Help On Leisure Battery And Split Charge With T6 Bluemotion

T

T6newbie

Member
Evening all,

I’ve had some great advice on here previously around my roof options and enabling the auxiliary heater as a parking heater. I now have another question around my electrics.

I have a 240v hook up, consumer unit and 240v sockets installed when I had the roof fitted. I have separately installed a Victron blue smart 10a Bluetooth charger to keep the vehicle battery topped up when I use the (now enabled as a parking heater) auxiliary heater. I’m off camping without a hook up shortly and would like advice on:

a. Wiring a leisure battery. I seldom camp without hook up. What options do you suggest to wire and keep any leisure battery charged? Stick with the unit I have (if its up to the job) or install a ac/dc unit or something else?

b. Solar roof panels. I haven’t really looked into them. Are they worthwhile?


Thank you in advance.
 
Ideally, you’ll need to install a DC-DC battery charger. When the engine is running, it’ll take the voltage provided by the alternator/starter battery, and provide the relevant voltage/current for the leisure battery.

I’ve got a CTEK D250SA which can provide a max of 20amps and also has a solar regulator built in.

Solar panels are something I’m considering but probably won’t be much more than 150w on a good day. I’m sure there are members on here that will share their experience with solars.

Pete
 
Spaghettiboy78 said:
Ideally, you’ll need to install a DC-DC battery charger. When the engine is running, it’ll take the voltage provided by the alternator/starter battery, and provide the relevant voltage/current for the leisure battery.

I’ve got a CTEK D250SA which can provide a max of 20amps and also has a solar regulator built in.

Solar panels are something I’m considering but probably won’t be much more than 150w on a good day. I’m sure there are members on here that will share their experience with solars.

Pete
Click to expand...
If you're looking to get 150W on a good day it'll probably mean getting a 200/250W panel and the Ctek won't handle the voltage from a larger panel so you'll need a solar controller like a Victron 75/15
 
We have a 100W solar panel. On a good day that has proved plenty to keep the fridge running, and the leisure battery topped up. On holiday we don't do long spells when the van isn't used though.

Pete
 
andys said:
If you're looking to get 150W on a good day it'll probably mean getting a 200/250W panel and the Ctek won't handle the voltage from a larger panel so you'll need a solar controller like a Victron 75/15
Click to expand...

Thanks, yeah, I’ve not researched it fully, but was thinking out loud (sort of) in a best case scenario. Might be something I fit this year. :cool:
 
I have a 150w panel and its more than enough to run the fridge on most days and leave the single 110amp bat fully charged for evening lighting
 
hi all sorry to jumop on the thread, whats the best location for a leasuire battery? any pics would be great! thank you
 
Hi Adam
Attached photo of the battery installed under my front seat, it’s a Hankook AX31 gell battery laying on its side, this is something of a dual purpose battery as its used for our additional lighting and rear winch, but it could quite easily be a leisure battery. Installation by Martyn at Travelvolts. Hope that helps.

B64A25F7-9DF4-4AC6-8608-70C6E1518315.jpeg
 
Please advise if better to start a new thread, but following up on the leisure battery split charge discussion.....I have a 2017 T6 recently converted to a camper with an Eberspracher heater, leisure battery and solar panel. I've just been away in the Alps for four weeks. Prior to going away and so many times during the trip the heater failed at different stages. Sometimes after driving all day, sometimes after being sat for a day or two, sometimes mid cycle, sometimes before even getting up to speed. I've been told that the van has a smart charging alternator (I don't fully understand the concept but does it work a bit like KERS on F1 cars?) that doesn't necessarily put out charge to the leisure battery all of the time when running. Could my problem with the heater be voltage related i.e. insufficient charge in the leisure battery? Some days when stuck in the snow I ran the engine for an hour assuming it would charge the leisure battery. I was wild or stealth camping throughout, no hook ups. Vans going back to the converters for testing of the heater but any thoughts would be much appreciated. It will contribute to my learning!
 
RichW said:
Please advise if better to start a new thread, but following up on the leisure battery split charge discussion.....I have a 2017 T6 recently converted to a camper with an Eberspracher heater, leisure battery and solar panel. I've just been away in the Alps for four weeks. Prior to going away and so many times during the trip the heater failed at different stages. Sometimes after driving all day, sometimes after being sat for a day or two, sometimes mid cycle, sometimes before even getting up to speed. I've been told that the van has a smart charging alternator (I don't fully understand the concept but does it work a bit like KERS on F1 cars?) that doesn't necessarily put out charge to the leisure battery all of the time when running. Could my problem with the heater be voltage related i.e. insufficient charge in the leisure battery? Some days when stuck in the snow I ran the engine for an hour assuming it would charge the leisure battery. I was wild or stealth camping throughout, no hook ups. Vans going back to the converters for testing of the heater but any thoughts would be much appreciated. It will contribute to my learning!
Click to expand...

would need more details about your specific problem, . . . but:

does it work a bit like KERS on F1 - yes it does, uses braking energy to boost charge the battery under braking, tho its ECU controlled so its outputr is 0-100% controlled.

doesn't necessarily put out charge to the leisure battery all of the time when running - no it doesn't so it wont charge your flat leisure battery like an old style alternator.

I ran the engine for an hour assuming it would charge the leisure battery - I've tried this too, it wont charge the battery.

You need to replace your assumed split charge relay with a DC-DC charger that WILL charge your leisure battery when the van is running.

any ideas of your setup with the solar etc? maybe some pics?

**************************************************************

have a look over here where we look at bluemotion charging, DC-DC chargers and Leisure batterys.

Stop/start...regen...smart Alternator... Dc-dc Charger For Leisure Battery Or Not?

and here:

Dellmassive`s -- "how I Done It" -- Thread

also have a look over here:

https://www.travelvolts.net/


@travelvolts has a range of DC-DC chargers etc and will be able to advise you.

https://www.travelvolts.net/shop

.

.
 
Last edited:
Thanks Dellmassive, much appreciated, will take a look at the links and get some pics/details tomorrow about my setup.
 
It's starting to make a bit more sense. Here are pics of my setup. I'm not sure of the full details of the leisure battery or the wattage of the panel, but should be able to find out.
So I presume the smartpass unit allows the solar to charge the leisure battery as well as the smart alternator?
Does this mean if I'm parked up and solar is not good that I'll have to head out for a decent drive to get the smart alternator to charge the leisure battery?
If the heater requires a minimum voltage to work then this could be why it has failed so many times. Or could it be that the leisure battery isn't getting a decent charge when the van is being driven and solar is bad?

Watched how much voltage fluctuated today with the heater. Perfect sunny day today and with the van sat with voltage showing as 12.9V.
When I started the heater the voltage dropped to 11.7V at the maximum output point, before settling at 12V when up to temperature and just maintaining heat. Then slowly crept back over time to 12.9V with good solar input.

Am I going to have less freedom than I thought and be more tied to hook ups when out and about because I have a smart alternator?

Thoughts appreciated! Thanks in advance :)





Power supply.JPG Smartpass.JPG Solar controller.JPG Solar.JPG
 
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