DUAL CHARGING SYSTEM

[woody]

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF A DUAL CHARGING SYSTEM, HOW HARD OR EASY IS IT TO DO, CAN I USE THE SECOND BATTERY TO RUN OUR WHEELCHAIR LIFT FROM ALSO CAN THE SECOND BATTERY BE USED TO START THE VEHICLE IF THE MAIN BATTERY FAILS. THANKS

[joelataxi]

if you're thinking of a second battery with a split charge relay the advantage is that you can use your 12v supply without flattening your starter battery as when the ignition is off it in effect isolates your second battery which would be the one you're drawing power from.

edit is, it's not difficult to do so long as you have somewhere for the second battery to sit.

[joelataxi]

another way is just to have twin batteries on your motor but without a split charge relay if you flattened the battery using say, the chairlift, then they would both be flat.

[stevew]

As Joe said, you can use the second battery for your lift.
You can use the second battery to start from but....
You have to have the right type of battery. A lot of 'leisure' type batteries are NOT suitable for starting and it will damage them. You'd have to use a dual purpose battery.
Since the batteries are isolated untill the engine starts you'd have to either connect them manually with a jump lead under the bonnet or fit a switch that overides the split charge relay to force it closed. Fitting a switch would be very simple. You just have to make sure you don't use it by accident and remember to unswitch it once started.
Steve

[woody]

THANKS JOE I THINK THE SPLIT CHARGE RELAY SOUNDS THE BETTER OPTION ANY IDEAS HOW TO DO THIS, I HAVE A SECOND BATTERY CARRIER UNDER THE BONNET , IT'S A MK3 THANKS

[woody]

THANKS STEVE I WOULD LIKE TO FIT A SPLIT CHARGE SYSTEM AS I SAID IN LAST REPLY. I AM NOT SURE HOW TO DO THIS ALSO WHAT TYPE OF BATTERY DO I NEED TO USE THANKS

[Transit-Tricky]

Have a look at this posted by Rifleman some time ago...

Also Stevew suggested this guy for a good leisure battery that will also start your van if needed:

eBay listings



Cheers, TT

[stevew]

Yep like that but you'll need much bigger fuses and relay if you want to be able to start from the battery with a switch. The bigger the relay the better.

Like this: Split charge relay for instance.

You can get complete kits aswell. Split charge kit

The bigger the wire and relay the better it will be for starting.

The start overide switch would be connected from the ignition switch to the relay on term. 86 as labled. You may also need a diode, anyone?



Steve

[woody]

THANKS FOR THE DIAGRAM TRASIT TRICKY THIS WILL HELP A LOT, HAVE YOU USED THIS SYSTEM IN YOU MINIBUS , OURS IS THE SAME BUT A 1989. JUST NEED TO KNOW WHAT BATTERY TO USE NOW THANKS.

[joelataxi]

easist/cheapest way is get a standard 4 pin relay from a scrap car/van whatever, you'll be looking for a 4 pin, they pins are numbered, look for one with terminals 30 85 86 and 87 (very common on most vehicles)

terminal 30 goes to your battery positive terminal

terminal 85 goes to earth

terminal 87 to the positive side of your second battery

and terminal 86 is your relay trigger wire which you can either wire to your ignition or the better place for it is the chrge terminal of your alternator.

for wiring terminals 85 and 86 can be normal auto wiring (about the size headlights are wired with)

for wiring terminals 30 and 87 you're best to copy the charge wire from the alternator (thats the largest diameter wire on there)

as steve said i'd use a decent starter battery rather than a leisure battery as the lift will be quite high drain

[joelataxi]

edit was fuses..............

tricky beat me to it!

as for using it to start, i carry a set of jump leads, then there's no strain on your wiring

[Transit-Tricky]

Woody, I have just put two batteries in parallel with no relay. My system is to make sure the bus starts in the coldest of British winters. I have no tail lift, winch or megawatt subwoofer bass bin ICE (yet!!)
TT

[woody]

THANKS STEVE JUST LOOKED AT THE BATTERY AND SPLIT CHARGE KIT ON EBAY WILL BE ORDERING THEM THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR HELP.

[stevew]

Glad to have been of assistance!

You did realise that the kit comes with the relay so you don't need to order one sepeartely? Just thought I'd check

Have fun!

Steve



P.S. This was is the battery I fitted in my van: 100Ah Dual purpose battery

It's the biggest I could fit in the holder. It was good value, I paid £36 for it when I collected in person.

[woody]

STEVE I ASSUME THE RELAY IN THE KIT WILL BE BIG ENOUGH , THANKS