*NOW BOOKED FOR 2025* Transitmania 16 @ Santa Pod 11th to 13th July 2025 *ALL DETAILS HERE*


Auxiliary and Starter Bsttery. Relay Q.

Use this forum to post technical questions & problems about any Transit

Moderator: Luke

Auxiliary and Starter Bsttery. Relay Q.

Postby Patchouli666 » Thu Oct 10, 2024 12:33 pm

First post here and have searched but not found an answer to what I’m looking for.

Have both aux and starter batteries out of a 63 plate transit. It had a Merlin battery protection system installed by uk power. We have removed it.
Do we need to reinstall a relay or split charge relay between the six and starter? As in, will it have been relocated to the Merlin system or will it still be in situ? Daughter is saying a split charge relay is needed. . I think there will be a relay already between the two batteries and we will only need a split charge relay when we install the leisure battery.

Thanks in advance!
Patchouli666
Newbie
 
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 8:14 am

Re: Auxiliary and Starter Bsttery. Relay Q.

Postby Altransit » Thu Oct 10, 2024 1:19 pm

You don't say which model of Transit that you have :?

Is it a Mk7 RWD with factory twin batteries, or is it an aftermarket fitting :?:
1994 Mk4 SWB 115 Minibus 70ps Di (R.I.P.)
1997 Mk5 SWB 115 Minibus 70ps Di (Gone, but not forgotten!)
2004 Mk6 SWB T280 Medium Roof 85PS 2.0 TDDi - Vantunered (Also gone)
2008 Mk7 SWB T280 Medium Roof 85PS 2.2 TDCi - Also Vantunered
User avatar
Altransit
Site Moderator
 
Posts: 40793
Joined: Tue Oct 17, 2006 12:23 am
Location: Bicester, Oxfordshire, UK

Re: Auxiliary and Starter Bsttery. Relay Q.

Postby Patchouli666 » Thu Oct 10, 2024 1:28 pm

Apologies, it’s a Mk7, RWD.
Two batteries as standard.
Patchouli666
Newbie
 
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 8:14 am

Re: Auxiliary and Starter Bsttery. Relay Q.

Postby Altransit » Thu Oct 10, 2024 1:37 pm

OK, I didn't want to start waffling on, only to find that we're talking about a different van :lol:

In the fuse box behind and under the drivers seat, there should be a large relay, connected between the red battery cables. It's not a split charge relay, it simply closes when the ignition is turned on, and connects both batteries together, ready for starting. Once the engine is running, they stay connected for parallel charging, and will stay that way until the ignition is switched off. This isolates the batteries so that if you're using the van electrics during your stop, it will only run down one battery, so that the van will always start.
1994 Mk4 SWB 115 Minibus 70ps Di (R.I.P.)
1997 Mk5 SWB 115 Minibus 70ps Di (Gone, but not forgotten!)
2004 Mk6 SWB T280 Medium Roof 85PS 2.0 TDDi - Vantunered (Also gone)
2008 Mk7 SWB T280 Medium Roof 85PS 2.2 TDCi - Also Vantunered
User avatar
Altransit
Site Moderator
 
Posts: 40793
Joined: Tue Oct 17, 2006 12:23 am
Location: Bicester, Oxfordshire, UK

Re: Auxiliary and Starter Bsttery. Relay Q.

Postby Patchouli666 » Fri Oct 11, 2024 8:32 am

IMG_2297.png
Thankyou, very helpful. Can see the relay in the pre fuse box. Have added some pics.

Would it be ok for you to let me know where we attach the cable shown? In first pic, it looks like it goes into the plastic snap enclosure and a cable definitely comes out of it but my arm is in the way to clearly see where it goes and which cable it is.

Have the two new batteries here to go in hopefully today or tomorrow and don’t want to connect them up incorrectly.
Many thanks
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Patchouli666
Newbie
 
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 8:14 am

Re: Auxiliary and Starter Bsttery. Relay Q.

Postby Patchouli666 » Fri Oct 11, 2024 8:33 am

IMG_2298.png
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Patchouli666
Newbie
 
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 8:14 am

Re: Auxiliary and Starter Bsttery. Relay Q.

Postby Patchouli666 » Fri Oct 11, 2024 8:38 am

IMG_2299.png
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Patchouli666
Newbie
 
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 8:14 am

Re: Auxiliary and Starter Bsttery. Relay Q.

Postby Patchouli666 » Fri Oct 11, 2024 8:43 am

IMG_2300.png
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Patchouli666
Newbie
 
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 8:14 am

Re: Auxiliary and Starter Bsttery. Relay Q.

Postby Patchouli666 » Fri Oct 11, 2024 9:03 am

IMG_2302.jpeg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Patchouli666
Newbie
 
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 8:14 am

Re: Auxiliary and Starter Bsttery. Relay Q.

Postby Altransit » Fri Oct 11, 2024 12:06 pm

This is the standard wiring which I retro-fitted to mine, the taped wiring in yours is not standard. Maybe you can work it out from these pictures :idea:
Mk7TwinBatteryWiring 002.jpg

2016-11-25 16.51.16.jpg

2016-11-25 16.58.34.jpg

DSC_0130.JPG
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
1994 Mk4 SWB 115 Minibus 70ps Di (R.I.P.)
1997 Mk5 SWB 115 Minibus 70ps Di (Gone, but not forgotten!)
2004 Mk6 SWB T280 Medium Roof 85PS 2.0 TDDi - Vantunered (Also gone)
2008 Mk7 SWB T280 Medium Roof 85PS 2.2 TDCi - Also Vantunered
User avatar
Altransit
Site Moderator
 
Posts: 40793
Joined: Tue Oct 17, 2006 12:23 am
Location: Bicester, Oxfordshire, UK

Re: Auxiliary and Starter Bsttery. Relay Q.

Postby Patchouli666 » Fri Oct 11, 2024 1:58 pm

Brilliant thanks, from your help I think I have been able to work this out correctly. Here is a diagram which is showing how I have everything set up(haven’t connected any terminals properly yet, need to check it’s correct before I go ahead. The diagram is a little confusing, basically just focus on the red lines I’ve drawn over it as this is where I’ve connected things..
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Patchouli666
Newbie
 
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 8:14 am

Re: Auxiliary and Starter Bsttery. Relay Q.

Postby Altransit » Sat Oct 12, 2024 2:05 pm

Your last diagram above shows a box with no main relay, which you need to have if you want it to function as a factory dual battery setup. You have a connecting bus bar where the relay should be, which will make it function as a single battery setup (albeit with two batteries)

I'm also not sure why you have a fuse in the front battery feed :?: :?
1994 Mk4 SWB 115 Minibus 70ps Di (R.I.P.)
1997 Mk5 SWB 115 Minibus 70ps Di (Gone, but not forgotten!)
2004 Mk6 SWB T280 Medium Roof 85PS 2.0 TDDi - Vantunered (Also gone)
2008 Mk7 SWB T280 Medium Roof 85PS 2.2 TDCi - Also Vantunered
User avatar
Altransit
Site Moderator
 
Posts: 40793
Joined: Tue Oct 17, 2006 12:23 am
Location: Bicester, Oxfordshire, UK


Return to Technical Problems & Questions



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users

This site contains affiliate links for which we may be compensated.