Yes we are
Then off grid solutions are giving you good information and giving you the options, it’s down to you but I would definitely take their advice, not only are they very good fitters but they also are incredibly knowledgeable….
Battery Master, do we need one?
- Thread starter Jo-jo
- Start date
Then off grid solutions are giving you good information and giving you the options, it’s down to you but I would definitely take their advice, not only are they very good fitters but they also are incredibly knowledgeable….
- Oct 22, 2023
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The overwhelming response is to go for it, so we areThen off grid solutions are giving you good information and giving you the options, it’s down to you but I would definitely take their advice, not only are they very good fitters but they also are incredibly knowledgeable….
- Sep 22, 2023
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- Hymer Exsis
As we have seen, there are lots of options available.
It doeesn't really matter how we do, but we all need some way to keep the engine battery at a good voltage.
It doeesn't really matter how we do, but we all need some way to keep the engine battery at a good voltage.
Solar keeps my lithium battery topped up fully, as for engine battery I just disconnect the pos lead when standing for any length of time
Why not just get a small trickle charge solar panel? We have one just to keep the vehicle battery topped up while parked up. Only about 20 quid from ecoworthy.
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They’re having a top of the range system fitted by Offgrid. The Battery Master will only add about £80 so seems daft not to. They’d then have all that faff. BM is just fit and forget if you’ve got proper solar panels.
funflair
LIFE MEMBER
No you are correct but battery maintainer/master choice depends on what you want it to do, a battery maintainer will keep your starter battery topped up when you are on solar or hook up as will as battery master but a battery master will keep your starter battery topped up from the lithium without any solar or EHU (most of the others won't) our van is stored in a shed without solar or power so the lithium batteries are isolated from the van as the panel etc takes a good chunk of power, the battery master is fed from the lithium battery side of the isolator so yes there is a risk that we deplete our lithium but calculations have been done and the van will be parked up for 3 months and will be OK when we get homeWhen 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
so in conclusion yes the lithium will be depleted but not to their detriment and the van will start when we get home.
- Jan 11, 2022
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Depends on your controller, some charge both
- Dec 27, 2020
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- Boats Caravans & Motorhomes for 25 years
100% get one fitted. Our MH was in storage from mid Jan to mid Fed while we were out of the country for four weeks. We have 200 watts of solar one lead acid leisure battery and on return both batteries fine she started no issues.
Not quite right.
A Battery Master, as in Vanbitz Battery Master, trickle charges the starter battery from the leisure battery only.
It does not and can not charge the leisure battery.
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Anjistar
LIFE MEMBER
- Jul 8, 2020
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- 2 months in 2017, continually since October 2020
Our solar panels are supposed to trickle charge the cab battery when the leisure batteries are full, but our brand new battery drained flat in 2 weeks of not using the van, with, AFAIK, only the tracker draining it - the garage couldn't find any other drain. This is the second time this has happened in 3 years so we're definitely getting a Battery Master!
- Oct 2, 2020
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- 1 year, in these times
Offgrid fitted a battery master for me. Without that can battery would drain in December/Jan due to tracker. And I have a fair amount of solar. Solar charge prioritises leisure and in Dec/Jan unlikely to feed any to vehicle battery.
For what it’s worth the Sargeant charger on previous motorhome would have sent some power to vehicle battery in winter but probably still not enough. It can alternate or be set to vehicle and (I think) prioritise a very low battery.
For what it’s worth the Sargeant charger on previous motorhome would have sent some power to vehicle battery in winter but probably still not enough. It can alternate or be set to vehicle and (I think) prioritise a very low battery.
Same with us. The draw from tracker and other systems is 0.6A which flattens the starter battery after relatively few days. The battery master means the leisure battery takes the strain first.
That is true - I boult one and was happy with it. However the manual (and Votronic's website) is explicit that the cheap version is not suitable for Lithium due to the different battery voltages. BatteryMaster appears OK, as is the AbleMail one - I've just switched to that as part of Lithium conversion as it allows a bit more control over charge current.
Where can I purchase a votronic battery master? and how will I connect it in my 2008 bessacar motorhome with normal lead acid batteries, would appreciate your advice.
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- Feb 14, 2021
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- Burstner Lyseo 727G
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- 3 years 30,000 miles UK and Europe.. Campsites and off Grid.
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
I have a car in my garage that doesn't get used for months as it is not insured/taxed over the winter - and yes it's ok but I still think going out for a run occasionally is better. Stops the handbrake/brakes seizing, stops the tyres flat spotting, it's beneficial for any parts that normally move but are not for months on end.
Whilst I'm sure you are correct that the leisure battery charges the starter battery.
The power from the solar panel I guess goes into the leisure battery.
However it works, it means that both batteries stay topped up and at around the same level.
(My BM and solar panel was fitted by VanBitz)
- Mar 14, 2020
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I don’t have one but curious what about it wouldn’t work?
Surely a diode and a resistor would work to top up the starter from the leisure battery. Pop a fuse inline for good measure.
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funflair
LIFE MEMBER
Votronic call it a battery maintainer,
https://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/votronic-12v-standby-charger-trickle-charger.html other suppliers are available
even easier to fit as well as only two wires.
funflair
LIFE MEMBER
I changed that a little bit, but you may well be right
I have a CTEK DS250 with the Smartpass 120S.
This not only does some magic electrical wizardry to boost the charging from the alternator to some silly high rate while driving, but it also works as a 'solar dump' so when the leisure batteries are full any surplus solar gets passed on to the vehicle battery.
This is the only reason why I haven't researched and wouldn't buy a Battery Master - because I have no need of one.
Otherwise, the concept makes 100% sense and I wouldn't be without some method of achieving this result.
This not only does some magic electrical wizardry to boost the charging from the alternator to some silly high rate while driving, but it also works as a 'solar dump' so when the leisure batteries are full any surplus solar gets passed on to the vehicle battery.
This is the only reason why I haven't researched and wouldn't buy a Battery Master - because I have no need of one.
Otherwise, the concept makes 100% sense and I wouldn't be without some method of achieving this result.
- Oct 27, 2022
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Has anyone ( apart from Eddie) taken a battery master apart to see how it works ? Is it more the diode/resistor type arrangement rather than being microcontroller based ?
( just curious, as I am about stuff like this : ) )
( just curious, as I am about stuff like this : ) )
- Dec 8, 2024
- 12
- 11
- Funster No
- 108,891
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- Pilote
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- Since 2019
B to B charging makes sure both batteries are in peak health. The batteries last longer and perform better. We had this type of charging on our last motorhome standard and have added it to the latest one. When the motorhome is stood doing nothing in storage at least the solar panel and B to B charging is working away keeping the batteries topped up and anything like a tracker is kept functioning properly.
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Dumb question time. Sorry.
On our last van the solar only charged the leisure battery so I fitted a BM and it did a great job of keeping the starter battery topped up.
On this van the solar is connected to both batteries. Is it the case that it only sends charge to the starter battery if the leisure battery is fully charged or does it do both at the same time?
On our last van the solar only charged the leisure battery so I fitted a BM and it did a great job of keeping the starter battery topped up.
On this van the solar is connected to both batteries. Is it the case that it only sends charge to the starter battery if the leisure battery is fully charged or does it do both at the same time?
If you have a Votronic B2B you don’t need a BM.
I don’t think I have. Must check.
I have a solar controller and the usual fuse/distribution/control/switch box.
Yes, I believe so.
The voltage delta of 0.7V (or thereabouts) aligns pretty well with the Voltage drop across a diode.
Ian
- Mar 14, 2020
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Hi. Mine seems to send solar to the starter battery irrespective of the condition of the leisure battery It sends 1 amp and is an EPever controller
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