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How to test a split charge system
Posted: 19 Jan 2011, 13:53
by Louey
The electrical numpty is back
I want to check my split charge is charging properly. I have a digital voltmeter too.
The split charge uses a 130amp relay and a 110 leisure battery.
I do hear a click from the relay when I start the engine up.
How do I test to see if it is charging properly please?
Re: How to test a split charge system
Posted: 19 Jan 2011, 14:01
by ewenmaclean
Hello Louey,
an easy test is to put the voltmeter onto volts (20V setting probably) and then check the voltage when the van is not started - it should be about 12V, then start then van so that the alternator is charging both batteries (red battery light definitely out!) and you should get something between 13.4 and 14.4V. The value might depend on the condition and use of the leisure battery - people like Kevtherev are encylopaedic about this sort of thing, but easy to test it's actually doing something by checking the voltage across the terminals running and not running.
Hope it's ok
Ewen
Re: How to test a split charge system
Posted: 19 Jan 2011, 14:04
by ninja.turtle007
Louey wrote:The electrical numpty is back
I want to check my split charge is charging properly. I have a digital voltmeter too.
The split charge uses a 130amp relay and a 110 leisure battery.
I do hear a click from the relay when I start the engine up.
How do I test to see if it is charging properly please?
Are you sure it's not a 30amp relay?
Set the meter to volts. Check to see what the voltage is at the leisure battery with engine off should be around 12.5v if fully charged. Start engine, blip the throttle to ensure battery light on dash has gone out. Check voltage at leisure battery again. It should now read around 13.8v. If so then it works. If you have the same reading as before before you started engine then you have a problem somewhere.
Re: How to test a split charge system
Posted: 19 Jan 2011, 14:05
by ninja.turtle007
You type faster than me!!
Re: How to test a split charge system
Posted: 19 Jan 2011, 14:06
by ewenmaclean
only just - at least we said the same things (apart from your figures being more accurate than mine )
Re: How to test a split charge system
Posted: 22 Jan 2011, 17:27
by Louey
[quote="ninja.turtle007"
Are you sure it's not a 30amp relay?[/quote]
Its a meaty 180amp relay - it was leftover from stripping out the van from when I bought it.
Any way, checked the battery today. 11.8v to start with, started engine and it was reading 13.4-13.8v