Does a Schaudt LR1218 controller charge the starter battery?

[acropolis22]

I'm guessing it does since there are connections for the starter battery! I want to replace the controller with an MPPT controller, probably one of the Victron SmartSolar range. But those don't seem to have terminals to connect the starter battery. Any suggestions as to how to get round this?

 

[Guigsy]

Battery Master:
[Broken Link Removed]

 

[tonka]

R u at Swaffam ??
I have changed my LR1218 to a Votronic mppt regulator and it does charge the starter. But I can't remember which model I fitted. Can show you if your going to be there.

 

[ED O'DARAC]

Hi, yes, the LR1218 does charge both batteries as it is made by Schaudt and it exactly works with your existing Schaudt Electroblok 12v system. The MPPT is better than the original LR.

 

[Phill D]

The lr1218 gives alows a greater charge to the cab battery than the votronic and a number of others that only give a 1amp trickle.
The lrm1218 is a great replacement if a bit expensive.

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[tonka]

The lr1218 gives alows a greater charge to the cab battery than the votronic and a number of others that only give a 1amp trickle.
The lrm1218 is a great replacement if a bit expensive.

As Phil says it is just a 1amp trickle. The LRM is an ideal replacement but at a price.

 

[acropolis22]

I was favouring the Victron regulator as it can be monitored via their Bluetooth app. And will probably get the BatteryMaster to go with it?

 

[GeoffnDee]

acropolis22 If you look at www.aandncaravanservices.co.uk there is information about solar regulators in the Schaudt Elektroblock section you may find useful. (I do not think you need a battery master with most types of EBL as they already do the same job )

 

[nabsim]

Check if you can put the amount of solar you want through your EBL. Mine was very limited but is an old van, made sense for me to fit a Votronic, my EBL did not put any charge to my starter battery as standard unless you were on hookup.

 

[autorouter]

The lr1218 gives alows a greater charge to the cab battery than the votronic and a number of others that only give a 1amp trickle.
The lrm1218 is a great replacement if a bit expensive.

But why would you need more than 1A charge to the starter battery? When you arrive at a parking place you will have driven enough the charge the starter battery, so it will only need to be kept charged. 1A is more than enough.

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[Phill D]

But why would you need more than 1A charge to the starter battery? When you arrive at a parking place you will have driven enough the charge the starter battery, so it will only need to be kept charged. 1A is more than enough.

I was simply stating the fact then the individual has full knowledge.
My mppt only gives a 1 amp trickle.

 

[acropolis22]

(I do not think you need a battery master with most types of EBL as they already do the same job )

I think you are right about that. Just saved me £70........

 

[acropolis22]

So, all you Schaudt users. If I get the LRM1218, can this be monitored on some form of display or on a smartphone?

 

[acropolis22]

R u at Swaffam ??
I have changed my LR1218 to a Votronic mppt regulator and it does charge the starter. But I can't remember which model I fitted. Can show you if your going to be there.

No, not at Swaffam, unfortunately. If you remember the Votronic model post here please.

 

[BusyBuilder]

Lrm1218 on my 2012 B544 does not show output, but I think on later vans, you can fit a lead to control display that will.

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[paddymcc]

The Schaudt and Votronic integrate with the EBL so voltage and charging current will show on the Schaudt monitor that I suspect you already have fitted - generally above the habitation door?
Edit. Sounds like later vans may not have this feature as busybuilder suggests.

 

[tonka]

No, not at Swaffam, unfortunately. If you remember the Votronic model post here please.

Just found the book. It was one that got a lot of recommendations on here.
Votronic mpp250 duo, this is the 250w version and they also do a 165 depending on your needs.
I just did a quick google and the 250 does not appear to be in stock at a couple of the reputable stockists, so dont know if there are supply issues.

On my Burstner there is a signal wire so it maintains the charge display to the original Schaudt panel.
It does charge the engine battery but only as a trickle charge.

 

[acropolis22]

Sounds a bit complicated. The Victrons just show all the data on your phone via Bluetooth. Simple, but they don't have a fantastic reputation.

 

[acropolis22]

Just found the book. It was one that got a lot of recommendations on here.
Votronic mpp250 duo, this is the 250w version and they also do a 165 depending on your needs.
I just did a quick google and the 250 does not appear to be in stock at a couple of the reputable stockists, so dont know if there are supply issues.

On my Burstner there is a signal wire so it maintains the charge display to the original Schaudt panel.
It does charge the engine battery but only as a trickle charge.

Thanks. I'll have to do some more research on how to do this.

 

[Lenny HB]

I do not think you need a battery master with most types of [Broken Link Removed] as they already do the same job

The EBL just has a straight through connection to the starter battery all it does is make the wiring easier.

I use a Votronic 350 MMP the 1 amp charge to the starter battery is more than adequate.

As for wanting the Victron because of the Bluetooth monitoring that is pretty pointless and illrelavent in overall picture far more important to know what your batteries are doing.

Much better to fit a decent battery monitor like the Victron BMV 700 or 712 or Smart Shunt.

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[acropolis22]

The EBL just has a straight through connection to the starter battery all it does is make the wiring easier.

But the EBL does the job of a Battery Master, I think?

I use a Votronic 350 MMP the 1 amp charge to the starter battery is more than adequate.

Yeah, sounds good. But whatever regulator I buy, the EBL will be trickle charging the starter battery won't it? As long as the regulator is compatible with the EBL?

As for wanting the Victron because of the Bluetooth monitoring that is pretty pointless and illrelavent in overall picture far more important to know what your batteries are doing.

Much better to fit a decent battery monitor like the Victron BMV 700 or 712 or Smart Shunt.

Yeah, it's somewhat superfluous I agree. I already have a BMV 712. Which makes it even more superfluous.....

 

[Lenny HB]

But the EBL does the job of a Battery Master, I think?

No, it doesn't do anything via the solar connections.

Yeah, sounds good. But whatever regulator I buy, the EBL will be trickle charging the starter battery won't it? As long as the regulator is compatible with the EBL?

Only when on EHU.

Yeah, it's somewhat superfluous I agree. I already have a BMV 712. Which makes it even more superfluous.....

Completely pointless then.

 

[acropolis22]

I just received this from Udo Lang. Lenny HB any ideas what he means about charging the starter battery? I can't make head or tail of it.


Dear Customer ,

thank you for your mail.

The LR 1218 and the LRM 1218 are the same to connect to the EBL.

To charge the starter battery as well must connect at the EBL the pin 2 from the solar output to the LR 1218 or LRM 1218 to the connection starter battery plus.

 

[Phill D]

There is a 3 ppin solar connection lead. Pin 2 is the middle pin and that supplies the starter battery through the ebl.
But only if the solar controller has a cab battery output.
Which both the 1218s have and so does the votronic and nds controller s

 

[acropolis22]

There is a 3 ppin solar connection lead. Pin 2 is the middle pin and that supplies the starter battery through the ebl.
But only if the solar controller has a cab battery output.
Which both the 1218s have and so does the votronic and nds controller s

I still don't really get what connections need to be made. And will that result in the starter battery being charged from the EBL? The manual states it only charges the starter battery when on EHU. As Lenny HB stated earlier.

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[Phill D]

OK.
On the ebl there is a 3 pin connection dedicated to solar controller.
That has 3 wires coming from it. Which you connect to the solar controller.
One is earth, one is solar power through the ebl to the habitation battery, the middle one is from the solar controller through the ebl to the starter battery.
I believe there is a limit on length of the wires to 30 cm.

 

[Phill D]

PS. If the solar controller does not have an output for cab battery charging then the middle lead is not connected and either removed from the connector or made safe.

Without that middle connection there is no charge to the cab battery through the ebl.
Other than when on ehu.

 

[autorouter]

But the EBL does the job of a Battery Master, I think?

No. It's not so simple. There are two routes to the starter battery through the EBL. One of them, through a relay, is only enabled if the mains EHU is connected, which switches on the relay. It allows charging from anything that is charging the leisure battery. Even if the mains charger output fuse (Internes Lademodul) is removed which disables the mains charger output,provided the EHU is connected and the mains charger is on.

The other route, on some EBLs but not all, goes through the fridge 12V element power cable, from Pin2 of the Solar 3-way input.

 

[Manic]

I changed my Schaudt LR1218 which charged both batteries with the correct harness but changed it for a Votronic duo250 which charges both batteries. I just wired mine into the battery connections on the back of the ebl.

 

[Lenny HB]

I changed my Schaudt LR1218 which charged both batteries with the correct harness but changed it for a Votronic duo250 which charges both batteries. I just wired mine into the battery connections on the back of the ebl.

My starter battery connection is via the EBL but the leisure batteries are connect direct to the Votronic. I found I got a 5% higher charge rate than going through the EBL.

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