Leisure Battery charging

[Paul Austin]

Hi All, How can you see if you have a battery to battery charger or a split relay for leisure battery charging - not too sure how different a B2B and split charge relay looks? Also, I have a Rollerteam (2016) so will this come with a B2B or split charge relay if anyone knows?
Thanks
Paul

 

[Figaro]

Welcome to the forum, I`m sure the techies will be along soon to answer your query

 

[Camping Gaza]

You need to search your camper. B2B are normally large items, with a control panel built in. they will be a label on it somewhere and are not normally standard fit, they are aftermarket items.

Typical B2B Charger:

Another with a built in solar charger




Split relays are tiny, like headlight relays and would be fitted as standard or a part of your electrical system.

If you cant find a large device labelled B2B charger then you most likely have a split relay, the way to tell is to take a voltage reading of your hab bat it will probably be around 12.7 volts, could be greater. Then fire up your engine and while running take another reading. If volts increase to about 14 you will have a split charger.

if this does not happen you have no charger, only on hookup (but this is uncommon I think)

 

[Paul Austin]

Hi Camping Gaza, right well I haven't got anything with a control panel other than the normal habitation panel control panel so I guess its a split charge relay I have especially as its the norm.
Thanks

 

[Camping Gaza]

Do the voltage test on your hab battery make sure its charging ok.

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[Paul Austin]

Yeah that's fine. Definitely split charger - didn't quite know what the voltage readings would be. More research required for batteries I think. There is so much contradictory/confusing and mis-information out there about batteries and charging solutions, its difficult to find the correct info to make an informed choice. Thanks for now anyhow.

 

[Happy1]

If it helps I changed the hab battery on mine for two 120 agm which kept full with driving and the 100w rollerteam solar, never worried about using 12v power and never went below 70% on main control panel, mainly using aires

 

[Paul Austin]

Hi Happy1, is that a Ford Transit based Rollerteam you have? Do you still have the factory fitted Nordelettronica kit installed?
Thanks

 

[Pausim]

There is no separate control panel on my Votronic B2B, it just has lots of micro slide switches on it to adjust the settings. I would use voltage to test whether you have a B2B.

If you only have a simple relay then the voltage of the leisure battery should be similar to the voltage of the engine battery when the engine is running and will go up and down at the same time. There might be some voltage drop in the wiring so the leisure voltages may be a bit lower.

If you have a B2B the leisure battery voltage will be independent of the engine battery voltage, being controlled separately by the needs of the leisure battery. It will very likely show a higher voltage than the engine battery to start with.

 

[Happy1]

Hi Happy1, is that a Ford Transit based Rollerteam you have? Do you still have the factory fitted Nordelettronica kit installed?
Thanks

It was a fiat think it had that kit, definitely no b2b rollerteam are tight!

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[mitzimad]

if you have a smart alternator you have to have a b2b .2016 is around the change over time but most motorhomes are built on last years base so probably youll have a split charge

 

[Pausim]

Until now I think Fiat have been turning off their smart alternators for motorhome manufacturers. I guess they were able to do this because the testing regime was weak. That has now changed and I guess they will be in doo doo if they start fiddling the results under the new testing procedures. My Fiat chassis is one of the last of the old regime but I have a B2B and would like the smart alternator switched back on, why waste fuel. Does anyone know if this is possible?