Fiat leisure battery charging

[tkk]

Hi
Ive recently looked at Charles Sterling’s very informative you tube clip on Moho leisure battery and euro 6 charging issues. Ive got a Fiat based Frankia i640 and wonder if anyone can answer the following questions,
Have Fiat deactivated “smart” function of alternator to keep output voltage at 12.4 v. (I would drive it and check if it was allowed)
Do Frankia use a split relay (probably) and where is it normally located
Do they use “thin” wire to limit limit current from alternator to leisure battery if “smart “ function not deactivated

Slightly separate question; Is direct replacement of the PRS300 solar controller by an MPPT (votronic etc) easy ie no additional wiring etc
thanks
Tk

 

[Pausim]

Fiat did supply motorhome chassis to constructors with deactivated smart alternators. I suspect that with the new proper testing procedures this circumvention might well have stopped, in the same way as they now have AdBlue systems instead of relying on EGR.

 

[Lenny HB]

On Fiat Motorhome chassis there is only a Smart alternator on the latest engines the Euro 6D ones.
If it has a Smart Alternator there will be a Votronic or Shaudt B2B fitted normally a 40 amp one.

If it hasn't got a Smart alternator the charging will be via a split charge relay inside the charger/ distribution unit either an Elektroblock or CBE unit. Normally wired with 16m sq cable so with a flat battery you can get over 40 amp charge rate.

The Solar regulator should be a straight swap, the Votronic one also has a 1 amp output to charge the starter battery.

 

[tkk]

Thanks both,
It’s a 2018 engine so probably not “smart” alternator. Lenny. It’s a CBE system, charger distribution, solar and control panel . Ill probably benefit from MPPT controller.
Any views on value of a B@B on a non smart alternator system?
Tk

 

[autorouter]

Any views on value of a B@B on a non smart alternator system?

A B2B will always charge at its max output until the leisure battery is about 80% charged, then tail off the output until it is fully charged. A split charge system will always be less effective, but some with good thick wiring and substantial relay are not too far behind. I'd say if you have two or more leisure batteries, and/or you often need to charge them by driving, then a B2B is worth it.

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[tkk]

On Fiat Motorhome chassis there is only a Smart alternator on the latest engines the Euro 6D ones.
If it has a Smart Alternator there will be a Votronic or Shaudt B2B fitted normally a 40 amp one.

If it hasn't got a Smart alternator the charging will be via a split charge relay inside the charger/ distribution unit either an Elektroblock or CBE unit. Normally wired with 16m sq cable so with a flat battery you can get over 40 amp charge rate.

The Solar regulator should be a straight swap, the Votronic one also has a 1 amp output to charge the starter battery.

Lenny HB in another post mentions a CBE solar split charge relay. Is this included with the CBE DS470 system or bought separately and then installed on the circuit board in the distributor system.
Thanks
Tk

 

[Wagoneer]

Have Fiat deactivated “smart” function of alternator to keep output voltage at 12.4 v.

A non-smart alternator should charge at 14.4v until batteries start reaching fully charged. You can check this stationary by just running the engine and with a multimeter, measure the battery voltages.

The split charge relay on my CBE system (10 years old) is rated at 30 amps. Not ideal for today's higher demand by users. I don't have an integrated CBE solar regulator.

 

[Lenny HB]

Lenny HB in another post mentions a CBE solar split charge relay. Is this included with the CBE DS470 system or bought separately and then installed on the circuit board in the distributor system.
Thanks
Tk

The solar split charge relay is what you fit to charge the starter battery from the solar when a single output solar regulator is used.
The CBE unit probably has a standard split charge relay to charge the leisure battery from the alternator.

 

[tkk]

Ta. Does the vehicle battery trickle output from Votronic have to have wire to vehicle battery installed or is it possible to wire it to appropriate point on CBE distributor.
Tk

 

[Lenny HB]

You can wire it to the CBE unit there was another thread about this a few days ago.

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