12v & 240v power

[Graham L]

Is this the kind of simple charger/conditioner you could run off the mains whilst hooked up to mains on a site?

http://www.caravantechnology.com/CandLSmart5ABatteryCharger.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[birchyman]

any a good caravan charger will give you all the 12v power you need even with no batterys but even the cheapest charger from halfords will do the job use all your power and when you go to bed ,wake up your battery/batteries are charged

 

[Wookie Bear]

Excuse me if I am being thick
I already have a split charge relay but this only works when the ignition is on. If I was to get a self switching relay installed and then fitted a battery charger to the main starter battery would this relay allow the leisure battery to be charged from the charger as well?

 

[steve92]

id have thought you would connect this charger to your leisure battery, not your crank battery. this will then charge the leisure when hooked up to 240v. you shouldnt need to charge your crank battery on site as the relay shouldnt allow your crank battery to go flat.dont quote me on that though :? have ordered said self switching relay so fingers crossed i wont have to charge the leisure every time we use the bus now!

 

[Wookie Bear]

Only reason I would like both charged is the radio is on the crank battery so might have to change it over to leisure battery when hooked up via a switch
Cheers dude

 

[Graham L]

Wookie

I think most people hook their stereo up to the leisure battery once they have one fitted so it doesn't drain the battery whilst playing late night tunes whilst camping,

 

[Wookie Bear]

On the leisure it will go thanks

 

[froggy]

Have been reading about self switching relays, are they rated high enough?
Most split charge relays are rated at 70/80A but the self switching ones are only rated at 30A.

 

[birchyman]

if you have a relay that is turned on with ignition you are right you dont need a new relay ,the self switching one is just the easiest way if you dont have a split charge system and makes sense for lots of reasons i personally wouldnt fit one if your system works ok but from scratch i certainly would
as for it being rated high enough the ampage doesnt matter because you are not pulling power through it for stuff in your van, its just for charging when the engine is running i fit these relays everyday to towbars they run the biggest caravan fridge freezers so dont worry they will easily work on a little bus ,because they are electronically controlled they are superior to the old 4 pin which has both batteries connected together every time the ignition is on

 

[steve92]

ok, so ive got the relay sorted. delivered today. next on the list is the consumer unit. i gather from a similar thread the mcbs should be say 5&10 amps but am a bit confused about the rcd, as there seems to be alot of different ratings on them. do i need to get a consumer unit with a specific rating? thanks AGAIN! steve.

 

[froggy]

Most RCD's are 240V, 30mA trip, think this is a standard rating fitted to almost all 240V systems

 

[steve92]

cheers froggy. think ive got me head round it now the ampage of the unit is irrelevent its the current that will trip it that counts. can you tell im not an electrician!!

 

[dubdubz]

this link is a bit heavy maybe and is really meant for caravans but could be useful?

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Book/7.9.2.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[steve92]

this link is a bit heavy maybe and is really meant for caravans but could be useful?

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Book/7.9.2.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

:shock: :shock: :shock: hse strikes again!

 

[dubdubz]

this link is a bit heavy maybe and is really meant for caravans but could be useful?

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Book/7.9.2.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

:shock: :shock: :shock: hse strikes again!

i know........it was more of what to include as a sensible safety measure.........

 

[steve92]

ordered a shed consumer unit last night with 6&10 amp mcbs and me hook up cable and all associated bits. just need to get some cable and a couple of sockets, and hopefully fingers crossed, bobs your uncle!

 

[froggy]

ordered a shed consumer unit last night with 6&10 amp mcbs and me hook up cable and all associated bits. just need to get some cable and a couple of sockets, and hopefully fingers crossed, bobs your uncle!

Where from?
I was planning on just running a hook up socket through an in-line RCD then onto some sockets (more like an extension cable) but...................

 

[steve92]

went for this. found a few a bit cheaper, but like the ip 65 rating.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/rcd-garage-or-shower-consumer-unit-IP65-rated_W0QQitemZ160309811556QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_DIY_Material_Electrical_Fittings_MJ?hash=item160309811556&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

got the cable and connections from towsure.

http://www.towsure.com/category/7494-_Power_Supply" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[froggy]

How and where are you planning to fit all this?
Take it most will be under the rear bench seat / R&R?

 

[steve92]

How and where are you planning to fit all this?
Take it most will be under the rear bench seat / R&R?

not given that too much thought yet
leisure is curently under westy bed, but moving this to the other battery tray.relay will go in engine bay somewhere i think. planning on putting the inlet for the 240v in the engine bay also.just need find somewhere for the consumer.am trying to free up space under the bed for storage, so probably wont put it there. maybe tuck it in a cupboard somewhere.am planning on changing the interior at some point, so will give it more thought then probably.