No charge light update, confused.

[the White Nomad]

Firstly thanks to AngeloEvs for your reply, well i connected the old unused feed wire to the alternator and the battery charge led now works as it should.
But im now confused as the feed wire from the alternator had been wired to the charging relay, obviously this has worked as i have had the van for a year with no charging problems though i am unsure wether the charge light worked.
Now im wondering was the feed being used to energise the relay to charge batteries then will i have to connect the old wire from the alternator to the relay as well, im confused, any help out there? cheers.

[CovKid]

Yes, usually the relay trigger is run from the thin blue wire from alternator. You'll soon know as as soon as the ign light goes out you'll hear relay click. No clicky - no chargy

[the White Nomad]

The relay has 5 connections and wires to it, is this a split relay?

[CovKid]

Can be 5 or 4 but yes. Essentially the relay is a gate that allows the two chunky cables attached (usually red), to connect together once the alternator light goes out. A relay is a low current circuit switching a heavy one but they are not electrically connected together. Sometimes its done electronically although usually with a magnet. Its great where a small switch couldn't handle a heavy load - ie trying to switch on the national grid with a tiny toggle switch.

The low current bit is the wire from the alternator (goes to same place that runs your dashboard ign light) and the other connection is earth. So, when the ignition light goes out, it triggers the relay and current from the charging circuit can reach that battery. When you stop engine, theres no trigger so chunky cables become disconnected.

Sorry, just giving an easy explanation of how a relay works.

If it has 5 terminals, that usually means that the fifth terminal is switched on when the relay is off and switched off when the relay is on. Sometimes theres a need for that although 4 terminal more common.

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87 and 30 are the chunky cables - unconnected if relay not triggered, connected if it is triggered. Not charging -charging, respectively.

[Red Westie]

Covkid
You are describing a common 5 pin relay, this is different, it is single throw but with double output terminals, so both outputs terminals become live at the same time.
I had to replace mine on the California and assumed the same as you until I took the original into a BOSCH service centre and had it pointed out. The guy said it was to accomodate two large wires on the output ie: to make is easier to connect more than one thick wire on the output instead of struggling to get two heavy wires into one terminal. I can confirm that there is more than one thick wire on the output so I guess this is true.
Incidently....he didn't have the correct replacement (he had the common type but as I say..this is wrong) so I ended up using a heavier duty 4 pin and a piggy back for the second wire on the single output terminal.
If I did it again I would probably use a heavier one still, with screw terminal posts and eyelets on the heavy switched wires.
Martin

[CovKid]

Mines definately as described - had the meter on it to make sure. What I will say though is don't buy relays with cheap clip-on cases - they fall apart

[ghost123uk]

I would just like to add a word of caution.

Remember, if you connect a wire to the wrong place by accident, you risk a fire or worse, an exploding battery.

Take care

[Red Westie]

Well whichever relay White Nomad has fitted..it should be fairly easy to tell as almost all relays have a simple schimatic drawing printed or moulded (if plastic) onto the cover...just needs a close look.
Martin