Looking after your leisure battery

[ghost123uk]

As usual at this time of year there are a lot of posts about leisure batteries. I just thought I would point folks at a very useful device. It automatically cuts off your leisure battery when it's voltage drops below the value (~11.6 volts) whereby it can damage itself. The device is a simple "Low Voltage Disconnect" sometimes abbreviated to "LDV". Funnily enough I could not find any on Ebay, but there are plenty out there this Google search link shows lots. You just need to pick one with a sufficient power rating (in Amps) to suit what you have connected to your leisure battery (Stereo, lights, TV, Laptop etc) The lowest version (10 amps) will be fine for most folks, unless you have a big stereo power amp etc on your leisure battery. They cost around £25 but if it saves your battery just once it has paid for itself How many folks have drifted off to sleep and left the TV or Laptop on all night and flattened the leisure battery. I know I used to do it and the resultant big "doh" in the morning is why I fitted one (years ago).

Here is a pic of what they look like =

[1664]

You just need to pick one with a sufficient power rating (in Amps) to suit what you have connected to your leisure battery (Stereo, lights, TV, Laptop etc) The lowest version (10 amps) will be fine for most folks, unless you have a big stereo power amp etc on your leisure battery.

What about the recharge current John? Do they have to be sufficiently rated for that 'cos I know I see some pretty hefty initial currents when I restart my engine after a few days draining the leisure.

[ghost123uk]

Nowt to do with the charge current Bren, they go between the leisure battery and the load. You don't touch the charge lead from the split charge relay. It monitors the leisure battery during charging (solar or driving) and once it gets above about 12.5 volts it re-connects the "load" (lights etc). There is about a 60 second delay before this reconnection occurs though (for reasons I won't bore you with).

[ghost123uk]

You can get "LVDs" built into "Solar panel charge controllers" too, but I don't bother with one of those as (imho) your normal solar panel is never going to have enough amps coming out of it to overcharge a 110 ah battery (well mine won't any way )

[1664]

Nowt to do with the charge current Bren, they go between the leisure battery and the load.

Ah yes, my leisure recharge cable and load cable are both connected to the split charge relay under the drivers seat. The recharge cable also acts as a load cable once the engine is turned off so I would have to install it in the load cable under the drivers seat; problem there being this cable also supplies the inverter which could, potentially, draw in excess of 40amps if I plugged something drastic into it.

So, not for me then......

[ghost123uk]

You could easily feed the inverter from a separate supply cable connected directly to the leisure battery. Most decent inverters have their own low voltage / battery saving system

[1664]

easily

There is no way I am running another cable from my leisure battery to my inverter. It's miles away and would involve shed loads of work

[Oldiebut goodie]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12VDC-PROGRAM ... 417464b0f3

16A - could be linked to larger relay if required.

[ghost123uk]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12VDC-PROGRAM ... 417464b0f3

16A - could be linked to larger relay if required.

That is exactly the one I have fitted (well done finding it on the Bay ) - I have to say that it is a good job I am an electronics engineer because the instructions and the way the terminals on the PCB are labelled would not make for easy understanding by your average buyer. I even emailed him offering to re-write the instructions but got no reply If anyone on here buys one of that type, let me know if you need a hand figuring out what wire goes where