Another another split charge relay question

[Lucky7]

Hi there.

I am quite new to this VW thing (though I have had a 1960 Series II SWB Landie for ten years) and I am quite new to vehicle electronics.

This is a bit convoluted but bear with me

I am the proud owner of a 1987 T25 converted panel van, in which I have replaced the split charge relay with this one
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Split-Charge-Kit- ... 7C294%3A50" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
and fitted a fuse box
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fuse-box-Kit-VW-C ... 7C294%3A50" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I have also installed a 240v hook up from Towsure
The van came with 12v coolbox like this one
http://www.campingaz.com/p-23874-powerbox174-36l.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
which I have set up to run from the leisure battery via the fuse box or from the 240v via a transformer.

Now when I went camping in it last week I had the cool box running from the 12v system but after a while it stopped, even though I was driving at the time.
When installing the system I did some checks and the two live terminals on the relay were both showing 14v with the engine running and 12v and 0v with the engine off.

So I have a few questions, is it possible the cooler ran the leisure battery flat even though the alternator was giving it power via the relay, and can the starter battery drain the leisure battery?
The relay is only activated once the alternator is charging, I know this 'cos I knocked the box of the relay accidentally, but it gave me the chance to test it.
The cooler runs fine on 240v, but it does have a bit of trouble starting on 12v.

When I have been driving the van for a bit i.e. Cornwall to Wales I had trouble starting the van after stopping for about 10 mins (battery or starter motor).
I know that before I had the van it sat on a drive for about a year.

So, sorry this is all a bit round the houses but if anyone could throw some light on to it I would appreciate it. I have searched the forum but not really found an answer (yet).

Thanks in advance

Steve

[andisnewsyncro]

Could it be something simple like the cig lighter socket earth? Cig sockets are notoriously bad connectors for things, the slightest shake can make the plug loose enough to not connect.
The cooler I have has a thermostat arrangement and only runs for a short time, did yours definately switch off?

Check all the main earth straps for your starting worries first, then have a search for topics along the lines of "problems starting when warm", there have been a few recently.

Andi

[Lucky7]

Cheers Andi.

Some previous owner had made up a hot botch double cigar lighter arrangement, one from the mans and one connected to an on off switch. They were both fused. I removed one bit I noticed that the other sparked if it made contact with dash when re inserting it, so I'll remove it and get a more modern insulted one.

As for the cooler maybe that could be it, It is in a cupboard and gets a bit warm.

I'll look at the earths maybe add a few more. I put two new ones in for the relay and the transformer. I read somewhere about a solenoid that stops the charge going from the leisure battery to the starter one. I mght research that a bt more too.

I'm going through the wiki again and finding some (related) pointers.

Thanks again

Steve

[andisnewsyncro]

Good luck with it Steve, they're great fun these vans....
I'm sure someone will be along with a bit more knowledge than me quite soon

Andi