Battery to battery charger

 
 
 
 
 
 
Ally
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Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 15.07.2013  ·  #1
Anyone use one? the Sterling seems to be the one to go for.

Idea of it is, when your engine battery is fully charged when driving, the alternator only puts a trickle charge to it so your leisure batteries could take hours to charge when you are driving. This tricks the alternator into thinking the engine battery is still in need of charge and it continues to put out full charge in turn fully charging your leisure batteries in a MUCH shorter time/drive.

One here.
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 15.07.2013  ·  #2
There is a switch on my control panel to charge either battery as priority
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 15.07.2013  ·  #3
Quote by Admin

Anyone use one? the Sterling seems to be the one to go for.

Idea of it is, when your engine battery is fully charged when driving, the alternator only puts a trickle charge to it so your leisure batteries could take hours to charge when you are driving. This tricks the alternator into thinking the engine battery is still in need of charge and it continues to put out full charge in turn fully charging your leisure batteries in a MUCH shorter time/drive.

One here.


Interesting.

Theres a simple "split charge diode" on ours that feeds power from the alternator to BOTH batteries simultaneously.

I wonder what exactly is the device you linked to? Is it an intelligent charging system or a simple split charger?
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 15.07.2013  ·  #4
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 15.07.2013  ·  #5
Quote by digger

There is a switch on my control panel to charge either battery as priority


Is that not for EHU?
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 15.07.2013  ·  #6
Quote by Blag



Interesting.

Theres a simple "split charge diode" on ours that feeds power from the alternator to BOTH batteries simultaneously.

I wonder what exactly is the device you linked to? Is it an intelligent charging system or a simple split charger?


Same as most, but apparently the alternator stops charging when the engine battery is full even if the leisure batteries are not, only tricke charges after that. One engine battery would be a lot easier charged than two 110AHR leisure batteries I would presume.
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 15.07.2013  ·  #7
Quote by Blag


I wonder what exactly is the device you linked to? Is it an intelligent charging system or a simple split charger?


More info here: http://www.sterling-power.com/products-battbatt-info.htm
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 15.07.2013  ·  #8
I must look into how mine works. The leisure battery always seems to be well charged after a few hours driving. I just assumed it was being charged while I drove. The engine also runs the fridge on 12 volt while I drive.
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 15.07.2013  ·  #9
Quote by drifter

I must look into how mine works. The leisure battery always seems to be well charged after a few hours driving. I just assumed it was being charged while I drove. The engine also runs the fridge on 12 volt while I drive.


As you say "a few hours" the engine battery would normally be charged in minutes, the idea of the battery to battery charger is the leisure batteries should be also charged a LOT quicker. That's the idea and it seems to get good reports on the net but I have never used one.
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 15.07.2013  ·  #10
I was always lead to believe mine did that already. Must find out.
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 04.10.2014  ·  #11
This is an old thread from 15.07.2013


Has anyone tried one of these yet? various reports around the net, no more need for solar or genny's etc.

I am toying with getting solar on, but think I might go for a B2B instead.

http://www.sterling-power.com/products-battbatt-info.htm

For you techy guys (I don't undertsand half of this) there is a great thread HERE - a B2B is fitted at the end and has amazing results.
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 04.10.2014  ·  #12
I have one fitted for the past 2 years and it is excellent. Ive never had a problem with any of the batteries.
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 04.10.2014  ·  #13
Quote by jacktherev

I have one fitted for the past 2 years and it is excellent. Ive never had a problem with any of the batteries.


Must have a look!

So why do you need Solar and a Genny also?
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 04.10.2014  ·  #14
Because he loves gadgets :lol:

Afaik mine charges both at exactly the same time and somehow when the solar has fully charged the leisure it seems to divert some power to the engine but not to the same degree.
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 04.10.2014  ·  #15
Quote by the fat controller


Afaik mine charges both at exactly the same time


There is no Motorhome on the market that charges both fully after the engine battery is charged, I am led to believe. Which is the reason for B2B charger.
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 04.10.2014  ·  #16
I don't have a clue Ally. Simon suggested I put one in so he put it in for me.
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 04.10.2014  ·  #17
Why I say it is because if I am sitting with the two set of indicator lights showing say 4bars for engine battery and 3bars for the leisure in the morning, a while later the leisure will show a full 5 due to the solar panel working it's magic and probably a couple hours later the engine one is also showing 5 bars and battery full lights are lit. I haven't done anything to share the power so unless it's either a factory fitted extra or the previous owner fitted a b2b, but I can't tell as I haven't even looked at the engine battery/alternator an donkey check the fluids in the engine bay.
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 04.10.2014  ·  #18
What the fleck! An donkey, it was meant to say I only check the fluids. Not a donkey does it for me :lol:

Sun must be going to my head
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 04.10.2014  ·  #19
Apparently its some kind of battery management system that will never allow the battery to die completely. Ally give Simon a ring and he will tell you but I don't think its instead of a solar panel.
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 05.10.2014  ·  #20
The battery to battery charger tricks the alelternator into thinking the leisure battery's are flat so then it gives a much higher amperage than the normal trickle when the battery's are fairly well charged.
I think also the alternator can only bring the battery's up to about 90% capacity where the sterling fills them to the Max..
Very popular with boat users.
I have a the sterling "alternator to battery" charger,not fitted yet as so far have not needed it. it is the same idea but it needs to be connected direct to the alternator instead of to the vehicle battery..
If I remember correctly the battery to battery charger should not be used on sealed battery's..
Steven.
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 05.10.2014  ·  #21
:up:
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 05.10.2014  ·  #22
Well my batteries are the Gel ones and it works a treat. Ally you can have a look at mine when I'm there probably on Tuesday night.
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 05.10.2014  ·  #23
Quote by jacktherev

Well my batteries are the Gel ones and it works a treat. Ally you can have a look at mine when I'm there probably on Tuesday night.


I don't think yours is the same thing Jack.
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 05.10.2014  ·  #24
devil's advocate here folks , but we have little or no problems with batteries , or the charging of , once good quality batteries are used , and all the connections and fuse holders are kwpt healthy . I have had to replace batteries on a couple of campers with Sterling B2Bs and both the Sterling and batteries were only a year or so old . A lot of the better MHs have a switch on the Schaudt/Calira box which lets you choose Lead or Gel style batteries , this must be clicked the right way for EHU . On a MH with a Solar panel , I don't recall ever having top change a battery . There is a 2006 in the shed at the mo , getting ready for its new owner , and IIRC it has the original battery from new , or '07 at the latest . That's with an 80w Panel , flat mounted on the roof. The people who had it most of it's life would have spent most of it's time "off the grid" . In fact , the only "battery" related issue was the battery "boiled" out some of it's acid due to the Schaudt box going faulty on EHU and overcharging it . Topped back up the battery , fixed the box , and it's been perfect since , and on the same battery .

Looking at amp meters in MHs , they still show a high rate of Ah going into the leisure battery even with a charged engine batery , if the leisure is weak . Thinking out loud..if the rate of Ah tailed off as the engine got charged up , would your fridge not work poorly on 12v , or indeed drain the leisure battery on a long run?

Interesting topic . For my money (if I had any!) , it's solar panels all day long , I've fitted twice as many this year as previous years . Generally 80-100w , with probably slightly more than half of the buyers opting for a 2nd battery .
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 05.10.2014  ·  #25
Quote by Tristan @ PHM


Looking at amp meters in MHs , they still show a high rate of Ah going into the leisure battery even with a charged engine batery , if the leisure is weak . Thinking out loud..if the rate of Ah tailed off as the engine got charged up , would your fridge not work poorly on 12v , or indeed drain the leisure battery on a long run?

Interesting topic . For my money (if I had any!) , it's solar panels all day long , I've fitted twice as many this year as previous years . Generally 80-100w , with probably slightly more than half of the buyers opting for a 2nd battery .


Interesting point.

I was also thinking, would not be cheaper and also a lot handier to leave your driving lights on whilst driving, thus ensuring that your engine battery is always in a state of charge? which in turn should keep the leisure's topped up. Just a thought.
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 05.10.2014  ·  #26
Ah , all modern machines , ie Ducatos from '01 on for example , always have consumers , the in tank fuel pump , the injectors to name but 2.
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 06.10.2014  ·  #27
Quote by Ally

Quote by jacktherev

Well my batteries are the Gel ones and it works a treat. Ally you can have a look at mine when I'm there probably on Tuesday night.


I don't think yours is the same thing Jack.


Jacks is deffo a B2B :D

He's the gadget freak :)
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 21.10.2014  ·  #28
I'm still bloody confused!

After a discussion with Chevyg20 which we surmised a split charge relay is the same thing, which are very cheap.

So is it? do most MH's not have one already installed? I thought they did.


Various items on this page http://www.split-charge-relays…y-faq.html B2B and split charge relays.

Voltage sensing split charge relay for modern vehicles £45 : http://www.split-charge-relays…relay.html

B2B £252 : http://split-charge-relays.co….arger.html


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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 21.10.2014  ·  #29
Nearly all American rvs have, and have an emergency start switch fitted on the dash to facilitate starting the engine from the leisure batteries if for example you have left side lights on, the radio on or have a faulty engine battery .
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Re: Battery to battery charger

 ·  Posted: 23.10.2014  ·  #30
Quote by Ally

I'm still bloody confused!

After a discussion with Chevyg20 which we surmised a split charge relay is the same thing, which are very cheap.

So is it? do most MH's not have one already installed? I thought they did.


Various items on this page http://www.split-charge-relays…y-faq.html B2B and split charge relays.

Voltage sensing split charge relay for modern vehicles £45 : http://www.split-charge-relays…relay.html

B2B £252 : http://split-charge-relays.co….arger.html


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