Bang goes the charger

[Technobadger]

Hey guys my chargers gone bang
It's the original charger on our 91 Westy California
So the big questions

1. Is this a dual output charger ?
2. What wires go where ?
3. What would be the best replacment ?


Thanks in advance

[Hacksawbob]

240V charger?

lots of money = Sterling Charger.
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... 2&start=15" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cheap.
Aldi have a 240V battery charger for about £15 that pops up now and again

[AdrianC]

So the big questions

1. Is this a dual output charger ?

Yes, charges both at once. If you move the stereo/interior lights to the leisure battery (quick and easy), then you don't need to charge both.

2. What wires go where ?

When you remove the old charger, you've got two connectors under the false floor under the BBB - one 240v, one 12v. You don't need to anything outside of that.

3. What would be the best replacment ?

<points to search box and wiki link>

[Technobadger]

Does anyone have any experience of the ctec chargers???
They do a 5 amp one is that enough???

[AdrianC]

Does anyone have any experience of the ctec chargers???
They do a 5 amp one is that enough???

We put an MXS5.0 into ours last winter. It's done sterling service since. I'd happily put the same in again tomorrow.

Is it "enough"? <shrug> Only you can answer that, since the answer depends on your use. It's putting 5A out. How much are you using via the socket(s) whilst you're plugged in and hoping it'll charge on what's left? How much battery are you hoping to charge how quickly?

For us, it's plenty.

[lloydy]

As above, the output you should buy depends on what/how you use your camper. A standard unmodified camper should only really need a 5-10 amp charger.
If you've 'upgraded' your set up, you may need more.
For example,
Eber heater = 2AH
Compressor fridge =2AH
Lights, radio, kids electronics 1-2AH
SO you can see that 5amp charger is now only just maintaining your battery voltage.

[Technobadger]

So as standard 5 A should be good.
Adrian do you use the dual outputs to charge both batteries ?

[AdrianC]

Adrian do you use the dual outputs to charge both batteries ?

The Ctek doesn't have dual-output. Very few do, especially at sane prices. It'd probably be cheaper to have a second charger, tbh, if you really wanted to charge both. Since I'd moved the lights/radio to the leisure, I didn't think I needed to bother with charging the starter battery, so I just left it charging only the leisure. Works just fine.

One thing I did do, though - the Ctek charger comes with a quick-connect joint in the 12v leads, and two sets of cables - one with eyelets to wire in (I chopped those off and wired to the Westy wiring connector), one with croc clips. I left the quick-connect handy, so I can just swap to the croc clips to the starter (or any other) battery if ever required.

[Technobadger]

Yeah that makes sense
I've modded the radio etc so that's all good
Thanks

[California Dreamin]

I know it sounds a bit OTT but you could always wire in one of those cheaper Ctek clone 3 amp chargers along side the bigger unit, so you have two chargers, one for the starter and one for the leisure.
When you consider you are only going to see dual ouput on £90 plus units then keeping the same functionality but for less money but with independant conditioning makes very good sense.

The benefits are not obvious however, if you have taken all the drain off the starter battery.

When you say 'Bang goes the charger' do you actually mean it went bang? these chargers often blow the internal fuse and thermo trip...fairly easy/cheap fix.

Martin

[Technobadger]

Thanks martin great idea
No it went bang blowing the pcb and it has a lot of dry joints.
I can gain valuable space and silence by changing it so I've ordered the ctec 5A
I will wait for lidl to restock and buy 2

[Technobadger]

Job done thanks all