[[GQC] Tim]

I finally installed my split relay charger, but it doesn't seem to charge, I edited the picture to show what I found out so far, everything seems to be connected just fine. In the picture 0 Ohms means that the wire is okay, so I used that to measure if the connectors were all okay, all wires checked out. No fuses are blown.

The Kampenwagen site says that you shouldn't get a reading from the wire coming from the vehicle battery to the relay when the engine is off, but I do get a charge there, 12.8v, and when I start the car it's over 14v.

Bought the relay off eBay, came with colour coded instructions. It says it's only for vehicles with a negative earth, whatever that means, it's a Citroen Berlingo.

On the relay (not the picture!)

Black is ground
Purple is no charge wire light, joined at convenient point at the thin wire coming off the alternator, it's quite a lot of wire though, it goes from left hand engine bay, behind the grille at the wipers, then enters the engine bay to the right, and goes to the split relay, don't know if that matters.
Blue to leisure battery
Green is to vehicle battery via fuse.
Red is unswitched live.

I'll try and get some pictures today. I think the relay might be busted, I don't know? It should charge immediately when the engine starts, but I don't even get one millivolt.

[Spruce]

Hi
You will have current from the battery to the relay at all times. And yes, the voltage will be higher at the relay terminal when the van's engine is running as this indicates that the alternator is working.
If you have correctly identified the 'no charge light' wire from the alternator and wired it up correctly to the relay, then you must presume that you have a faulty relay.
Spruce

[[GQC] Tim]

Yea, because I can measure voltage at the other end of the no warning light (the wire that goes to the relay) when the car is running, so that connection must be solid.

Strange.

Would this split relay work?

www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=6436&criteria=40a%20Split%20relay%20charger&doy=27m5

[Spruce]

Hi
Just go down to a local motor vehicle parts supplier. They usually have that sort of thing.
Regards
Spruce

[jeff1]

The first test you should do, is to eliminate any faults, remove the relay from the system and apply 12v across the coil teminals of your relay teminals 85 and 86 you will hear a distinctive click from the relay, if this doesn't happen then your relay is faulty.
Terminals 87 and 30 are just a switch and allows the current t flow from one battery to the other.

You may have mis-understood what they said on the kamperwaggon site, they are in fact right, you will have a voltage from your main battery to the relay all the time but from terminal 87 to your spare battery there will be no voltage with the engine off.

You indicate a 0 Ohms reading on a couple of your cables are you trying to measure Ohms or continuity? As a 0 Ohms reading indicates a broken cable, turn your meter to continuity and touch the leads together and you should hear a buzz come from it, now disconnect your cables (or one end of each cable) and connect your meter to both ends of the cable, a buzz from the meter indicates all is well with that cable, No buzz indicates a broken cable

[jeff1]

Yea, because I can measure voltage at the other end of the no warning light (the wire that goes to the relay) when the car is running, so that connection must be solid.

Strange.

Would this split relay work?

www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=6436&criteria=40a%20Split%20relay%20charger&doy=27m5

This is part of the spec of your paticular relay.
85 and 86 are the coil 30 is the switch 87 and 87a are the n/o and n/c contacts

[[GQC] Tim]

Sorry yea, not 0 ohms, but measured continuity, I always mess the two up.

Well the problem is, my relay doesnt even half look like that. It's a black box with coloured wires coming out, and inside is a printed circuit board with stuff on it.

So basically I should put 12v over the purple wire? (coming from the thin alternator wire) Leaving the black wire hooked up to earth?

[jeff1]

Just had a look at the link you posted and I see the relay is a five pin relay and not a standard four pin, this is where the fault is, it needs a seperate trigger to fire the relay, To make life 100% easier for you I would buy a four terminal relay  from Halfords or somewhere similar.

I can tell you how to wire it, but I get the feeling your not an auto electrician 

[[GQC] Tim]

Hi Jeff, you mean the one from Maplins being 5 pin?

Could you do me a big favour and see if I can buy one online that will suit me?

Thanks, your help means a lot to me.

[Chris Cottrell]

I dont see what all the fuss is with these relays I have a "volton combi" all you need to do with these is connect them to the positive on the main battery and then connect it to the 2nd battery and earth the wfp batt to a ground easy as pie, no need for a relay

[jeff1]

Hi Jeff, you mean the one from Maplins being 5 pin?

Could you do me a big favour and see if I can buy one online that will suit me?

Thanks, your help means a lot to me.

You need one the same as you have  (as the specs are good)  but one with four pins only, or see where Chris got his from,  there easy to wire.

Do you do a lot of mileage between your Jobs? If so then I would recommend a split charger on the other hand if you only de a few miles between Jobs then I wouldn't recommend them, just take your battery our and charge it

[[GQC] Tim]

Hi Jeff, I think you might be confused, I do not have the one from Maplins, just a random one off eBay, can't even tell what make it is.

[jeff1]

Yep! Confused? does your relay have 4 or 5 pins??

[[GQC] Tim]

Haha, np Jeff,

Well the problem is, my relay doesnt even half look like that. It's a black box with coloured wires coming out, and inside is a printed circuit board with stuff on it.

The coloured wires are in my first post, and what they mean.

[edd]

well all I know is that is just any old relay NOT a split charge a split charge has got a big red
wire to the leisure battery as well going to the splitter and then back to the van battery

[jeff1]

Alright alright I get confused with my old age 

So I just read it again and if you have followed the instructions as you have printed them, I can see why its not working, I would run through the tests I suggested by trying to activate the relay on the bench with a 12v battery.

[steve.ternent]

  I'v seem this picture before...sure of it!

Split charge relay..yer that's it, it was a Young Officers Ambush plan!

Full fighting order, and no arguing...WHAT?     

just like this thread, right over my head!!!

[[GQC] Tim]

How about this one Jeff?

www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchCmd?text=Split+relay&action=search&storeId=10001&catalogId=10151&langId=-1&x=0&y=0#

[Xline Systems]

tim a good auto electrition will sort you a split charger out for aroun £40 to£50
weve never had any problems with ours

[Spursboy1972]

Mine was £13 from towsure. I connected it straight to vehicle battery and ran it through to leisure battery. Obviously earthed it too. It works great. very simple to install.