Starter Battery and Leisure Battery

[DarrenK]

Hi all,

My 89 camper, has the Vehicle and Leisure batteries under the bonnet. The leisure is connected to the starter battery to charge when driving. Problem is, that the last few times we've been out, the vehicle battery has died when camping. I disconnect the leisure battery today whilst all the lights were on in the van, and they stayed on.

Can anyone advise how i can stop the leisure drawing from the main battery please? we're off to Dorset on Tuesday, and i dont want to be left asking for a jump start again lol.

[whitemice]

Probably time for a new split charge system. The lights in the back of the van should be fused and wired to the leisure battery only and it would appear yours are not.
These are ok and caravan/motorhome places will have similar and can fit cheap enough if you're clueless.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BONGO-VAN-SPL ... 2a2201166d

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/T5-TRANSPORTE ... 2574a57cb6

[DarrenK]

I really dont know how its wired, we've had her for 2 years (3 Summers), and its only this year we've had problems.

I think the lights are drawing from the Car battery through the linking cable, as we've never has anything to prevent it. So this system is guarenteed to stop any draw?

I thought there would have to be something in the actual link cables. But there is something else, Inside we have the hook up, with its elctrical fuse board, one of the fuses says lights? But, there isn't any 240v lights in the van lol.

[whitemice]

You should have a split charge relay system and then the lights/freezer/stereo etc. are all isolated from main battery. If it's just got two wires connecting the batteries it's no good. Any connecting wires should be fused as close to positive of each batt as possible.

[DarrenK]

So does this mean, i fit it from the Main battery through to the Leisure battery, and disconnect the two existing cables leaving just the relay ones?

If so, then it seems to be very quick and eas fix, and no cables running up to the stearing column or alternator.

[whitemice]

So does this mean, i fit it from the Main battery through to the Leisure battery, and disconnect the two existing cables leaving just the relay ones?

If so, then it seems to be very quick and eas fix, and no cables running up to the stearing column or alternator.

Yeah, basically you tap the 'sense' ie 5v at the alternator to relay/processor(connector will be in kit) and run the relay/processor wiring between the batts.

Then you run a cable to the fridge from leisure batt @15A guage and another say 30A guage to your fusebox for all the pumps/lights etc.

Put fuses for everything as close as possible to batt positive terminals.

I do not even have the clock or vehicle alarm ultrasonics running from main batt, ie. zero draining when static. An unregulated 5-10w solar panel is handy to charge maintain the leisure battery when idle.

You will get instructions/diagrams with the kits and the two places suggested offer advice etc. it's a doddle really, just check and make sure every circuit in the van ie. lights/stereo/pumps are individually fused with the correct rated fuse/wiring and choose a fusebox feed wire guage to suit - ie. total everything and double it .

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