Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all, I've recently bought my komet high top and was told it has a split charge system in it, is there a switch to turn it on or is always on? My water pump works and the lights haven't tried the fridge yet but the electric heater only works when on hook up! Basic I have no clue about it and google is just sending me to shops to purchase one!!
Thanks in advance

The split charge system will charge the batteries (Starter and Leisure Battery) when the engine is running and the batteries are in good condition. Ideally you don't want the fridge running off the battery as it will flatten it in a matter of a couple of hours. In some cases fridges are wired up to run on 12 volts when the engine is running but cut off once stopped. If it is a 3 way fridge then gas or hook up would be the preferred option once parked up.

Hi
We actually have no way of knowing if you have a split charge or not , many things have happened to these vans in the 25+ years since they were first owned !

However there are a couple of very simple tests you can do to find out

1. Switch your water pump on and disconnect the neg connection of your leisure battery - if the pump stops, it works from the leisure battery
Now if it is working from the leisure battery, and has stopped , start your engine , if the pump starts again, you have a split charger . Now I guess, look for a switch which doesn't do anything else, and see if it makes the pump stop whilst the engine is running .

As for heater only working on hook up, if it's a mains heater, it cannot work unless you are connected to the mains .

Mocki wrote: As for heater only working on hook up, if it's a mains heater, it cannot work unless you are connected to the mains .

Or it could be it is running off of a mains charger for the leisure battery that may not be fitted, there may be a changeover switch from leisure to van bat for the rest.
You will have to have a good rummage.

The water pump doesn't switch off when you take the negative off! So I guess it's not got a split charge?

Then that means your water pump,is not working off the leisure battery , if you did the test in the order I said !
What is wired to the leisure battery then ? Just lights ?
Or do you have a control panel with a "car" / "van" switch ? It needs to be on "van" to do the test I suspect .

Opened up both battery covers and main battery has a black square shaped box squeezed in next to it, only wording I can make out is 12v, it's attached to the side of the battery compartment, the leisure has a red wire running out under the carpet, the red wire from the that runs out on the other battery comes out of the small box? ! Does that help work it out? Thanks

I can take pics but don't know how to post them on here!

Ok small box says voltage sensitivity reading, 12v 140 amp!! Not sure what any of that means?

voltage sensitive RELAY I should think - that will be your split charge relay.

Can't be definite without a pic but certainly sounds like a split charge relay. Take a reading on your leisure battery with the engine running, should be 13.8+

Thanks for that, how do I take a reading off my leisure battery? Sorry

Mocki wrote:Then that means your water pump,is not working off the leisure battery , if you did the test in the order I said !
What is wired to the leisure battery then ? Just lights ?
Or do you have a control panel with a "car" / "van" switch ? It needs to be on "van" to do the test I suspect .

I haven't found a control panel anywhere, any clues as to where it would be?

it will be obvious if you have one, they dont hide them!!
you need to buy a multimeter if you want to investigate further i think

Thanks for all your help