[Chris Cottrell]

Ive just put my setup in the van but have to take the battery out each night to charge up the battery , what I really need is to charge it as I go along so if I get a relay does it have to be a certain rating or amperage or will any one do the job just the same?

Chris

[jeff1]

CHARGING WITH ALTERNATORS

Most alternators are regulated to charge to a maximum of 14.4 volts. Alternators sizes would be best determined at an example of 15 amps per battery i.e. 3 batteries x 15 amps = 45 amp alternator.

SPLIT RELAY CHARGER

Split relay chargers is another way to keep your batteries topped up, but bare in mind the section above, your vehicle alternator has to be capable of charging the vehicle battery and the leisure battery...Charging:
Engine running: Both the 'domestic' and engine batteries are charged when the engine is running - through a split relay, controlled by the ignition. The split relay is there to isolate the 'domestic' battery when the engine is starting.

[macc]

Hi Chriss.

Ive a van mount fitted by Tucker, they fitted a battery that is charged from the alternator when engine is running. So far its not let me down.

Hope that helps.

Macc

[Lee.]

jeff1,
I have a 800 watt inverter, Could I use that to charge my battery from the van battery? that way my leisure battery would charge even when the va is not runing.

Lee 

[jeff1]

Hi Lee

You can do it that way but i would only recommend that in cases of emergency, the more your charging your leisure battery the more you drain you van battery, unless you do a lot of driving between jobs,
a lot of stop starts, and the charging from an inverter will almost certainly take its toll out of your van battery.

I would invest in the split charge relay if i were you, or you may find yourself with a flat battery, and even if your leisure battery is fully charged you wont be able to start your van with it.

Split charge relays work out so much cheaper than a new battery.

I personally have never wired a split charge relay and a few guy's seem to have a problem with the wiring, if any one wants to email me the instructions from a split charge relay, I will take a look and try to rewrite them into simple english for you.

[Spruce]

Hi Chris

Camper vans have the same issue. Please go to this site and look under Electrickery.

www.kampenwagen.co.uk

There is a wealth of information on spilt charger relays and diagrams on how to contect them.

[Bonzer]

Get yourself a Volton Combi split charge relay. Its the best £10 I ever spent. I haven't had to recharge my battery once since I put this in. It's really easy to fit - no need to pickup a cable from the alternator, it just senses when the alternator is charging and switches the relay.

https://secure.visav.co.uk/avshop2/VOLTON_COMBI_RELAY_JTZK1273_2049.html

[Chris Cottrell]

Bonzer

I bought one of those Volton Combi relays, one person is telling me to use the permanent live output and another tells me to use one of the switched outputs

Q. which output terminal do you use?

Chris

Ps mine cost me £24.39

[Bonzer]

Hi Chris, you need to used one of the two switched outputs. The permanent live is just a direct cinnection to the car battery whether the alternator is on or not.

[G & M]

hi guys just been looking at the kamper wagon site, what does the relay trigger wire connect to? Michael - G&M

[tom_currie]

WHY NOT JUST O TO AUTO ELECTRICIAN I DID £75 FITTED INCLUDING BATTERY HE ALSO FITTED IN LINE FUSES FOR PROTECTION