Starter battery not connected to solar charging

B

Bigaliboy

Joined
Mar 31, 2024
Posts
3
Likes collected
1
Funster No
102,109
MH
Welcome 85
Hi everyone
This is probably an incredibly naive question but I'll ask it anyway - my Chausson Welcome 85 has a solar panel but it only charges the leisure battery (and it works well keeping it fully charged even in winter time). During the winter months when I don't run the bus much, it would be handy if the solar would also "top up" the starter battery - could I just run a couple of leads from the leisure (under the drivers seat) to the starter (under the passenger footwell) to "share" the charge? I would disconnect them before starting up again.
Cheers

Alisdair
 
I purchased a solar charger that would charge two batteries.
You could adjust how much power went into each battery.
Once fitted you didn't have to do anything.


Mine was inexpensive but there are many, many to choose from.

Google is your friend here...

One example...

Screenshot_20240331_155720_Chrome.jpg

JJ :cool:
 
Battery master or similar is what's required...as stated above....
 
:welco: to Motorhome fun :)

A simple option can be to fit the Vanbitz battery master. A small little box, it will trickle charge, at very moderate current, the starter batter from the leisure battery, when it sees a voltage difference of leisure higher than starter. If your leisure is being topped off by the solar, the starter in turn gets maintained.

The battery master has three short leads, one to neutral, one to the starter, one to the leisure. Most can simply fit it across the connectors of the leisure battery charger.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Pretty much covered here I'd say. 3 options.

1. Change existing solar controller to one that enables dual output (1 to leisure battery, 1 to engine battery)

2. Separate small panel and controller to charge engine battery exclusively.

3. Battery master to work as stated above.
 
Bigaliboy said:
Hi everyone
This is probably an incredibly naive question but I'll ask it anyway - my Chausson Welcome 85 has a solar panel but it only charges the leisure battery (and it works well keeping it fully charged even in winter time). During the winter months when I don't run the bus much, it would be handy if the solar would also "top up" the starter battery - could I just run a couple of leads from the leisure (under the drivers seat) to the starter (under the passenger footwell) to "share" the charge? I would disconnect them before starting up again.
Cheers

Alisdair
Click to expand...
The bit of wire between the batteries is not a good idea because of the potential high currents. There are three simple solutions that I know of but it depends on your batteries and alternator.

There is the CSB-2 splitter available on amazon for just over £50 delivered which is ok for standard lead acid batteries.

The Battery Master a much better and more sophisticated device about £70 by VanBitz who are members on here or Off Grid Power Solutions who are also members here and offer members 10% discount. Which will work with different types of batteries.

There is now a new kid on the block called a Ablemail battery maintainer which will handle all types of battery and also smart alternators. There is an interesting discussion about it HERE which will explain much more. This and the Batterymaster are your best bet both easy to fit.
 
I have made the suggestion before. But to me the best suggestion is to install a B2B to keep the starter battery properly charged to a known voltage from the leisure battery.

A simple enough solution that will keep the starter battery properly charged to a known voltage delivering as much or as little charge as is required (and will work however the leisure battery gets its charge - solar, EHU or even alternator.)
 
Last edited:
LithiumConvert said:
I have made the suggestion before. But to me the best suggestion is to install a B2B to keep the starter battery properly charged to a known voltage from the leisure battery.

A simple enough solution that will keep the starter battery properly charged to a known voltage delivering as much or as little charge as is required (and will work however the leisure battery gets its charge - solar, EHU or even alternator.)
Click to expand...
Which B2B did you choose for this? I was looking for a device that would stop the starter battery from dropping too low to start the engine, and principally would use the capacity in the leisure battery, if not on charge due to lack of sun/ehu etc, but three stage charging might be an advantage?
 
Another vote for Battery Master here. Mine is the same set up as yours - solar panel to leisure battery only. £70 for the unit and easy to fit, Really is a fit and forget. 3 months on the drive with very little use and the Starter is always brimmed.

www.ebay.co.uk

Van Bitz Battery Master | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Van Bitz Battery Master at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.
www.ebay.co.uk

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
This site contains affiliate links for which MHF may be compensated.
LithiumConvert said:
I have made the suggestion before. But to me the best suggestion is to install a B2B to keep the starter battery properly charged to a known voltage from the leisure battery.
Click to expand...
Incorrect a B2B is for charging the leisure battery.
 
AdrianChen said:
Which B2B did you choose for this?
Click to expand...
I use a Sterling Power BB1230.

It has two charge levels for AGM batteries which Hymer install for the Exsis-i motorhomes. I chose the lower charge level (AGM1). so that there is still some room in the battery for the smart alternator to use regenerative braking on engine overun. (but it can also be set for other battery types)

It has a 15amp setting which is plenty for the starter battery once it has been brought up to full charge.

I like the fact that you know what the level of charge is at all times (which you do not with most of the alternatives.)

Easy to fit and properly fused if you follow the simple installation instructions. Fit and Forget.
 
Lenny HB said:
Incorrect a B2B is for charging the leisure battery.
Click to expand...
Sorry Lenny. That is incorrect.

A B2B is for charging any battery from any other battery.

They work very well for keeping the starter battery properly charged to a known voltage, no matter how the leisure battery is charged (Solar, EHU or even alternator and that includes when the leisure battery is, itself, charged by another B2B fom the alternator.)

In fact the solution nicely solves the issue that a smart alternator never properly charges the starter battery.
 
Last edited:
LithiumConvert said:
Sorry Lenny. That is incorrect.

A B2B is for charging any battery from any other battery.

They work very well for keeping the starter battery properly charged to a known voltage, no matter how the leisure battery is charged (Solar, EHU or even alternator and that includes when the leisure battery is, itself, charged by another B2B fom the alternator.)

In fact the solution nicely solves the issue that a smart alternator never properly charges the starter battery.
Click to expand...
That is not the normal way to connect a B2B why would you want to charge the starter battery with a 30 amp charger when a 3 amp charger will do the job & it's 3 times the price & 10 times the size, absolutely pointless.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Lenny HB said:
That is not the normal way to connect a B2B why would you want to charge the starter battery with a 30 amp charger when a 3 amp charger will do the job & it's 3 times the price & 10 times the size, absolutely pointless.
Click to expand...
Because it does the job properly to a known voltage,, no matter what load is put on the starter battery and for how long.
 
The Votronic VCC 1212-30 B2B charges in both directions. When the engine is running it charges from the starter battery to the leisure battery at up to 30A. When the engine isn’t running, it provides a 1A trickle charge to the starter battery when the leisure battery is being charged.
 
StillGoing said:
The Votronic VCC 1212-30 B2B charges in both directions. When the engine is running it charges from the starter battery to the leisure battery at up to 30A. When the engine isn’t running, it provides a 1A trickle charge to the starter battery when the leisure battery is being charged.
Click to expand...
Yep it's the only one that does.
 
LithiumConvert said:
Because it does the job properly to a known voltage,, no matter what load is put on the starter battery and for how long.
Click to expand...
Total OTT.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
LithiumConvert said:
Sorry Lenny. That is incorrect.

A B2B is for charging any battery from any other battery.

They work very well for keeping the starter battery properly charged to a known voltage, no matter how the leisure battery is charged (Solar, EHU or even alternator and that includes when the leisure battery is, itself, charged by another B2B fom the alternator.)

In fact the solution nicely solves the issue that a smart alternator never properly charges the starter battery.
Click to expand...

Surely a Battery master will suffice for charging a starter battery. Cheaper, simpler.
 
Lenny HB said:
Yep it's the only one that does.
Click to expand...
My CTEK D250 combined B2B & MPPT will also trickle charge the Starter battery. It's not very efficient as it only trickles if Leisure battery is over 13.8v, so I fitted a Battery Master too.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
VXman said:
Surely a Battery master will suffice for charging a starter battery. Cheaper, simpler.
Click to expand...
Yep - Have had CSB2 - that worked fine on a LA to LA van and now have an Ablemail AMT12 which works very well with our lithium's, and I'm sure the Votronic/Sterling/CSB2-LT/Sargent/Vanbitz Battery Master, all do the job stopping the start battery going flat.

Loads of choice!

Only "problem" is the CSB-2 completely hid the fact that our starter battery was knackered from full to empty (tracker alarm) in 48hrs.
 
Wow!Amazing replies. Thanks for all the posts.
 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Join us

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top