[m.b.s.]

were is the best place to buy a alternatar scr to top up my battery

[windowwashers]

were is the best place to buy a alternatar scr to top up my battery

if you are getting a second alternator go to a scrap yard, then get a mechanic to fit it. if you are just doing it straight to your battery be aware that if you battery dies and it will at some point you will be stuck with no system to use and you will not be able to get home either 

[m.b.s.]

no whtat i ment was i want a splitcahrge relay to run from my existing alternator to charge my wfp battery i wanted on that connects to the alternator

[brightnclean]

Split charge relays are a complete waste of time and money UNLESS you are doing loads of miles during the day.

Here is something from someone who really knows his stuff about electrics

I don't care what anyone says, a split charge relay is a complete waste of time and money, if you travel a short distance to work, during work and back home,

The first thing you have to check is that your alternator is capable of suppyling both batteries at the same time, if its not the thats one very expensive mistake.

Secondly the relay will only charge your battery on the move, if you just leave your engine ticking over the alternator does not give out its full charge rate.
Let me give you a rough example?
You start your car/van the current to start the vehicle can be anything up to 500 cranking amps, now to return this charge alone to the battery you would have to travel at least 7 miles in your van, Ok so you don't travel 7 miles to work? then the split charge relay won't even be charging your leisure battery until its topped up your car/van battery first.

I charge my 8 year old leisure battery every night, and If I don't use it for a weekend it stays on charge and doesn't come off charge until its needed, use the halfords charger as Roy said and this charger will look after your battery for you.

As for solar panels, you would need one the size of a transit van with a high capacity out-put costing many hundreds of pounds just to charge a battery to a decent level, providing you didn't give it to much hard use.

You will be VERY lucky not to end up with a kn=ckered deep cycle battery if you rely on a split charge relay. Whats so problematical about giving your battery a decent charge every day or 2? 

[m.b.s.]

ok so what sort of charger do ineed for a lesiur 85amp per hour

[ScrimShady]

the best thing i bought was a split charge rely, i only travel about a mile to get to work, it charges a 110ah battery and i have not charged it for nearly 2 years

[ronnie paton]

i did a split relay myself its doesnt need to go to the alternator just a wire that becomes live when the key is turned think i have a diagram some were post your email address and ill try and find it

[ScrimShady]

mine was easy,
just put the live to the split rely to the alternator, ground to engine block, live no:1 out of the rely to the systems battery, and the just ground the battery, i also have live no:2 going to a socket that i was charging a trolley off,

[NWH]

I use a split charge system in the van but i travel 20 miles everyday to get to work.

[ronnie paton]

nwh wot difference does that make??

[windowwashers]

nwh wot difference does that make??

what it means the futher you travel the more charge a battery would get.

[ronnie paton]

and wot does that mean?? i travel miles and miles and both my leisure and van battery are fine.

[Moderator David@stives]

I run 2 pumps straight off my van battery , have done now for about 2 years without absolutely no problems at all

[NWH]

It means that it stays charged all the time,i just get in the van and go to work.

[ronnie paton]

so your saying its good for you caise the constant travelling charges your leisure battery??

It doesnt need much charge cause its constantky being topped up when the vehicle is running

[Spursboy1972]

I use a split charge relay and swear by it. Mine runs from the main vehicle battery and not the alternator. That is how they are advised to be. In theory the splitter does not charge the leisure battery unless the vehicle battery is fully charged so it will definitely charge the 2nd battery when the van is ticking over. This is a fact as I have done it.

[Moderator David@stives]

I was going to get a split charge until an honest auto electrician said the pumps were such low ampage i didnt need one.

And he was right