Hook up and main battery

[focus_driver]

If I plug my '90 Westfalia Joker into the 240v through the hookup, will this charge the main vehicle battery???

[California Dreamin]

Yes, if it has the original BBB L20? charger then it had two outputs for both leisure and starter batteries.
Just remember that this is rather old technology and although these did give a stepped charge they don't truely go to a 'float' holding state...in other words, don't leave your mains plugged in for weeks, it may boil the batteries dry.

Martin

[focus_driver]

excellent - i'll give it a charge later then. beats calling out the breakdown service......

[California Dreamin]

Fairly sure the BBB is a 6amp device so split between the two batteries it will take some time to recover from flat....give it 24 hours at least....check for a green light operated by the lower toggle (Westy facia) after allowing the batteries a few hours resting (to settle after charging).

Martin

[callanish]

Hi and a Merry Christmas,

looks certain that my bbb L20 has failed as i cant detect ant out put and looks like at least one resistor has fried on the pcb..............question is has anyone got a working replacement for sale OR is there a simple fix for the lack of twin output points found on todays chargers..............thanks

Andrew

[California Dreamin]

Fix.....have you checked the onboard fuse AND thermo cutout, both can fail.

Unfortunately, New twin output leisure charger replacements are expensive and many might argue, unecessary. If you carry out the well documented 'MOD' which swaps the interior lights and radio over to the 'leisure battery' then in theory there isn't anything flattening the starter battery and therefore, no need for it to be charged whilst camping.

Alternately, the simplest (and the cheapest) way to charge both is to buy two leisure chargers. A small conditioning charger for the starter battery (like the 3amp ones that often come up at Aldi) AND a more powerful 6amps plus unit for the leisure.
Infact the idea is rather inspired, as two battery chargers gets around the inherent shortcomings of ONE BIG CHARGER not charging two or more different sized batteries equally (sensing the overall voltage but often leaving one battery only partially charged).

Martin