Leisure battery charging from hookup question

[MrU]

Hi guys,

I have a question about charging the Leisure Battery on hookup. I already have a Willinton kit installed for the split charge when the engine is running.

Anyway, I am in the middle of converting my Bongo and have just purchased a Numax 10amp charger and figuring the best way to install it (it will be permanently connected). To set the scene I have a common feed 12V distribution box inside the van fed with 8awg cable from the Leisure Battery. All my 12V electrics are fed off this. When I install the charger it would be nice and easy to connect it directly to this as it saves me threading more cables to the LB.

I cannot see how this would cause any problems as it is the same as directly connecting at the LB just at the end of the 8awg cable. As the capacity of the charger outweights any likely draw I will make I assume the LB will be charged perfectly. Not really concerned about voltage drop as the 8awg cable should be fine.

Are there any issues doing it the above way as opposed to connecting the charger directly to the battery?
The more I think the more I don't believe its an issue but wanted to confirm before doing something dangerous that could be dangerous.

Thanks

[francophile1947]

Can't see a problem as long as your charger cuts right down when the battery is charged - 10A is pretty powerful and you don't want the battery cooking
I use a Lidl/Aldi intelligent charger, for £12.99, which is only 3.6A - copes with everything, except if I was running the coolbox full-time

[dave_aber]

make sure that the cable from the charger to your distribution point and the 8awg cable from the L/B to the distribution point each has its own fuse, located as close to the source of supply as poss (i.e. At the L/B and at the charger). Your charger most likely has a built-in fuse anyway, but best to check.

[MrU]

Cheers guys.

The charger is an intelligent one and will cut down when fully charged so not a worry. Link here:
http://www.tayna.co.uk/Numax-Leisure-Ba ... P6127.html

I should have mentioned the 8awg does have a fuse located right next to the LB (20 amps at the moment which should cope). I also have the option of using one of the fused distribution sockets as an input (it isn't an intelligent distribution board but the only one I could find which had a common feed with individual fused outlets).

I was concerned (although I didn't understand why ) about current flow but logic dictates that having the connectino at the end of a cable makes no difference to having it at the battery clamp.

[dblake]

Don't want to hijack the thread but i guess its along the same lines...

I've got a leisure battery/split replay set up powering the coolbox and water pump in the back of the van. Have thought about getting an intelligent charger (something like a CTEK) which has a "supply" capability so that when im hooked up i can use the charger and the supply function will keep the 12v going in the van without much drain on the battery.

Now my question is, can i hook the charger up to the starter battery so that it supplies the 12v stuff (radio, lights, blinds) and the split relay will ensure the leisure battery remains charged too?

Cheers
Dave

[francophile1947]

Not sure, but I doubt it. Isn't the split charge relay supposed to isolate the two batteries unless a small charger generates enough current to open the relay
Why not just rewire the lights, blinds etc to work off the leisure battery?

[mikexgough]

Not sure, but I doubt it. Isn't the split charge relay supposed to isolate the two batteries unless a small charger generates enough current to open the relay

My Aldi charger has done before.... best go and take a look see ....

[peanutcrusher]

the setup you are looking at is what i'm currently running, with a Willinton split charge kit installed i have a quick lock plugs to run my charger into either of my two batteries the split chargers allows me to run my leisure without running down my main battery. when i connect my charge to my leisure i use it to run all my 12v bits in the van it supplies 25A with full intelligent four stage charging it also has a tempetre sensor which goes on the battery. it also has a supply mode which enables you to remove the battery from the system. when i connect it to the main battery the split charger allows charging of both batteries at the same time unlike when i connect to the leisure.
i spoke with bardon batteries and they told me they do a relay which i can replace the one in my split charger which will enable me to charge both way without running the main battery down when running the van normally.
hope this helps