains charger and/or the solar connector. So if you pull that 20A fuse, it should cut starter battery power to that solar connector centre pin. You can then work on the wire from the solar controller safely.
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OP
OP
Yeah, thanks for that info. Your first paragraph exactly matches what I have. To check the second paragraph I have to take up carpet and unscrew the hatch covering the battery, which I hope to do later on today. Will report back. Thanks again for all your help.
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If it's a faff to get at the starter battery, you could just unplug the Bloc 1 connector. This carries positive and negative fridge 12V element power from the starter battery to the fridge.
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OP
OP
It is a faff. Unplugging Bloc 1 connector would be much easier. Then I can just pull out the starter battery positive cable from the solar regulator and piggyback in the cable to the Victron shunt?
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OP
OP
Crikey! Success. Worked exactly as you said. No doubt laughably simple for those who know. Bit of an achievement for me. 
. I now have an accurate reading on my starter battery. Cheers autorouter
. I now have an accurate reading on my starter battery. Cheers autorouter
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