[firefly123]

which way do you charge leisure battery i have split charger but only do short runs i think this only tops battery up rather than full charge just got a100 amp new one thinking about running this for two days without split charger then do a full charge off my mains charger

[R.C Property]

i got a split charger and a solar trickle charger on mine, at least with that whenever there is light there is a charge going into the battery, even when parked up doing nothing!!!!

fitted my battery just over a year ago, never had to charge it up or take it out of the van

[rah]

Like yourself, we mainly do small runs, split charger never really did anything, so we resulted to charging with a C-Tek intelligent charger and was recommended to charge daily, though I tend to do it every other day.

Rob.

[David Salkeld]

i got a split charger and a solar trickle charger on mine, at least with that whenever there is light there is a charge going into the battery, even when parked up doing nothing!!!!

fitted my battery just over a year ago, never had to charge it up or take it out of the van

Have you checked the power in it first thing in morning? Should be 12.5 to 13v topped up.  Mind you, should be OK, those controllers we use will soon spot a slightly weak battery 

Bit of advice from your mentor 

[R.C Property]

i got a split charger and a solar trickle charger on mine, at least with that whenever there is light there is a charge going into the battery, even when parked up doing nothing!!!!

fitted my battery just over a year ago, never had to charge it up or take it out of the van

Have you checked the power in it first thing in morning? Should be 12.5 to 13v topped up.  Mind you, should be OK, those controllers we use will soon spot a slightly weak battery 

Bit of advice from your mentor 

just checked it, its sitting at 12.6v then as soon as i turn the engine on, with the split charger i have, in about 30seconds its jumping to 14v

[Spruce]

We also do short runs and the split charge relay doesn't do much for us either.

Its good to have as we have had the run the engine on several occasions to finish the job off when the previous leisure battery quickly failed - so a worthwhile backup.

We are also fortunate in that I can run and electric cable from the garage to the van/vans on the driveway. I have a Numax leisure battery intelligent charge and have wired in Torberry Anderson connectors to the power point at the controllers by the rear doors. So I just quickly plug this in and switch the charger on. Also saves me getting the polarity mixed up - a usual trick of mine.

I fitted my leisure battery in the front of the van out of the way, so it was always difficult to put the charger onto the terminals. I also don't need to see the 'magic eye' as I have a volt amperage combo gauge so have a visual of the batteries condition (level of charge) at all times.

[David Kent @ KentKleen]

Alternator booster!!!!!!!! The future of water fed pole power supply!

[David Kent @ KentKleen]

http://www.sterling-power.com/products-altreg.htm

Everyone should be running one of these. IMO
We have one fitted to a berlingo. NEVER had to take the system battery out too re-charge.
Hope this helps someone!!

http://www.sterling-power.com/products-altbatt.htm

[Spruce]

http://www.sterling-power.com/products-altreg.htm

Everyone should be running one of these. IMO
We have one fitted to a berlingo. NEVER had to take the system battery out too re-charge.
Hope this helps someone!!

http://www.sterling-power.com/products-altbatt.htm

Hi Dave

These (and upgraded alternators and a lot of other stuff) were what the NHS Ambulances were eventually fitted with to overcome their ongoing flat auxillary battery issues that 'was putting patients lives at risk' about 10 years ago.

£120.00 for an updated smart box is rather a big ask cost wise for our business. (I think I would rather put that to a new brush and pole.   )
I keep looking at these and keep discounting them due to the cost. Is your auxillary battery a leisure batt on the Berlingo, and if so, what size is it and have you any idea at what amperage it accepts a charge from the Sterling 'box'.
I don't know what batteries the ambulances use, but I always was taught that you can't hurry charging a leisure battery. I had also thought that a solar charger on the roof of the van was also a good idea as RC does.

Connecting up a battery charger isn't a big deal when done at the same time as filling up the tank with water TBH.

I was looking at the battery to battery unit at £250.00 that overcomes the issue with Ford using their ECU to regulate battery charging.

[andyM]

Like yourself, we mainly do small runs, split charger never really did anything, so we resulted to charging with a C-Tek intelligent charger and was recommended to charge daily, though I tend to do it every other day.
Rob.

I've recently bought an "intelligent battery charger" after previously using an ordinary 8 amp charger.
Although the intelligent charger was twice the price of an ordinary one it does so much more!
Really impressed with it, and as you say I don't think it hurts the battery too much by charging every day with one of these chargers as it constantly monitors the battery without overcharging it.

[R.C Property]

for me it cost me £18.50 for the split relay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-T5-SPLIT-CHARGE-RELAY-KIT-12V-30AMP-SELF-SWITCHING-/181120903118?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D11%26meid%3D6959462021078224475%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D5%26sd%3D140929476833%26

and £9.99 for the solar panel trickle charger.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/solar-powered-12v-1.5w-battery-trickle-charger-98358

my van battery was delivered and fitted the same day  14 months ago and never been hooked upto a mains charger or taken out.

split chargers are only good if your main van battery is good, mine starts charging within 30secs of turning the engine on each time.

[andyM]

for me it cost me £18.50 for the split relay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-T5-SPLIT-CHARGE-RELAY-KIT-12V-30AMP-SELF-SWITCHING-/181120903118?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D11%26meid%3D6959462021078224475%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D5%26sd%3D140929476833%26

and £9.99 for the solar panel trickle charger.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/solar-powered-12v-1.5w-battery-trickle-charger-98358

my van battery was delivered and fitted the same day  14 months ago and never been hooked upto a mains charger or taken out. split chargers are only good if your main van battery is good, mine starts charging within 30secs of turning the engine on each time.

That does sound good.
ps. where's your solar charger, on the van roof?

[R.C Property]

for me it cost me £18.50 for the split relay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-T5-SPLIT-CHARGE-RELAY-KIT-12V-30AMP-SELF-SWITCHING-/181120903118?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D11%26meid%3D6959462021078224475%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D5%26sd%3D140929476833%26

and £9.99 for the solar panel trickle charger.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/solar-powered-12v-1.5w-battery-trickle-charger-98358

my van battery was delivered and fitted the same day  14 months ago and never been hooked upto a mains charger or taken out. split chargers are only good if your main van battery is good, mine starts charging within 30secs of turning the engine on each time.

That does sound good.
ps. where's your solar charger, on the van roof?

no its fitted on the passagner sun visor, so at night i can tuck it up out the way and in the day just swing it down and let it get full light.

[H2GoKent]

for me it cost me £18.50 for the split relay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-T5-SPLIT-CHARGE-RELAY-KIT-12V-30AMP-SELF-SWITCHING-/181120903118?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D11%26meid%3D6959462021078224475%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D5%26sd%3D140929476833%26

and £9.99 for the solar panel trickle charger.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/solar-powered-12v-1.5w-battery-trickle-charger-98358

my van battery was delivered and fitted the same day  14 months ago and never been hooked upto a mains charger or taken out.

split chargers are only good if your main van battery is good, mine starts charging within 30secs of turning the engine on each time.

Followed this guys advice, and after years of taking my battery in to charge it, I don't have to anymore, well not for the last 5 or 6 weeks anyway.
It was easy to do, and I used it on my two largest jobs (8 hours each) the following week no problem.

Thanks

[R.C Property]

for me it cost me £18.50 for the split relay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-T5-SPLIT-CHARGE-RELAY-KIT-12V-30AMP-SELF-SWITCHING-/181120903118?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D11%26meid%3D6959462021078224475%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D5%26sd%3D140929476833%26

and £9.99 for the solar panel trickle charger.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/solar-powered-12v-1.5w-battery-trickle-charger-98358

my van battery was delivered and fitted the same day  14 months ago and never been hooked upto a mains charger or taken out.

split chargers are only good if your main van battery is good, mine starts charging within 30secs of turning the engine on each time.

Followed this guys advice, and after years of taking my battery in to charge it, I don't have to anymore, well not for the last 5 or 6 weeks anyway.
It was easy to do, and I used it on my two largest jobs (8 hours each) the following week no problem.

Thanks

glad i could help! and that you have managed to sort it out! one less job to do now then! lol

[AuRavelling79]

for me it cost me £18.50 for the split relay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-T5-SPLIT-CHARGE-RELAY-KIT-12V-30AMP-SELF-SWITCHING-/181120903118?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D11%26meid%3D6959462021078224475%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D5%26sd%3D140929476833%26

and £9.99 for the solar panel trickle charger.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/solar-powered-12v-1.5w-battery-trickle-charger-98358

my van battery was delivered and fitted the same day  14 months ago and never been hooked upto a mains charger or taken out.

split chargers are only good if your main van battery is good, mine starts charging within 30secs of turning the engine on each time.

Would you post an "idiot's guide" for me to install these so i could do it myself please?

[dave0123]

and £9.99 for the solar panel trickle charger.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/solar-powered-12v-1.5w-battery-trickle-charger-98358

my van battery was delivered and fitted the same day  14 months ago and never been hooked upto a mains charger or taken out.

Doesnt this over charge the battery? if your leaving it connected all time.

[R.C Property]

for me it cost me £18.50 for the split relay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-T5-SPLIT-CHARGE-RELAY-KIT-12V-30AMP-SELF-SWITCHING-/181120903118?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D11%26meid%3D6959462021078224475%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D5%26sd%3D140929476833%26

and £9.99 for the solar panel trickle charger.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/solar-powered-12v-1.5w-battery-trickle-charger-98358

my van battery was delivered and fitted the same day  14 months ago and never been hooked upto a mains charger or taken out.

split chargers are only good if your main van battery is good, mine starts charging within 30secs of turning the engine on each time.

Would you post an "idiot's guide" for me to install these so i could do it myself please?

can do, what i could do is do a video of it, think that might be a bit better as you would get to see it??

[R.C Property]

and £9.99 for the solar panel trickle charger.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/solar-powered-12v-1.5w-battery-trickle-charger-98358

my van battery was delivered and fitted the same day  14 months ago and never been hooked upto a mains charger or taken out.

Doesnt this over charge the battery? if your leaving it connected all time.

not that i have had a problem with.