B2B Charger and Fiat - 'Check Glow Plugs' when starting

[rwg]

arthur49 - glad you found it useful and got the circuit to work. The lack of instructions is a bit of a pain - I added some details to the Amazon page as a question answer after I had figured out all 4 modes just to make sure there was some documentation. Still, the price is good

We spent the weekend away and had no warnings about glow plugs, so that looks promising. We did have a 'check oil level' warning, but the nose was significantly down when starting, and I've noticed that the oil level shows higher when the nose is up (parked on our drive) than when level, so I suspect it was just the slope. I will see what the reading is the next time it is level. A good trip, but tried to fill up with LPG at 3 places and 2 were out of stock and one closed, which was a shame.

cheers,

Robin

 

[Hoovie]

The timer unit that arthur49 is using is a very neat little unit. I use one of those on my battery setup as a timed override for the electric waterheater.

Ref auto-delays on B2B startups? I don't know how typical that is. I don't think it is very common at all TBH.
On my own setup, I have a 60A Ablemail B2B unit. This is a programmable B2B via Bluetooth (or PC) and I have the first 30A section configured with one delay and the second 30A section with a longer delay - the idea being that it doesn't give a sudden massive 'jolt' to the electrics system but is more progressive to come on.
Like most modern B2Bs, it is also voltage sensing so will only activate once the voltage has risen to whatever value I have programmed it to. Plus ... I have the optional signal line connected to a switch so I can have it solely activated on a voltage level or have it activated on a voltage level PLUS an active ignition signal (so BOTH have to be true for the B2B to work). Lots of belts and braces there maybe? An advanage of having a voltage-activated B2B also on a ignition (or D+) signal is that it lets you connect a battery charger to the starter battery without the B2B coming on

 

[rwg]

An update on the original check glow plugs issue. While the delay circuit initially seemed to have cured the problem, in time it became apparent that it hadn't. In fact I added an isolator switch for the b2b and was still getting the check glow plugs message at times.

In the end I worked out the pattern. Never got the warning when starting the van from cold in the morning, but does appear when the engine is already warm from a previous run earlier in the day.

The van has been at HTC Oxford today for first service and I asked them to look at the glow plug issue. Turns out all 4 plugs need replacing and it will be done under warranty (phew!)

Cheers,

Robin

 

[Gromett]

An update on the original check glow plugs issue. While the delay circuit initially seemed to have cured the problem, in time it became apparent that it hadn't. In fact I added an isolator switch for the b2b and was still getting the check glow plugs message at times.

In the end I worked out the pattern. Never got the warning when starting the van from cold in the morning, but does appear when the engine is already warm from a previous run earlier in the day.

The van has been at HTC Oxford today for first service and I asked them to look at the glow plug issue. Turns out all 4 plugs need replacing and it will be done under warranty (phew!)

Cheers,

Robin

Thanks for coming back to us on this.