Leisure battery not charging from engine

[dowtchaboy]

Hi - this is not a Transit-specific question but I don't know here else to ask it - I have a Transit based camper (1994 non-smiley) with a leisure battery under the hood (to the left).
Lately I have noticed that the leisure battery is not charging when I am on the road, though it does when I am connected to mains.

What instructions I have for the van are in German, and I don't think there is much there anyway about the electronics.

The control unit (meters, water-level, switches, circuit-breakers) is not a familiar name - is marked HehnMobil - SCHAUDT though it looks very much like any other camper.

I am guessing that there is some device that allows the van to charge the leisure battery when and only when the starter battery is fully charged? Is this likely to be under the hood, or is it in the control unit, or in the mains to DC charger unit? And should I be looking for a blown fuse or a loose connection?

I will track it down eventually - just hoped someone here could save me time.
Ta. P@

[kulataz]

Its more than likely either a split charge relay charging the second battery or a smart relay from a caravan. Are there any fuses near the second battery and are they intact? I would doubt the panel for the mains has the 12V through, if it has it will only be for a fuse if anything. I would suspect any charging wire to the second battery would be a decent size so you may be able to trace it back. The split charge relay and the smart relay will only charge when the engine is running so check to see if the voltage rises when you start the engine.

I hope this helps

Graham

[Harley Camper]

As said before the fuse is first port of call but I had the very same thing happen to me and I traced it to a faulty terminal on the relay. A bad earth will also cause you problems.

[dowtchaboy]

Thanks for the replies. Problem sorted.
Once I got off me a**e, got up from the computer and poked about under the hood, the answer was simple, as they usually are. Yes the leisure battery is connected to the engine battery via a relay, which itself is energised by a lead from the alternator i.e. the leisure battery is connected to the main system only after the engine is running. (In fact only after the alternator kicks in which seems to be after you get the revs up on the engine and the battery warning light goes out....but you knew that already...... ).

So - tracing the leads to the batteries, and the relay.... I found, well buried under electrical tape, the positive lead from the engine battery to the leisure battery relay had slipped out of the crimped terminal. Simple. Stoopid. A bit of opening with a screwdriver, squeezing with a vice-grip and away we go. [*]

[kulataz]

Well done mate. How pleased are you that you , not only managed to fix it but saved money on a garage bill?

Graham