Split charge questions

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S

slow

New Member
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26
Location
Hants
Hi,

I have a dual battery set up with split charge on my 110.
I think the set up was fitted from new to serve the winch fitted on the front.
1st battery obviously runs the engine, 2nd battery is a optima battery directly wired to the winch.

There is a dual charge relay (I dont know any more details about it) that is wired with 3 wires.
1 wire to + on the 1st battery, 1 wire to + on 2nd battery, and 3rd wire goes on to the - on the 1st battery.

Can anyone explain to me how this would work?

Anyway, it clearly doesnt work as the 2nd battery has gone flat today after a small winching job so it would appear it isnt charging the 2nd battery.

Ideally I want a set up that charges the 1st battery first, then the 2nd battery, so my engine battery is always OK.
At the moment it is set up how I want for the discharge, ie, I cannot flatten the engine battery by using the winch.

I suppose I just need to replace the relay, but I just cant get my head round how that system works. Does it just charge the 2nd battery when the 1st reaches a certain voltage maybe?
 
wire to battery1-------------- relay --------------------- battery2
|
|
earth wire to battery1

should also have a relay energiser wire - often connected to alternator.

have a look in the CFAQ section.
 
I have twin alternators on mine. I'm in the process of doing all the wiring as it was shocking when I got it. Surprised it hadn't set fire!

Once it's all done I can do a write up
 
Both batteries need to be earthed. Feed from Alt goes to bat 1 Then from bat1 + to a relay minimum 100 amp. This then feeds power to bat2. Relay should be fed from a switched live so that it is only energised when ignition is on. Some people also fit a isolator switch to the feed wire to Bat2 for extra piece of mind.
 
slow said:
Hi,

I have a dual battery set up with split charge on my 110.
I think the set up was fitted from new to serve the winch fitted on the front.
1st battery obviously runs the engine, 2nd battery is a optima battery directly wired to the winch.

There is a dual charge relay (I dont know any more details about it) that is wired with 3 wires.
1 wire to + on the 1st battery, 1 wire to + on 2nd battery, and 3rd wire goes on to the - on the 1st battery.

Can anyone explain to me how this would work?

Anyway, it clearly doesnt work as the 2nd battery has gone flat today after a small winching job so it would appear it isnt charging the 2nd battery.

Ideally I want a set up that charges the 1st battery first, then the 2nd battery, so my engine battery is always OK.
At the moment it is set up how I want for the discharge, ie, I cannot flatten the engine battery by using the winch.

I suppose I just need to replace the relay, but I just cant get my head round how that system works. Does it just charge the 2nd battery when the 1st reaches a certain voltage maybe?
Click to expand...

did you have the engine running whilst winching
 
Thanks guys.

Batteries are earthed together through chassis, so no worries there.

If I am understanding this correctly then my relay should have a switched live to it as well to turn it on with the ignition (so 4 connections in total to the relay, rather than my current 3).

And yes, engine running while winching.
 
slow said:
Thanks guys.

Batteries are earthed together through chassis, so no worries there.

If I am understanding this correctly then my relay should have a switched live to it as well to turn it on with the ignition (so 4 connections in total to the relay, rather than my current 3).

And yes, engine running while winching.
Click to expand...

Yes relay needs to be switched on either when ignition is on or fed from alt when it's running.
 
OK, thanks. So it would appear that it has probably never worked!
In which case it is amazing how long the battery lasted having not been charged in about the 2 years I have owned it. Luckily I very rarely have call to use the winch!
 
tmax_zps56b5ccd2.jpg
 
If I have the engine running while winching, then the relay is switched on to charge the winch battery.
Surely as the winch discharges the winch battery it will try to draw current through the relay from the main battery.
Assume that is why it is a 200A relay fitted?

Seems like a fairly basic and slighty rubbish system.
So whats the deal with the battery management systems? Are they worth the £150 odd?
 
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