Smart Alternator & Split Charge Relay Help

[QPRMinty]

Hello all.

New member here.

I've just bought a 2014 Transit Custom and need to install a leisure battery.

I soon became aware of the dreaded smart alternator issue and followed the advice of this video to determine if whether I have a smart alternator (which I already kinda knew because it's a Euro 5 vehicle)....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3LDVZAZMII

I drove the van at varying speeds and road conditions for a good 20 minutes and the voltage never dropped below 14.9 volts for the duration of the whole trip.

However, I also went into the local Ford main dealer and asked if my van had a smart alternator - "yes" came the answer.

I then asked whether I had regenerative braking - "no" came the answer.

On the basis of the above points, and upon seeing 'Cider Andy's comments from another post, here:

2010 is a Euro4 van. It too has a smart alternator but the split-charging setup does work with a voltage sensing relay - I've fitted one on my own van.

There's a bit of confusion about what a 'smart' alternator is. For the last 15 or 20 years a 'smart' alternator has been around, smart because after starting the engine it gently raises the output voltage irrespective of engine speed to prevent damage to electronic equipment. But a 'smart' alternator these days, introduced to help meet Euro6 emissions standards, forms part of the regenerative braking systems, in conjuntion with on-board ECUs and different battery technologies. It's these vehicles that need battery-to battery charging systems to totally separate the modern vehicle electrical system from the traditional 'leisure' electrical systems.

Can I assume that, although I do have a smart alternator, I can use a split-charge relay in this particular van?

Thank you for reading.

Matt

[QPRMinty]

Apologies.....the Cider Andy Quote came out wrong (made it look like I knew what I was talking about )....it's was all of this.....

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Cider Andy wrote:
2010 is a Euro4 van. It too has a smart alternator but the split-charging setup does work with a voltage sensing relay - I've fitted one on my own van.

There's a bit of confusion about what a 'smart' alternator is. For the last 15 or 20 years a 'smart' alternator has been around, smart because after starting the engine it gently raises the output voltage irrespective of engine speed to prevent damage to electronic equipment. But a 'smart' alternator these days, introduced to help meet Euro6 emissions standards, forms part of the regenerative braking systems, in conjuntion with on-board ECUs and different battery technologies. It's these vehicles that need battery-to battery charging systems to totally separate the modern vehicle electrical system from the traditional 'leisure' electrical systems.

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[dumper]

I fitted the sterling system to mine but I read on here that there is a multi plug under one of the seats that if you Earth a pin out it turns off the smart change system and on another post that if you have stop start and turn it off it also turns it off and it maybe the same if you have the Eco button I maybe wrong on this I’m a old style plant and transport fitter so no really up on modern electronics someone more upto date may be able to give more idea.i have had the sterling system for a year now and it really is a fast changing system

[QPRMinty]

Thanks for your input, Dumper.

So far my leisure battery seems to be charging. But I'm still cautious at the moment.

I may need to go down the Sterling B2B route in the end.

[QPRMinty]

An update for anyone searching for answers on this subject......

I can confirm that the Split-Charge system is definitely working for me on this van (2014 Transit Custom Trend).

My van has two batteries under the driver's seat and my leisure battery is hooked up to the rear of the two van batteries.

I've been checking the voltage of my leisure battery on an end-of-day basis, having been out window cleaning all day, and with varying distances back home after the last job.

The lowest voltage I have recorded is 12.32 volts, which I estimate to be around 70% charged, with the average voltage reading being 12.49 volts, which I estimate to be around 89% charged.

On 4 or 5 occasions I have had a fully charged battery at the end of the day.

I hope this information is useful to someone.

[bdastu]

I fitted the sterling system to mine but I read on here that there is a multi plug under one of the seats that if you Earth a pin out it turns off the smart change system and on another post that if you have stop start and turn it off it also turns it off and it maybe the same if you have the Eco button I maybe wrong on this I’m a old style plant and transport fitter so no really up on modern electronics someone more upto date may be able to give more idea.i have had the sterling system for a year now and it really is a fast changing system

Dumper, I've just bought a Sterling b2b charger to fit to my 2014 Custom and the instructions mention that for a Transit Custom the charger needs to be connected to an ignition switched feed.
Where did you connect to get this feed?
Must admit I'm more tempted to find the pin that needs earthed to disable the smart charging.

[dumper]

Did not wire to ignition it was straight battery to battery I don’t know if the mk8 is different to a custom if you ring sterling they are very helpful

[DR.Hodes]

Hi QPRMinty,

Your right there seems to be a lot of confusion over this issue. I want to do what you have done. Can you give some more detail on what you used and exactly where you connected it. My van already has two batteries under the drivers seat but I'd like to add another.

Cheers.

[Keithmac]

Our 2013 Euro5 Kuga has SMART alternator control, BCM controls the charging.

Rarely goes above 13.5v, running with headlights on keeps our caravan happy.

[QPRMinty]

Hi QPRMinty,

Your right there seems to be a lot of confusion over this issue. I want to do what you have done. Can you give some more detail on what you used and exactly where you connected it. My van already has two batteries under the drivers seat but I'd like to add another.

Cheers.

Apologies...just logged in and seen your post.

I just have a leisure battery in the load-space, with a Durite Split-Charge-Relay kit connecting the leisure battery to the nearest of my two van batteries (the furthest battery from the front of the van). It's as simple as that.

The battery compartment is under the drivers seat, as you probably already know, and so it's just a case of drilling a single hole through the bulkhead for the positive lead of the Relay kit. You don't connect anything to the van battery Negative terminal. For the Negative (Earth) of the Relay kit, I just used one of the bulkhead retaining bolts, and sanded the paint off the bulkhead where the bolt touches it, to ensure good contact.

These Relay kits look complicated, but once you've done it, it all makes sense. There are some good videos on Youtube showing how to connect them up.

Good luck with your project.

[glenandemm]

I’ve had a durite vsr too fitted to my 2015 limited with no probs for nearly a year now, was worried about fitting it and not putting a batt2batt one charger on but its been spot on!

[DR.Hodes]

Hi QPRMinty,

Your right there seems to be a lot of confusion over this issue. I want to do what you have done. Can you give some more detail on what you used and exactly where you connected it. My van already has two batteries under the drivers seat but I'd like to add another.

Cheers.

Apologies...just logged in and seen your post.

I just have a leisure battery in the load-space, with a Durite Split-Charge-Relay kit connecting the leisure battery to the nearest of my two van batteries (the furthest battery from the front of the van). It's as simple as that.

The battery compartment is under the drivers seat, as you probably already know, and so it's just a case of drilling a single hole through the bulkhead for the positive lead of the Relay kit. You don't connect anything to the van battery Negative terminal. For the Negative (Earth) of the Relay kit, I just used one of the bulkhead retaining bolts, and sanded the paint off the bulkhead where the bolt touches it, to ensure good contact.

These Relay kits look complicated, but once you've done it, it all makes sense. There are some good videos on Youtube showing how to connect them up.

Good luck with your project.

Hi QPRMinty,

Thanks for the info, most helpful. I've got a DCIV where I have swapped the front double passenger seat for a single, I'm going to plonk the leisure battery under there. Your option seems much more cost effective than going for a batt to batt charger or solar and all the bits a bobs that would need. The battery would only see light duty for the maximum of a couple of days so hopefully this solution for power will work out.