Ablemail AMT12

[BillandHelen]

Perhaps a question for Lenny HB or anyone with a Ablemail fitted. When we got our new van we had an Ablemail fitted as the battery maintainer. Up here in Scotland at this time of year, our solar is almost useless, therefore when in remote storage I rely on the Ablemail to keep the starter battery topped up. I can monitor it remotely through my tracker app, which shows me (roughly?) the starter battery voltage. The Ablemail is set to setting 7 which is for lithium and high parisitic drain.
It all seems to be working well, I think, after a week in storage, the Ablemail kicked in and the starter was showing between 13.3 and 13.7 on my tracker app. It’s currently now at 14.3 today which I think is bulk charging for the starter battery? Does this all sound right to you that have one of these? I’m not worried about it draining the lithium as I have 600 amps.
Thank you.

 

[Fat Albert]

My tracker indicated voltage is consistently under reads by 0.6v as checked with a multimeter. Before I knew that, I was scampering to the van to try and find the problem that didn't exist. Mine SB voltage has never been that high in the winter, summer yes. Today SB holding at 12.6v

 

[RedFrame]

We had an AMT12, it started overheating within 12 months of purchase, I spoke to the owner, who was extremely rude, and refused to replace it, he wanted it sent back for repair, it was returned about 6 weeks later and has now ceased working again.

I decided to just put a throw switch on the solar, it was easier and a nicer experience than trying to deal with him again.

Cheers
Red.

 

[Ian_H]

As per Fat Albert I think you need to check the voltage at the battery terminals against the app and control panel first. If the ablemail works correctly I think it shouldn't charge the starter battery over 12.8V. Edit I assumed it was stored indoors so no solar. I also assume the solar doesn't charge the srarter directly.

 

[AdrianChen]

Perhaps a question for Lenny HB or anyone with a Ablemail fitted. When we got our new van we had an Ablemail fitted as the battery maintainer. Up here in Scotland at this time of year, our solar is almost useless, therefore when in remote storage I rely on the Ablemail to keep the starter battery topped up. I can monitor it remotely through my tracker app, which shows me (roughly?) the starter battery voltage. The Ablemail is set to setting 7 which is for lithium and high parisitic drain.
It all seems to be working well, I think, after a week in storage, the Ablemail kicked in and the starter was showing between 13.3 and 13.7 on my tracker app. It’s currently now at 14.3 today which I think is bulk charging for the starter battery? Does this all sound right to you that have one of these? I’m not worried about it draining the lithium as I have 600 amps.
Thank you.

The ablemail will kick in and parallel the batteries when your leisure battery is above 13.5v and below 12.4v (80% SOC on a flooded lead acid type).

If you have little solar, and the leisure battery does not hit 13.5v (assume it is Lithium) then when the start battery drops to more than 1v below the leisure battery, the ablemail will kick in and parallel the batteries.

Using 7 which is for a smart alternator, the Ablemail will disconnect the cab and leaisure batteries when the cab battery reaches 12.4v. This is to allow the vehicles smart alternator system to work as designed. Personally I wouldn't worry about the smart alternator thing, and would use 6, so the cab battery would continue to be paralleled with the leisure battery until the cab battery reached 12.8v, ie 100% rather than 80% SOC, giving you a little more headroom for those dull days when there is no solar.

For the starter battery to be at 14.3v with only the Ablemail to charge it, (ie engine off) the leisure battery must be at least that voltage, since the AMT12 only connects the two batteries together and doesn't "boost" the voltage like a B2B might.

For the batteries to be at that voltage if the only charger being used was solar, you must have had enough sun to get the leisure batts up to 14.3+v, but without knowing the make of controller or its settings I cant be 100% certain what's going on, but around 14.2v to 14.5v would be common enough/sensible settings for the absorption phase on the solar controller - as such the solar charger may be in bulk, or absorption.

Given its all working for you, I think it all sounds fine! The lights on the Ablemail should be flashing amber showing all is well with a charged cab battery - if the unit is actualy charging at the time the LED will be green - Red means there's a problem - I find the difference between the green and the Amber difficult to see (colour blind!), so have to squint at it for a while.

Just for the record, after buying the unit I did call them about the thing, and found them very helpful. There were some issues around the bluetooth connection, and the app, for a which a new version was released. They talked me trhrough a simple workaround for the BT.

Hope that helps in some way.

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[BillandHelen]

As per Fat Albert I think you need to check the voltage at the battery terminals against the app and control panel first. If the ablemail works correctly I think it shouldn't charge the starter battery over 12.8V. Edit I assumed it was stored indoors so no solar. I also assume the solar doesn't charge the srarter directly.

The ablemail will kick in and parallel the batteries when your leisure battery is above 13.5v and below 12.4v (80% SOC on a flooded lead acid type).

If you have little solar, and the leisure battery does not hit 13.5v (assume it is Lithium) then when the start battery drops to more than 1v below the leisure battery, the ablemail will kick in and parallel the batteries.

Using 7 which is for a smart alternator, the Ablemail will disconnect the cab and leaisure batteries when the cab battery reaches 12.4v. This is to allow the vehicles smart alternator system to work as designed. Personally I wouldn't worry about the smart alternator thing, and would use 6, so the cab battery would continue to be paralleled with the leisure battery until the cab battery reached 12.8v, ie 100% rather than 80% SOC, giving you a little more headroom for those dull days when there is no solar.

For the starter battery to be at 14.3v with only the Ablemail to charge it, (ie engine off) the leisure battery must be at least that voltage, since the AMT12 only connects the two batteries together and doesn't "boost" the voltage like a B2B might.

For the batteries to be at that voltage if the only charger being used was solar, you must have had enough sun to get the leisure batts up to 14.3+v, but without knowing the make of controller or its settings I cant be 100% certain what's going on, but around 14.2v to 14.5v would be common enough/sensible settings for the absorption phase on the solar controller - as such the solar charger may be in bulk, or absorption.

Given its all working for you, I think it all sounds fine! The lights on the Ablemail should be flashing amber showing all is well with a charged cab battery - if the unit is actualy charging at the time the LED will be green - Red means there's a problem - I find the difference between the green and the Amber difficult to see (colour blind!), so have to squint at it for a while.

Just for the record, after buying the unit I did call them about the thing, and found them very helpful. There were some issues around the bluetooth connection, and the app, for a which a new version was released. They talked me trhrough a simple workaround for the BT.

Hope that helps in some way.

Adrian, thank you, that’s both helpful and reassuring! We have 500w of solar on the roof charging through a Victron controller, it’s been bright but cold up here so maybe my solar is giving the lithium batteries a bit of charge!

 

[AdrianChen]

Adrian, thank you, that’s both helpful and reassuring! We have 500w of solar on the roof charging through a Victron controller, it’s been bright but cold up here so maybe my solar is giving the lithium batteries a bit of charge!

Quite likely - when the sun is out down here the batteries get a good charge back to 100%, Took a couple of days last time, but got there! We have 550w, through Victron controllers.

 

[Lenny HB]

I think the 14 3v is your solar charge voltage.

With the Ablemail I wouldn't use any of the Lithium or Smart alternator settings.

The Lithium setting it only starts cgmharving the starter battery when the leisure battery is above 13.5v a bit useless if you want it to charge when the leisure battery is not on charge as Lithium's sit at 13 3v.

The Smart alternator setting is useless as it stops charging the starter battery at 12 .4v.

I did query the settings as just got a load of BS justifying their settings ignoring the reasons I gave them for using a different profile.

 

[Russell's Dad]

I think the 14 3v is your solar charge voltage.

With the Ablemail I wouldn't use any of the Lithium or Smart alternator settings.

The Lithium setting it only starts cgmharving the starter battery when the leisure battery is above 13.5v a bit useless if you want it to charge when the leisure battery is not on charge as Lithium's sit at 13 3v.

The Smart alternator setting is useless as it stops charging the starter battery at 12 .4v.

I did query the settings as just got a load of BS justifying their settings ignoring the reasons I gave them for using a different profile.

I also queried Ablemail about the need to use Smart Alternator settings. Like Lenny, I didn't want my starter battery to only charge to 12.4v. Ablemail said there is no problem with using a standard alternator setting when you have a smart alternator, and that a lot of people do this.

 

[AdrianChen]

I think the 14 3v is your solar charge voltage.

With the Ablemail I wouldn't use any of the Lithium or Smart alternator settings.

The Lithium setting it only starts cgmharving the starter battery when the leisure battery is above 13.5v a bit useless if you want it to charge when the leisure battery is not on charge as Lithium's sit at 13 3v.

The Smart alternator setting is useless as it stops charging the starter battery at 12 .4v.

I did query the settings as just got a load of BS justifying their settings ignoring the reasons I gave them for using a different profile.

I agree - The fact that the trigger voltage on the leisure battery when set to 13.5v does mean that there needs to be some charge coming from somewhere, or the Abblemail will not come on until the cab batt is 1v (Lithium - 0.3v for LA) less than the Hab ( I don't think the 1v can be altered by the user, but would need to double check), so if the hab is at 13.2v the cab the cab will be linked at 12.2v (60ish% SOC), still above the bad voltage for sulphation IIRC.

In some ways I prefer that the AM shares any charge available if the cab battery needs it rather than a permanent connection, but in the event that there is no charge the voltage differential mode will still keep the CAB up enough to start the engine, and not suffer too much from sulphation, at least until the donor battery gets too low. Seems to be designed to maximise the stored/available "power" whilst keeping the engine start battery up to it's task for as long as possible.

But then I look at the Cab battery voltage on VRM and say to myself, hmm I'll top that up, and override everything anyway. - - (probably needlessly! My mums words "Leave it alone or you wont make it any better")

So using SW2 lets you set the thing to permanently on (19s on 1s off for some reason). Mines connected to a relay that I can switch on/off on my phone/pc at home - but a switch would be easy enough as well. SW1 can turn it permanently of if you don't want it to charge for some reason - never tried that one.

So the thing is very adaptable which I like.

Shame its pricey with the BT dongle, which is nice to have for setting it up.

PS. Instructions are a bit confusing too, at least for me they were!

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[AdrianChen]

I also queried Ablemail about the need to use Smart Alternator settings. Like Lenny, I didn't want my starter battery to only charge to 12.4v. Ablemail said there is no problem with using a standard alternator setting when you have a smart alternator, and that a lot of people do this.

Yes it's only there to allow some folk to maintain the battery in the same state their "smart" alternator system would. Best ignored on a van I think.

 

[Ian_H]

Yes it's only there to allow some folk to maintain the battery in the same state their "smart" alternator system would. Best ignored on a van I think.

Could you expand on why the requirements for motorhome is different to eg a works van with a smart alternator?
Do the guys who aren't happy with the 12.4V setting do anything to their cars with a smart alternator?

 

[AdrianChen]

Could you expand on why the requirements for motorhome is different to eg a works van with a smart alternator?
Do the guys who aren't happy with the 12.4V setting do anything to their cars with a smart alternator?

I think on a MH the main use for these trickle charger things is to maintain the start battery over long periods of storage, so I think it helps to get the battery as full as possible to have the greatest chance of overcoming any long periods without a charge source.

If in a works van or one running everyday then maintaining the battery within the "smart" systems normal parameters will make no difference, and keeps the "smart" benefits - emisions MPG etc.

Not sure if the second question is meant to be rhetorical or not - but if we go away for an extended period, I do pop a maintainer on the car, which goes to 100%.

 

[Fat Albert]

I have done something similar to AdrianChen, albeit not automatic. A 3 pole On-Off-On switch connected to Sw1 and Sw2 and the off pole connected to the leisure battery. This gives me a quick way to change from normal trickle charging of 10 sec on 15sec 0ff to a higher timing wise boost of 9 secs on 1sec off. Only used the Sw1 to isolate the AMT-12 but the inline fuses do the same.

 

[BillandHelen]

So, on mine at setting 7, with my Fogsters “resting” at 13.3,

When lithium is getting some solar charge whilst in storage the Ablemail will charge starter battery to 12.4

When lithium is getting no charge, Ablemail will only start charging starter when it reaches 12.3 and will charge it to 12.4

Have I got that right? We only ever leave the van in storage for 3 weeks max between uses, when on long haul holidays, will being at 12.4 do the starter battery any long term harm?

Sorry for schoolboy questions, I just want everything to work seamlessly in the background and not have to think about it!

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[Ian_H]

I am using the 'charge to 12.4V when Lithium above 13.0V ' setting (setting 4) so solar not required. My van usually moves weekly, as it is our second car. I got the ablemail so I wouldnt have to worry about the starter battery if something happened to stop me driving it for a longer period. I guess this is different to those who often have their bigger vans sat idle for long periods.
Edit - I do have solar but often turn it off at home so the lithium is not sat at 100%. If it starts at 100% I think it would last about 3 months, as I've seen that the tracker etc takes about 1% a day.

 

[AdrianChen]

So, on mine at setting 7, with my Fogsters “resting” at 13.3,

When lithium is getting some solar charge whilst in storage the Ablemail will charge starter battery to 12.4

When lithium is getting no charge, Ablemail will only start charging starter when it reaches 12.3 and will charge it to 12.4

Have I got that right? We only ever leave the van in storage for 3 weeks max between uses, when on long haul holidays, will being at 12.4 do the starter battery any long term harm?

Sorry for schoolboy questions, I just want everything to work seamlessly in the background and not have to think about it!

Assuming at the start of your hols the lithium was at a decent state of charge, and not at 15%SOC then when it gets some charge from solar it should lift the voltage up to the 13.5v trigger at some point and the battery will charge.

Yes when there is no charge at all, and the lithium is at 13.3 and it may be a little less in those circumstances, then the starter bat will charge when it hits 12.3. If on 7 it will stop at 12.4, which is plenty (80ish% on a standard lead acid) to start the engine and prevent sulphation.

The 3 week period isn't long so can't imagine you would have an issue, and this regime will be preventing any harm coming to the battery rather than causing it!

Given your regular use I doubt I would bother to change the settings.

 

[Fat Albert]

Looking at the manual setting 7 leisure bat threshold is >13.5v, to my way of thinking the resting voltage is below the threshold trigger voltage so there will be no charge to the SB. I use setting 6 non smart alternator but even mine has the same LB threshold voltage hence my post #14. I have used Sw2 to override the LB threshold voltage. I now have the BT module thanks SKI'ng and find the app more user friendly being able to change SB and LB thresholds and have therefore lowered the LB threshold to 13.06v and turned solar off when not using the van.

 

[AdrianChen]

I am using the 'charge to 12.4V when Lithium above 13.0V ' setting (setting 4) so solar not required. My van usually moves weekly, as it is our second car. I got the ablemail so I wouldnt have to worry about the starter battery if something happened to stop me driving it for a longer period. I guess this is different to those who often have their bigger vans sat idle for long periods.

I'm sure that will work well, I think where we live it is only the Dec Jan Feb period when the batteries get very low - especially as its cold as well which seems to make a difference, so your settings would be fine for me as well albeit I prefer 12.8v it isn't going to make much practical difference if the van is in regular/frequent use, or you're doing the best thing and taking it for a run every few weeks.

The only thing that bothers me is these devices do cover up for the start battery, so you don't notice it ageing.

 

[Russell's Dad]

I didn't think that the Ablemail AMT12-2 charged the starter battery as described in some of the previous posts, I.e. it will always charge when the leisure battery is 1v above the starter, so I double checked the instructions. As I thought, this will only happen when the starter battery goes below 12.1v.

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[AdrianChen]

I didn't think that the Ablemail AMT12-2 charged the starter battery as described in some of the previous posts, I.e. it will always charge when the leisure battery is 1v above the starter, so I double checked the instructions. As I thought, this will only happen when the starter battery goes below 12.1v.



View attachment 979370

Yes I forgot that 12.1v parameter I blame my age! thanks for correcting me.
So given I can't edit the first post with that error:

"I agree - The fact that the trigger voltage on the leisure battery when set to 13.5v does mean that there needs to be some charge coming from somewhere, or the Abblemail will not come on until the cab batt is 1v (Lithium - 0.3v for LA) less than the Hab ( I don't think the 1v can be altered by the user, but would need to double check), so if the hab is at 13.2v the cab the cab will be linked at 12.2v (60ish% SOC), still above the bad voltage for sulphation IIRC."

should be

I agree - The fact that the trigger voltage on the leisure battery when set to 13.5v does mean that there needs to be some charge coming from somewhere, or the Abblemail will not come on until the cab batt is 1v (Lithium - 0.3v for LA) less than the Hab and is 12.1v or less ( I don't think the 1v /12.1v parameters can be altered by the user, but would need to double check), so if the hab is at 13.2v the cab will be linked when it gets to 12.1v (50ish% SOC).

 

[Fat Albert]

Reading the second page regarding the threshold voltages seems to contradict 12.1v parameter on the first page. I will admit I never read page one just looked at the wiring diagram.

 

[Lenny HB]

For my use -being able to charge the stater battery to a decent level when there is no charge to the leisure battery setting 5 is best.
I actually think 5 is best for all types of battery & alternator.

 

[Ian_H]

For my use -being able to charge the stater battery to a decent level when there is no charge to the leisure battery setting 7 is best.
I actually think 7 is best for all types of battery & alternator.

Hi Lenny
The copy of the manual I pulled up says for setting 7 : charge to 12.4V when LB above 13.5V. Not sure that fits in with what you mean cos it wont charge unless solar is on?
Thought you might prefer setting 1.....

 

[Lenny HB]

Hi Lenny
The copy of the manual I pulled up says for setting 7 : charge to 12.4V when LB above 13.5V. Not sure that fits in with what you mean cos it wont charge unless solar is on?
Thought you might prefer setting 1.....
View attachment 979386

Not awake yet just edited it, should have said setting 5.

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[AdrianChen]

For my use -being able to charge the stater battery to a decent level when there is no charge to the leisure battery setting 5 is best.
I actually think 5 is best for all types of battery & alternator.

Mines on 6. Seems to work just fine on that setting even if I don't fiddle with it, but then I would feel redundant and unworthy....

But now I feel the need to change it to 5!

 

[Ian_H]

While we are discussing the ablemail AMT12-2, a gold star for Wildebus.com as a supplier! Very helpful answers to emails, and provided ready made wiring to the length I needed including a 4 switch cbe unit. I use 3 of the switches: ablemail on/off, ablemail normal/constant and b2b d+ on/off.

 

[AdrianChen]

While we are discussing the ablemail AMT12-2, a gold star for Wildebus.com as a supplier! Very helpful answers to emails, and provided ready made wiring to the length I needed including a 4 switch cbe unit. I use 3 of the switches: ablemail on/off, ablemail normal/constant and b2b d+ on/off.

Nice idea

 

[BillandHelen]

To finish off, we are away in the van tonight to give it a run and a heat, when we arrived at storage, both lithiums 100%, solar was putting in just over 4amps, in Scotland in November! Now sitting at CAMC at Strathclyde Park having a coffee before a refreshing walk by the water.

 

[BillandHelen]

Just a quick update on our Ablemail, van has been in storage for over 3 weeks whilst we have been on our Caribbean cruise, on the dullest and coldest February Scottish weather. I could see on my tracker app that the Ablemail cut in at middle of week 2 and continued to trickle charge till I started the vehicle today. Surprisingly my lithium was still at 99% as the 500w of solar has been harvesting enough power to recharge it, amazing at this time of year. AdrianChen , thank you for the advice, you were spot on, Ablemail is working a treat! Now enjoying a few days at Melrose CAMC site using my free night voucher!

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