IS THIS A SPLIT CHARGE RELAY SYSTEM?!

[fodtommo]

I was servicing the van today when I noticed a relay bolted to the bulkhead on the right hand side. The van has not had a leisure battery since i bought it and I thought it had never had one however I think I have stumbled across an old installation - probably leisuredrive as it looks to be underdesigned without enough fuses!!

It is a Hella unit nad has 8 terminals, almost like 2 relays stuck together.

the wires connected are as follows, one spliced to an alternator lead, one goes through a 25A fuse to a ring terminal floating about behind the starting battery, I assume this was where the LB was fitted? there is a feed into the van which I believe is the fridge supply.

Just a note to say I may have marked the fridge power and return via fuse the wrong way round on photos below

Ive attached some photos and would be grateful to anyone who could shed any light. is this a complicated relay for the fridge or a split charge set up that I can use after a little improvement?

Thanks in advance!

RELAY



ALTERNATOR SPLICE




LOOSE RED WIRE

[kevtherev]

yes it looks like a split charge relay with a separate outlet for the fridge

looks OK to me

[fodtommo]

Kev - Thanks again... glad i didnt buy the bits before servicing today for the split charge.

I was concerned by the size of the wire back to the battery - seems thin... and im sure he wiki shows 2 x 30A fuses as the general reccomendation...

presumably if i put a voltmeter from the loose terminal by the battery to earth with the engine running I should see about 13v? to check its all working ok?

Thanks again - Tom

[kevtherev]

Yes Tom 13.6+ would be a bonus

[Red Westie]

Yeah I agrre that it appears to be a split charge circuit.
A few observations spring to mind:

As you pointed out, that wire should become live when the engine is running, which is a bit worrying considering it's just flopping about under there.
The relay it'self shouldn't be mouted upside down like that (this makes it vulnerable to water ingress)
That wire is a bit on the this side, certainly doesn't look like 30 amp cable.
Finally...Scotchlocs are just orrible things.

Martin

[Hacksawbob]

rip it out and start again its badly specced and implemented. Judging by the genius who put this in the wires that run to the fridge and LB may want checking to see that they have rubber grommets where they pass through metal and are adequately secured so you dont get any surprises when live. Actually I can see on the pic one going through the engine bay hasn't got a grommet. and the earth looks ropey too....

[fodtommo]

Thanks all!

On further investigation the relay had indeed corroded beyond all belief, I put 2 relays in instead (facing down), one for the charge, and one for the fridge, in similar configuration, but rewired with thicker cabling, grommets and a load more fuses!.


Oh and the skotchlock is gone - I have found them to be the root of many other problems in the past

But one more question - in this set up the fridge is therefore being fed with a 15.7 volts off the alternator... obviously its a 12 volt fridge - so does it have a built in voltage regulator, or will it be damaged? its an electrolux unit just like all the others!

[kevtherev]

15.7?
Thats a bit high.. is the regulator OK? Mines around the low 14's

Hmmm. my fridge power comes through the battery, not direct from the Alternator.. and the relay switches it on when the engine is running.

[Mocki]

two points from me, if you dont mind?

1. why are you getting 15.7v from your alternator?
2. that was not a leisuredrive original installation.
for two reasons, one they always powered the fridge from the ignition switch, not alternator controlled, and two the relay for the fridge was always behind the fridge.

[California Dreamin]

If your 'charge voltage' is really that high (15.7 volts) your regulator/bush pack needs replacing, simple as.
After market regulators can be had for under a tenner, if you can source something branded (Bosch/Beru) then even better.
Changing is a simple 15 minute job...two screws on the back of the alternator (you may need to swing the alternator out to gain better access)
Martin

[fodtommo]

Oh good - and all with a trip to france looming!!

The alternator was a recon unit before i bought the van in 2007 (when a recon engine shop engine and all ancilliaries were fitted, less than 12k ago! - but ill sort the voltage regulator, we have an excellent start and alternator centre locally.

Mocki - The van is fitted with a full leisuredrive interior and poproof etc - the same as all the LDs ive seen, but more and more I think that it was fitted to another van and pinched or it was bought as a kit?? - I have history back to 1989 as a camper(its an 86 van). there are lots of things like the hookup point being under the drivers seat, no zig unit, the window behind the wardrobe is glass not rather than a metal panel - these all suggest that although it is leisuredrive bits, they werent fitted by leisuredrive??? - any thoughts

[Red Westie]

Just cross reference your alternator number on this list...think this is the correct part IF your struggling.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-BOSCH-ALTERNA ... 43a32f3f9c" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Martin

[fodtommo]

Thanks for everyones help.

I will replace the VR, and run the fridge from the leisure battery, relay switched via an ignition live.

that will keep me busy the next few evenings!

[Mocki]

sounds very likely, and not the first one like that!!
if it was converted by leisuredrive it will have a plate either in the gas locker or under the passenger seat.not so if it was a kit or refit.

the age of the van is not always a valid point tho, leisuredrive would convert any van you took to them.....
my first one was a 83 but was converted in 85 by them.

dont make the mistake of connecting your fridge to the leisure battery, it should run from the van battery.
weather you switch the relay for it from the alternator or the ignition switch dont matter, as long as it cannot run when the engine is not running.

[colinthefox]

I will replace the VR, and run the fridge from the leisure battery, relay switched via an ignition live.

The connection to the alternator wire is correct. There is a good reason for the relays to be actuated from the alternator wire, not the ignition. The alternator wire only closes the contacts on the relays when the engine is running and the alternator is actually charging. Actuating it from the ignition means the fridge and leisure battery will be connected to vehicle electrics 12V when the ignition is switched on, with the engine not running, and when the starter is active. Either of these situations will suck charge out of the LB at a fast rate, and in the case of the starter running could even pop the 30A fuse. This is particularly important for diesels, which otherwise have the fridge, starter and glow plugs all connected to the LB on starting!

Running the fridge from the relay, not from the LB is also correct. If the fridge is connected to the LB you will forget to turn it off just the once, and in a couple of hours your LB will be flat.