LB Split charging question...

[kathyshack]

This isn't to do with my van (thank god) but my brothers. He has never had a LB in his van in the 4 years he has owned it, even though all the wiring appears to be there. After me getting a new battery last week we thought we woud try and fit my old battery to his split charge system to see how it faired and also to give him a bit of power for glastonbury. Fitted it under the passenger seat and connected it up. His stereo will now work from leisure battery so that is good. I am not sure however that the split charge is working. Am I right in thinking that when engine is on, if you put a voltmeter accross the LB that the voltage should go up? It isn't doing, just staying at 12.51v. I have took some pics of the split charge system as it is in case anyone can shed any light on it for us.
The wiki says there should be a fuse between the CB and the split charge and also between the Split charge and the LB. Daves seems to have some wierd plastic thing on the green wire from the car battery to the split charge and I am wondering if this is indeed some kind of fuse thing? I tried to open it but can't figure out what it does or how it works. here is a pic:-
Car battery to split charge:-


close up of split charge box:-


Leisure Battery:-


close up of LB with fuses:-


There is also some kind of fuse board wired in from the LB which sits in the metal battery box (forgot to take pics of). This appears to have a bigger red wire going into it and some wires coming out from some fuse holders but not sure what they are for - and they have no fuses in. Possibly one is for the interior lamp which doesn't work. As far as I can see there doesn't seem to be anything else wired up. This is sparking at times if battery is connected up, if it touches the metal of the battery box. Discconnected LB for time being to be on the safe side. I'm thinking we can just remove this fuse board thing from the LB for time being as nothing appears to be connected to it.

Main job first is to get the LB charging whilst driving. Any ideas?

thanks,
kathy.

[Ian Hulley]

The

wierd plastic thing on the green wire

is a push and twist apart 'plug top' inline fuse holder as is usually used with radios and CB's

Ian.

[grumpyoldgit]

Interesting for me as well.
I have a problem with the internal lights being very dim and then going to a glow after little use.
I have been tracking the wiring coming and going from the CB (under drivers seat) and LB (under passenger's seat) as best I can but I can't see where the splitter might be.
I am getting 12v from the CB but only 8v from the LB which is odd. I will charge the LB and see whether it keeps the charge.

[1664]

If the split charge circuit is wired properly, I think it won't start charging the LB until the CB is fully charged first. Go for a bit of a spin and see what voltage it's reading after that...........

[kathyshack]

cool, thanks for that. will give it a go.

[CovKid]

Yep would seem likely. I've just ordered one of these from Ebay (The £24 / 70amp version). Your main battery should always remain in a full state of charge whilst running then the leisure is topped up. It should switch back and forth via a regulator automatically. My stereo is so power hungry I decided to fit two batteries and run the stereo off the second to make sure I always have enough amps to start

I sat outside a mates recently with the stereo on for 45 mins and had no power to start so decided this was the solution. As I'm fitting electrical accessories with low consumption in the back (LED lights etc), I figured an ordinary car battery would be enough for me.