Battery Master

[GaryGavlaar]

I'm thinking of fitting a battery master now ive got solar, to keep my vehicle battery topped up to save flat battery moments.

Can anyone tell me where on my motorhome (wiring diagram attached) i would best install one?

Cheers

 

[Lenny HB]

You just connect it between leisure battery and starter batteries direct.

 

[David and Sally]

Negative to either a battery negative or a common earth. One positive to the leisure battery and on to the starter battery as labelled. Some fit to the back of the Electroblock if the terminals are visible.*
If wiring any distance best to use a 10a fuse on each positive close to the battery

*On your picture the two top connections to the left of the distribution panel. BrownGreen and BrownBlue

 

[GaryGavlaar]

You just connect it between leisure battery and starter batteries direct.

Yeah they are no where near each other so was thinking I could get away with installing it in the cupboard where most connections are, but the power distribution unit and relays are throwing me.

 

[Lenny HB]

Yeah they are no where near each other so was thinking I could get away with installing it in the cupboard where most connections are, but the power distribution unit and relays are throwing me.

As David and Sally Sally says in the post above.

On your picture the two top connections to the left of the distribution panel. BrownGreen and BrownBlue

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[GaryGavlaar]

Negative to either a battery negative or a common earth. One positive to the leisure battery and on to the starter battery as labelled. Some fit to the back of the Electroblock if the terminals are visible.*
If wiring any distance best to use a 10a fuse on each positive close to the battery

*On your picture the two top connections to the left of the distribution panel. BrownGreen and BrownBlue

When you say electroblock, what is that referring to? Is that the little fuse box?

 

[Gaston aires]

The Electroblock is the main unit with most of the fuses. Probably made by Shaudt. It’s about 9 inches square.
Phil

 

[GaryGavlaar]

The Electroblock is the main unit with most of the fuses. Probably made by Shaudt. It’s about 9 inches square.
Phil

These fuses....?

My fuses are all just in a small fuse block 1 fuse wide, 6 tall.

 

[GaryGavlaar]

 

[Lenny HB]

When you say electroblock, what is that referring to? Is that the little fuse box?

You don't have one, mainly fitted in German vans.

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[Gaston aires]

View attachment 794168

Can’t see one here at all.

 

[TheCaller]

GaryGavlaar Can you get to the connectors at the back of the panel with the gauge showing the battery voltage?
If you can, you have both vehicle & leisure battery positive connections available. The Brown/Green wire is your vehicle positive & the Brown/Blue is your leisure battery positive. You could piggy-back onto those connections.

If you can find a White/Orange wire, that should be a common negative.

If you have a multimeter, you can check the voltages at these terminals against the respective battery voltages to confirm. If you don't have a multimeter, get one - it's probably the most useful diagnostic tool you can have. Even if you are not sure how to interpret the readings, someone on here will always do that part for you.

 

[GaryGavlaar]

GaryGavlaar Can you get to the connectors at the back of the panel with the gauge showing the battery voltage?
If you can, you have both vehicle & leisure battery positive connections available. The Brown/Green wire is your vehicle positive & the Brown/Blue is your leisure battery positive. You could piggy-back onto those connections.

If you can find a White/Orange wire, that should be a common negative.

If you have a multimeter, you can check the voltages at these terminals against the respective battery voltages to confirm. If you don't have a multimeter, get one - it's probably the most useful diagnostic tool you can have. Even if you are not sure how to interpret the readings, someone on here will always do that part for you.

Ive not actually worked out how that panel comes out as its got no screws on it, but def a good shout if i can. I will check it out.

With regards to the battery masters, i see van bitz sell them. Is there an other sellers worth a look at that may be cheaper?

 

[David and Sally]

Buy one through the shop on this site and save a few bob.

[Broken Link Removed]

 

[RogerIvy]

If you’re getting the VanBitz Battery Master this is probably the easiest:
Red goes to your leisure pos, maybe the easiest is to piggy back on the solar controller. If your mppt is too far away then you’ll need to find the leisure pos at the EBL or even easier on the battery (or bus bar).
Black goes to your neg bus bar or to the chassis.
Brown goes to the wire coming from the starter battery. Again, refer to your manual. It should be a thick-ish (6mm or 10mm?) cable. If your manual doesn’t show it, a multimeter can be handy to find which one it is according to voltage (makes it easy if you have lithium leisure as the voltages are very different).

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[GaryGavlaar]

Is the Vabitz battery master what i want?

Every post I find so far talking about it seems to result in peoples responses being there are no alternatives, they all do different things, but no one ever seems to talk about what them different things are so its made me question if the battery master is what i want.

I have a flat vehicle battery from my motorhome standing for a period of time. It seems my battery is knackered now due to discharge. I am about to buy a new vehicle battery and don't want this to happen again. I have recently installed solar on the roof.

Is the battery master the tool for the job or is there alternatives? I just want any extra solar power to top my vehicle battery up once the leisure battery is full. Are there any downsides to the battery master that other devices do better?

Cheers

 

[GaryGavlaar]

Also quick question re control panel and battery charging....

When the van is on Electric hookup, and the switch on the control panel is pointing to the vehicle battery, does that mean the vehicle battery is now being charged by the hookup or will the battery charger only ever charge the leisure battery? See wiring diagram at the start if of any use.

 

[Revolvor]

100's of people on the MH forum use a genuine Vanbitz Battery Master - including me. It works well, using excess solar to keep the Vehicle battery charged.

However some people with Lithium Leisure batteries use one of these, which allows some adjustment. I'm not in a position to advise on its advantages.

AMT12-2

 

[Dolmen]

Is the Vabitz battery master what i want?

Every post I find so far talking about it seems to result in peoples responses being there are no alternatives, they all do different things, but no one ever seems to talk about what them different things are so its made me question if the battery master is what i want.

I have a flat vehicle battery from my motorhome standing for a period of time. It seems my battery is knackered now due to discharge. I am about to buy a new vehicle battery and don't want this to happen again. I have recently installed solar on the roof.

Is the battery master the tool for the job or is there alternatives? I just want any extra solar power to top my vehicle battery up once the leisure battery is full. Are there any downsides to the battery master that other devices do better?

Cheers

Hi I use this battery master

Votronic 12V StandBy Charger (DC-DC Trickle Charger)

The Votronic StandBy Charger trickle charges your 12V starter battery whilst your 12V leisure battery is being charged from a mains charger or solar panel.

www.12voltplanet.co.uk

My cab battery was going from 12.8v to 12.4 v and below in only a few weeks. I changed the leisure battery for Lithium and fitted one of these (should say paid to have fitted). Not had it that long, however, it keeps the cab battery rock steady at 12.9v whilst in storage with very little draw on the Lithium capacity. I do not have solar so do not know implications with solar. The blurb says not for Lithium but it is fine for Lithium to LA/Gel not the other way around. No idea how it compares to the vanbitz other than half the price, what I do know is that it works (only until it has drained the leisure battery of course which with 230ah Lithium wwould be months rather than weeks

 

[stevewagner]

I use a Sterling Power battery maintainer

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[Revolvor]

A lot of battery maintainers work by diverting a charge to the vehicle battery when the Leisure battery voltage is approx 13 volts - ie fully charged.

The Vanbitz Battery Master is different, in that it always keeps the Vehicle battery approx 0.5 volts lower than the Leisure Battery. For example, if the Leisure battery is charging at 13.4 volts, the Vehicle battery will be at 12.9 volts.

If the leisure battery is not charging and drops to 12.7 volts, then the Vanbitz BM still trickle charges the Vehicle battery, thus sharing any parasitic loads between both batteries.

 

[Dolmen]

A lot of battery maintainers work by diverting a charge to the vehicle battery when the Leisure battery voltage is approx 13 volts - ie fully charged.

The Vanbitz Battery Master is different, in that it always keeps the Vehicle battery approx 0.5 volts lower than the Leisure Battery. For example, if the Leisure battery is charging at 13.4 volts, the Vehicle battery will be at 12.9 volts.

If the leisure battery is not charging and drops to 12.7 volts, then the Vanbitz BM still trickle charges the Vehicle battery, thus sharing any parasitic loads between both batteries.

Yes, the Votronic is just the same, however, 0.6v

 

[Hoovie]

I'm thinking of fitting a battery master now ive got solar, to keep my vehicle battery topped up to save flat battery moments.

Can anyone tell me where on my motorhome (wiring diagram attached) i would best install one?

View attachment 794146

Cheers

Firstly, the posts referring to the Electrobloc (ELB) are not relevant to your van I would be 99% sure. ELBs are fitted to many Continental vans, but looking at the wiring diagram you have a Sargent based setup.

If it is a '99 van, then I would think the relays mentioned at the top right of the diagram are likely to be in the Engine Bay. This is where you will find easily both a Vehicle Battery connection and a Leisure Battery Connection.

If you want the simpliest way to wire a Battery Maintainer, buy a pair of Standard Blade Fuse Piggybacks - here is an example .... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/25161813...d=link&campid=5338547443&toolid=20001&mkevt=1 - and fit the "VB" one to the fuse holder that has the Brown/Green wire, and the "LB" one to the fuse holder that has the Brown/Blue wire, and the ground to a suitable chassis earth point (or battery -ve).


As far as choice of Battery Maintainer goes, the Battery Master has lots of fans here, but I am of the opinion that the Ablemail AMT-12 is the distinctly superior option, not only for Lithium but for Lead Batteries also. Available from a number of sources if you do a web search.