Battery Master, do we need one?

[Jo-jo]

We're currently parked up at Offgrid Power Solutions to have lithium installed tomorrow. Roger has just mentioned fitting a battery master. Do we need one? We've never experienced low vehicle battery up to now. I can see the benefit, but are they essential? What do you guys think?

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

If your pitched up, or your van is in storage,for a couple of weeks then yes they are worth fitting .

 

[G1969]

We're currently parked up at Offgrid Power Solutions to have lithium installed tomorrow. Roger has just mentioned fitting a battery master. Do we need one? We've never experienced low vehicle battery up to now. I can see the benefit, but are they essential? What do you guys think?

We had one fitted 12 months and it has worked a treat, keeping the vehicle battery topped up.

 

[David and Sally]

For the money. Yes.

 

[LithiumConvert]

The real question is why not?, as you have the professionals to do it.

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[68c]

Votronic one is cheaper than another well known brand and works very well.

 

[jumar]

I have one...simple solution with little cost..

 

[yorkiebar]

We're off to see Roger and Nigel in a couple of weeks and are having a battery maintainer installed. In our case not a Battery Master but an equivalent product. Worth while to counter the parasitic drains on the starter battery ( tracker etc).

 

[carolyn]

We had one fitted by Offgrid in Feb and so pleased we did. Our starter battery was only ever 12.2v before and it hasn’t dropped below 12.56v since. Such a relief. There was a trickle charge set up before that from the lithium battery to the starter battery by the converter but it wasn’t adequate.

So yes, minimal cost for peace of mind.

 

[RowleyBirkinQC]

We’ve had one for years, you know it makes sense!

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[Cush]

When in storage are you under cover? On ehu? If not you can seriously deplete a lithium hab battery. My understanding of how they work is that the lithium will always have the necessary voltage differential to keep it filling the cab battery to the detriment of the lithium. I would love to hear that I’m wrong as I have one sitting in the cupboard

 

[Jev88]

Yes for the price.

Lucky that my old RV has this feature built in.
Who said yanks were behind the times

 

[Brains]

if you have a solar panel, then a Battery Master should be part of the installation.

No point in charging up one battery when you can change both!

 

[David and Sally]

if you have a solar panel, then a Battery Master should be part of the installation.

No point in charging up one battery when you can change both!

Our solar does both. So assuming some sunlight we are ok ———-??

 

[scotzsue]

Have used battery master or equivalent for 15 years, different morohomes, wouldn't be without it, especially as van is kept in storage,

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[Jo-jo]

When in storage are you under cover? On ehu?

Neither, it's in an open storage depot. We did run it for 50 miles or so every 3 weeks from Dec to end of Feb.

 

[Al n Val]

Neither, it's in an open storage depot. We did run it for 50 miles or so every 3 weeks from Dec to end of Feb.

So that’s 4 journey’s so 200 miles

you’ve almost paid for the BM and you won’t have had to move.

It’s a no brainer for me and Offgrid Power Solutions won’t rip you off either

 

[Jo-jo]

So that’s 4 journey’s so 200 miles

you’ve almost paid for the BM and you won’t have had to move.

It’s a no brainer for me and Offgrid Power Solutions won’t rip you off either

I'd read on here that it's a good idea to run the MH through winter to keep everything in order and avoid tyres being kept in one place etc. I think we'll still do the same every winter. With a bit of luck, I might convince OH to do a few overnights next winter

 

[Cush]

Neither, it's in an open storage depot. We did run it for 50 miles or so every 3 weeks from Dec to end of Feb.

If you have solar then it’s a no brainer. But if your solar charger also sends a small current to the cab battery then not necessary. I agree that giving it a day out is good for both the van and its stewards.

 

[Brains]

Our solar does both. So assuming some sunlight we are ok ———-??

I presume you have a Battery Master or a similar switching system to balance the load then.

A Battery Master is also usually set up to charge the engine battery first and then charge the leisure batterie(s)
Once all are full keep them all topped up from the solar panel.

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[Driventemple]

Votronic one is cheaper than another well known brand and works very well.

The Votronic version - the Standby Charger, doesn't work with Lithium. I replaced mine with a Battery Master when I went over to Lithium.

 

[Jo-jo]

If you have solar then it’s a no brainer. But if your solar charger also sends a small current to the cab battery then not necessary. I agree that giving it a day out is good for both the van and its stewards.

No, the solar charger doesn't currently do that.

 

[carolyn]

If you have solar then it’s a no brainer. But if your solar charger also sends a small current to the cab battery then not necessary. I agree that giving it a day out is good for both the van and its stewards.

That’s what we had but once the temperatures dropped really low the starter battery was only reading 12.2v and even less with the multimeter which is why we had the battery master fitted. 12.56v and above since.

 

[Cush]

No, the solar charger doesn't currently do that.

My flow diagram leads me to the “fitting a battery master is a no brainer” outcome

 

[Cush]

That’s what we had but once the temperatures dropped really low the starter battery was only reading 12.2v and even less with the multimeter which is why we had the battery master fitted. 12.56v and above since.

Fair call. Solar radiation is required

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[Al n Val]

I'd read on here that it's a good idea to run the MH through winter to keep everything in order and avoid tyres being kept in one place etc. I think we'll still do the same every winter. With a bit of luck, I might convince OH to do a few overnights next winter

I know what you mean but clearly every motorhome dealer doesn’t share the same view.

We leave our car for 3 months every winter and it starts up every time we go home and runs/drives with no issues. I see no reason why a motorhome shouldn’t behave in the same way as long as the battery (ies) are kept charged

 

[Just smiffy]

I take it your having a b2b fitted, probably why RogerIvy asked because it’s easy to fit connecting it to the b2b and only takes 5 mins, and will keep your vehicle battery topped up, it’s an essential pice of kit now when have all the other bits fitted, so go for it..

 

[Cush]

Deleted

 

[Jo-jo]

I take it your having a b2b fitted, probably why RogerIvy asked because it’s easy to fit connecting it to the b2b and only takes 5 mins, and will keep your vehicle battery topped up, it’s an essential pice of kit now when have all the other bits fitted, so go for it..

Yes we are

 

[David and Sally]

I presume you have a Battery Master or a similar switching system to balance the load then.

A Battery Master is also usually set up to charge the engine battery first and then charge the leisure batterie(s)
Once all are full keep them all topped up from the solar panel.

No. Our solar system charges both.

Plus, as I understand it, a BM will trickle charge into the starter battery from the leisure battery assuming a certain voltage difference but not from the starter to the leisure.

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