[stuart mc]

I seen a set up tonight from another forum member I was helping out, but this part confused me, I have no problem with the idea of running your system from your van battery if need be, but he had a lead going from the cigarette lighter to an independent battery, no split charger relay just a straight cable from front to back, doesn't make any sense to me, he was told it would charge the battery when driving, but from my thinking it would also drain it when driving with lights on etc.

I advised against using it, but I am not sure to be honest, I will not name him as he is just new and starting out and I don't want to embarrass anyone and I may well be wrong, so I thought I would ask on his behalf and mine just so I know

sorted out his problem anyway I hope. it had nothing to with battery

[bobby p]

it will charge but ,and ITS A BIG BUT , when you start the van it will draw a lot of power along this new thin  wire and could smoke /fire pretty quickly.

[stuart mc]

it will charge but ,and ITS A BIG BUT , when you start the van it will draw a lot of power along this new thin  wire and could smoke /fire pretty quickly.

so in theory if he unplugs from the lighter socket starts, then drives it will charge, then when he stops, unplugs from lighter socket and uses his system that is ok? it was heavy cable apart from the little bit that had been chopped from the cigarette lighter thing that plugs into the socket.

not that it is a problem as we sorted the problem anyway, I just like to know these things

[gto]

lighter sockets are normaly only 6Amps MAX, so it will charge slowly and could damage cables if he was to draw too much power threw his system use.
best would always be a proper split charge system with proper amp cables and fuses.