sense lead/fuse

T

TheBeast

New Member
Hello guys

most of the way through converting my Nissan Primastar into a camper. I bought an ablemail battery to battery charger. . I am aware that it needs a sense lead from positive terminal to the charger. It says i need a sense fuse as well. Could you possibly tell where to get one of these? has anyone else had to do this?
 
oldiebut goodie said:
A VW T6 / Nissan hybrid is it? Methinks you may have slipped into the wrong dimension!:D
Click to expand...
no I was just hoping that someone may have been able to shed some light on where to get a sense lead and fuse to install with the battery to battery charger? For the purposes of my question lets pretend I have a VW ;)
 
If by sense lead it means a switched +ve (one that is only live when the IGN is turned on), then yoiu should be able to pick one up from your fuse panel. Use a piggy back connector on a circuit you know is only live when IGN is on.
 
That is the wiring diagram that comes with the charger. I am not sure what you mean by a piggy back connector, I confess to being a relative novice when it comes to this. It’s my first time. Have just been learning by watching YouTube videos can you dumb it down a bit?lol
 
It does mean a switched +ve.
A piggy back connector is as shown in the attached, you take a fuse out of your fuse panel (or find a spare slot that isn’t in use), replace it with one of these and it provides you with a connection you can run the new wire to. You need to replace the fuse you remove from the panel into the piggy back and add an extra one. one of these will feed the original circuit, the other will feed the new lead.

BeiLan 100pcs Mini Blade Fuse Assorted 2A 3A 5A 7.5A 10A 15A 20A 25A 30A 35A(16 * 11mm),with 5pcs Add-a-Circuit Fuse Tap In Piggy Back Fuse Holder 12/24V: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike

BeiLan 100pcs Mini Blade Fuse Assorted 2A 3A 5A 7.5A 10A 15A 20A 25A 30A 35A(16 * 11mm),with 5pcs Add-a-Circuit Fuse Tap In Piggy Back Fuse Holder 12/24V: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike
www.amazon.co.uk
 
ok I am with you now :) one end into the fuse box and the other to the positive terminal of the starter battery?
 
TheBeast said:
ok I am with you now :) one end into the fuse box and the other to the positive terminal of the starter battery?
Click to expand...
NO.
Find a switched feed on your fuse panel and connect it to the AbleMail where it says sense. DO NOT connect it to the battery.
Picture it this way. Battery connects to fuse panel (via IGN switch), fuse panel connects to piggy back lead, piggy back lead connects to sense input on DC-DC charger.
In your diagram this is the topmost wire on the LHS.

The other cable shown in the diagram connecting battery to DC-DC charger needs to be a direct cable from the battery to the charger. It should be a heavy gauge cable (10mm sq assuming more than 1.5m as shown on the drawing). It needs a fuse in line, close to the battery (50A according to the diagram). This cable will draw high current and if you use cable that is too small it will be a fire risk. If you’re not familiar with this sort of thing get someone with electrical knowledge to help.

The negative cable from the battery to the DC-DC charger and both cables from DC-DC to the leisure battery also need to be the same gauge. The +ve from the DC-DC also needs a fuse, close to the DC-DC charger.
 
Forgive me for being very simplistic here, get this wrong and it‘s dangerous.

1. Big fat red cable (10mm sq) from + on starter battery to INPUT. 50A fuse in line close to starter battery.
2. Big fat black cable from -ve on starter battery to 0V
3. Big fat red cable from OUTPUT to + on leisure battery. 50A fuse in line close to DC-DC Charger
4. Big fat black cable from 0V to -ve on leisure battery
5. Small gauge cable from switched +ve at fuse panel to SENSE (using a piggy back). Fuse is in piggy back connector. 1A is probably sufficient.

If you’re not sure what you’re doing get some help from someone who does know.

The sense lead is there purely to tell the DC-DC charger that the IGN is turned on. When the IGN is on the DC-DC charger will charge the leisure battery irrespective of whether the Starter battery is charged or not because if the IGN is on the alternator will charge the Starter battery if it drops too low.
 
Please dont apologise for putting it simply, those who know the most can often put it that way. Thankyou ever so much for your advice, god bless and stay safe. I will perhaps look you up if i come across anything else.
 
TheBeast said:
that is not infact on the wiring diagram for the charger so thankyou :)
Click to expand...
That's because it might not be needed. Please check, as I'm no electrician. I did mine using kit and instructions from Electrics | Travelvolts ,who is on this forum. I hope he doesn't mind if I link you here which gives instructions for fitting to that VW you are pretending to own ;) It definitely says "
Connect the thick black cable from the battery negative terminal to the ground point on the vehicle floor under the seat"
 
boxelder said:
That's because it might not be needed. Please check, as I'm no electrician. I did mine using kit and instructions from Electrics | Travelvolts ,who is on this forum. I hope he doesn't mind if I link you here which gives instructions for fitting to that VW you are pretending to own ;) It definitely says "
Connect the thick black cable from the battery negative terminal to the ground point on the vehicle floor under the seat"
Click to expand...
maybe one day i wont have to pretend.lol. I bought and did what I could afford. The VWs are lovely bits of kit so maybe one for the future. I will look into it. you could be right and its not needed
 
TheBeast said:
maybe one day i wont have to pretend.lol. I bought and did what I could afford. The VWs are lovely bits of kit so maybe one for the future. I will look into it. you could be right and its not needed
Click to expand...
there is a lead that goes from neg terminal on starter battery to the OV bit ont the charger and then from the OV bit to the neg terminal on the leisure battery
 
TheBeast said:
there is a lead that goes from neg terminal on starter battery to the OV bit ont the charger and then from the OV bit to the neg terminal on the leisure battery
Click to expand...
I still think it needs earthed. VW's are doubtless no better nor worse than other vans. I've had a T5 moneypit and a (touch wood) hassle-free T6. It's not what you drive, it's where you park it that counts.
 
It’s not what you drive it’s where you park it I like that. That’s got the makings of a bumper sticker I will earth it then. Everyone on here seems very knowledgeable and helpful, Thankyou
 
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