Split Charger help

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moonie

moonie

New Member
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177
I know there's a few threads on split-chargers but wondered if any kind soul could assist me.

I'm only trying to wire-in a split-charger and second battery but the more I look at it, the more confused I become.

I have a split-charger I nabbed off my Brother-in-law but to be honest it looks pitifully inadequate - especially the thin wires in comparison to those on the landy.

This diagram might hopefully make sense - this is the layout of stuff in the engine bay of my SIIa. It's a perkins diesel lump:

proposedwiring.jpg


I might have got this all wrong hence my request for someone who has a clue to have a look and perhaps point me in the right direction. Thx!
 
I would have thought that thickness of wire would depend on what the second battery was powering. It's not generally used to start the vehicle so doesn't need humongous cables, but if it's to power a winch then maybe it does!

Can't you just replace the wiring with something you think more appropriate?

Found this on another site, if you check further the links have other examples and write-ups .. ;) splitcharge
 
The Mad Hat Man said:
have yu looked in the Q's and A's section - thats wot it is for?
Click to expand...

Did I not mention that I had done a search but needed someone who could help me with my specific wiring? :p

Thanks for the link Paul, maybe I just have to be brave and wire it in....batteries don't explode that often do they? :D
 
moonie said:
proposedwiring.jpg
Click to expand...

no you didn't - you said you knew of some threads - but yu didnt say if you had read the thread in there specifically about split charging.:p

looking at the pic above it looks as though you have a box of tricks designed to trickle charge a second battery and not to be fully loaded with a large current. If this is so, then it will be current limited in its output and thin? wires will be OK. If it is not current limited then you are likely to have problems. You need to get the data sheet for the box of tricks and see what it says. Or put in a small fuse and a steady supply of spares.
 
Last edited:
Looking at your wiring diagram, it looks like the split charger is some sort of relay as opposed to a blocking diode.(blocking diode wouldn't have a negative feed) The feed from the alternator to the split charger is almost pointless since battery 1 is fed from the alternator connection to the starter anyway. Get the split charger fitted as close to battery 1 as possible to keep wiring runs short. Connect split charger input + to output 1+. Connect output 2 + direct to battery 2 and leave the -ve connection in place. Replace all the wires with the same size wire as the alternator main output cable to the starter(probably 10 mm sq) and that will carry any charging loads from the alternator without any problems.
That way, battery 1 will have a direct connection to the alternator and battery 2 will be charged independantly. If the split charger fails for some reason, your starter battery will always get a charge.
 
If its one of those things from maplin electronics like an m102 module caution is advised they are not very good, and certainly unsuitable for car size batteries.
you can do the same function with just a simple relay, its not the best way (which would be a stirling alternator controller which are expensive), but it works well, I use the same system on my boat.
I can do a crappy hand drawn diagram if you want, you can use a standard 4 pin relay, or better a glow plug relay, the only slight drawback is that you need to just blip the engine a little bit on fireup, then it'll work fine even on idle.
 
dr pepper said:
I can do a crappy hand drawn diagram if you want, you can use a standard 4 pin relay, or better a glow plug relay, the only slight drawback is that you need to just blip the engine a little bit on fireup, then it'll work fine even on idle.
Click to expand...

why? when there is a full circuit diagram in the Q's and A's bit!
 
Thanks for all the advice, I was away camping so didn't get a chance to check the thread.

Food for thought, I shall digest all of your advice and then see how I get on. Thanks all. :tea:
 
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