Split/Dual Batter Charger
 

Can anyone recommend one ?, there appears to be dozens on the market, the National Luna one looks good but comes in at ~200 quid with all the gubbins from APB ...

Anyone got any recommendations ...

PB.

Hi Mate if you do decide on the National Luna split charger, check their prices very carefully as i,m sure I read that you can buy ALL the kit separately for a lot less than you pay for the ready assembled box.:eek3:

Gaz

What vehicle is it. On my Land Rover I use the charge indicator to control the split charge contactor. It works a treat.

If you want to monitor battery status use a volt guage and a change over switch. so you have one guage linked to two batts.

Have a look here for some info, what I did. Personally I would not pay that much for a controller. I do plan on adding a switch to allow me to jump my self also.

thanks Gaz and Danward ..

Its for a Defender .. and interestingly enough I did look on the APB website and saw what I thought I needed for ~130 quid .. and then a complete setup for ~220 .. wasnt really sure what the difference was !

I'll have a look at your set Danward .. and see whats what !

thanks guys ...

PB.

Dont forget to add in £££ for cables, terminals etc. all adds up. search out vehicle wireing products for all that stuff.

On a cheaper yet simple option, I run an X eng split charge which is just a simple relay (180amp?) works really well. I have also fitted the national luna twin voltmeter to the dash so I can actually see what is happening. All good so far. total cost £90.

check it out.

G

vehicle wiring products is where I got all my stuff.

Check this out 50-70 Amp Intelligent Split Charge System - Intelligent Split Charge Kits - Split Charge Kits - Raw Components Ltd - Auto electrical Supplies - Specialists in Split Charge Kits

I have heard just positive feedback and I am going to buy one as well.

my thoughts on vehicle electrics
 

Hi
electrics hmmm not good for me at the moment and not sure why does everything go wrong in the monsoon!

Any back to the question in hand, just completing the first year of travel my thoughts are these.

What do you want from the whole system!
1. just vehicle charging
2. mains hookup
3. Solar

the reason I ask is that I built my own system using quality parts including victron mains charger and a sterling battery to battery charger all new and off ebay. However now I'm not to sure weather the different makes are compatible as they are all easy to fit but have electronic and complicated managment systems!

Sterling were no help what so ever on the compatbility of their products what so ever. I had problems with the first victron but they replaced and sent me one to Poland no questions asked.

I do it again I would bite my teeth spend the money and buy a complete system from these guys Adverc BM Battery Management Specialists friendly and good advice. If you are going to have a mains hook up look for a 3 stage charger that can operate on a range of mains voltage. Also think about surge protection as this appears to be a big problem in Nepal as the mains electrics are constantly on and off.

What ever you do just make sure it safe I have seen firsts hand how poorly built electrical systems that have been built using too smaller cable go up in flames. Fire spread along the cable like a line of gunpowder. Any doubts in your system don't contribute to a good nights sleep.
hope this helps


all the best Mark
Jo and Mark Overland

The simplest split charging system is just a relay using the "signal" wire from the alternator to power it up. When the engine is off the relay goes to power off. Heavy guage wire from the + terminal of the vehicle battery to the relay and then to + terminal on the leisure battery.

I agree that keeping it simple is best, and probably cheapest. After all the more complex it is the harder it is to fix when you have no spares available...

hi there I have used the relay method as it is very simple, i have a Boss audio split charge relay from here:200A 200 AMP AMPS 12V VOLT CAR SPLIT CHARGE POWER RELAY on eBay (end time 08-Sep-10 23:01:29 BST)

I used good quality 30mmsq fine multi strand cable to reduce the voltage drop to the second battery and it works well.

the split charge relay is the black box on the top right, the silver can solenoid in the centre is the jump plug isolator in case someone thinks it fun to short the plug on the bumper out with a nail..!

in all it cost less than £50 cable and crimp ends inc

I would also say Sterling were not much help on their helpline but their battery to battery charger will charge the second battery (bank) to 100% of their capacity not the 70~80% that charging only from an alternator will give you. Charging from solar will also give 100% if its sunny enough.

Since fully charged is 12.7v and 50% is 12.2v (roughly), a normal 12v dash gauge isn't really accurate enough to measure that difference. A cheapo voltmeter is, or

BMN-1 Battery | Nasa Marine Instruments

will give you a good idea of how much charge is left to use.

The more often and/or deeper you discharge a battery the shorter its life will be. So choosing a system that won't mean big discharges (so a lot of spare Ah), and that heads towards 100% charged as solar, Sterling (easy to wire in I'm told), and/or a pukka staged mains charger could mean a 10 year lifespan instead of only a couple :)