Dual charging kit fitted - main battery flat

[seahorse]

I bought these from Just Kampers last week and had them connected by a mechanic:

80Ah Leisure Battery: http://www.justkampers.com/shop/type_25 ... hours.html
Dual Charging Kit: http://www.justkampers.com/shop/type_25 ... g-kit.html

Parked for 3 hours this weekend with engine off, radio on, and fridge on 12v (danged if I can get the gas to ignite but that's another post). Went to move off and couldn't start the engine. Multimeter said 11.9v on main battery and 7.7v on leisure battery. Had to bump start and give it a run to recharge.

Should I be afraid? Should I be very afraid?

[T'Onion]

The fridge should only be working on 12v if the engine is running it will flatten a battery in a matter of a few hours , the radio could have flatten the battery if you had it 'pumping' tunes out.
It could be that your alternator is on its way out , try getting a multi-meter across the batteries with and without the engine running and with the spilt charger disconnected.

[T'Onion]

wow £20 for a relay ,fuse and wire

sorry , wondering off topic

[Oldiebut goodie]

A 30A voltage sensing relay is only £10 - What a rip-off!

You would have been better off getting an electrician who understands split charging rather than a mechanic.
Get the fridge fixed so that it only runs on 12v when the engine is running.
Wire the radio so that it only runs from the leisure battery.
The starting battery should be kept for the vehicles use so that you can at least start the engine.
Ask for help re the gas side - lots have successfully got their gas working with assistance/encouragement from members.

[AngeloEvs]

Not wired correctly is my bet!

[CovKid]

Actually I have the same problem and haven't solved it yet. The only thing I can think of is the relay 'leaks', draining the main battery. I actually have two relays, one for charging via the alternator (which it does and relay clicks in when it is) and a second which allows a solar charger to trickle the leisure when its parked and everything off.

Tests I've done so far are putting a load on the leisure with ignition off (ie should then be isolated) using a spare headlamp. After two hours main battery was dead. Wiring is absolutely correct but have now put a voltmeter on leisure battery so I can see alternator kickling in and out according to revs etc. Not solved it yet and think a leak through the first relay can be the only culprit.

I'm using this set up with everything rated at 100amps including relays:

[CovKid]

Incidentally, I mentioned in another thread about the voltmeters available on ebay for just under £7. I found the best place to mount one was on my heater cowling (see photo) as it only needs a small hole cut. It monitors the leisure (or in my case second car battery) , the inset pic showing the rise when engine is running. I guess you could even mount a second for the cranking battery too.

The display backlight (not shown here) I altered to run off my dash lights which are fed by the cranking battery ofcourse. It does give an easy to read indicator of when the relay kicks in or out as you can hear it click and see the voltage rise on the display accordingly. Just an idea and for £7, worth doing.

I recalibrated the guage slightly, using a reliable voltmeter I had. Theres a tiny adjuster screw on the back of the guage for that.

Took at most 45 mins to cut the hole and wire up.

[Oldiebut goodie]

Why isn't the input from your solar panel going directly to your leisure battery from the controller rather than going via the relay and the main battery? (Assuming that your 87a is a spare 87 terminal.) The solar panel will only charge when the engine is running in that case. I can't see why you are using two relays instead of just one.

[CovKid]

Well if I'm parked, the blue light on the solar blinks happily (as it always does when its trickle charging normally) but is then off when I fire up. This is what the second relay does. Unless that circuit is entirely wrong but solar definatly charging something

Heres all the relevant circuits: http://www.keithandsylvia.co.uk/main%20 ... e_page.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[VWCamperfan]

Just to make life a little easier, the solar panel can be permanantly connected to the battery without the relay. At least that would be one less to think about!
Still can't work out why your main battery is going flat though. Got exactly the same system in my van and it's ok. Something must be a bit amiss somewhere. Just out of interest, try disconnecting the split charging circuit from the main battery and see if it is still draining. It may be possible something else is draining it and the split charge circuit is getting the blame!
Even with the bulb as a load across the leisure battery, it shouldn't drain a battery that quickly... Two batteries even, if they are connected accidently by the relay!

[CovKid]

An ideal for me would be a couple of solars trickle charging both though I imagine the tiny one I'm using right now probably doesn't deliver much worth having anyway. Will have another play tomorrow and try isolating as much as I can, If I can isolate main battery completely other than through split system and can still flatten main with a drain on leisure, I might just get hold of that first relay, take my arm back a fair way then lob it as far as it will practically go!

If you're sure I can connect solar all the time then I might do that. As far as I can understand 87a is only closed when the relay is switched off. Its not a spare 87 - its the opposite side of the switch.

[Oldiebut goodie]

My solar panels on two vans are wired directly to the leisure batteries after the controllers. No need for relays or anything fancy. Strange that someone should think it necessary to switch off the solar panel just because the vehicle is also charging the battery.(solar panels should have something to charge whilst they are working).Mine are still connected and charging with the engine running, mains hookup or nowt else.
I have read of someone having trouble with a voltage sensing relay being switched by his solar panel and unexpectantly connecting the two batteries.
Rick
E D I T (just refreshed on 87a it's a normally connected terminal with 30 - disconnected when 30 and 87 are connected)

[CovKid]

Ah that'd make sense although thinking about it, I can see why they suggest connection solar via 87a but as most panels these days have a blocking diode, its unecessary. In my case I'm just running two standard car batteries rather than a starter and a leisure. In the medium term it'll (hopefully) give me a reserve battery in case first does go flat for any reason but long term will fit a leisure if and when I can ever afford one. I'm like a lot of wedge owners who keep a spare battery onboard for those "No, no, not now..." moments!!

For me, having enough current to start at all times is what counts. I don't want 240v inside particularly and want to keep on a 12v system. By sheer good fortune, I was given one of these:

http://www.caravanspares2repairs.co.uk/ ... -169-p.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (£300 new!!) - also tests trailer/caravan lights and charges 12v batteries - result)

I have an earlier version but it looks the same and delivers a steady 12v supply at an awesome 17amps if required - more than enough for what I'd want to run and will tuck nicely under the rear seat.

I can never understand why someone hasn't come up with a voltage generating rotating roof vent - those things whizz around.

[Oldiebut goodie]

A little trick that can help in a jam is a wire can be used to short across your relay so that you can use some of the leisure battery's power to start the vehicle.( within the limits of your relay and wiring of course) That is another reason why I use 100A and above relays and cable as you can use durite fuses across the ring terminals on these bigger relays.
That's an interesting bit of kit to be given!
Rick

[CovKid]

Yes I guess so. Glad I went for a high amp version to start with then