Batteries

Brownbetty · Nov 29, 2022

Hi everyone, I would like to trickle charge my engine starter battery from my leisure batteries that are connected to a solar panel on the top of the van, the reason is after nine wks away my engine battery was diagnosed dead by the AA & needed replacing, this battery was less than a year old & fully charged when we left luckily it had a five year warranty & was replaced. So what is involved to trickle charge the starter.
My van is a 57 plate se California, all batteries are very new. Thanks

yossarian · Nov 29, 2022

Known commercial solutions:

Diy is also possible, ping back if that is what you were looking for.

Roger offers the epever product and might help you retrofit if you have one of his setups.

Lambeth Cali · Nov 29, 2022

Brownbetty said:
Hi everyone, I would like to trickle charge my engine starter battery from my leisure batteries that are connected to a solar panel on the top of the van, the reason is after nine wks away my engine battery was diagnosed dead by the AA & needed replacing, this battery was less than a year old & fully charged when we left luckily it had a five year warranty & was replaced. So what is involved to trickle charge the starter.
My van is a 57 plate se California, all batteries are very new. Thanks

Is there anything plugged into the dash cigarette socket? That would drain the battery even if not switched on.

EddieEagle · Nov 29, 2022

I use a Ctek charger running from the van inverter which I feed to the starter battery using a male cigarette plug adapter into the ashtray 12v socket. (mine is connected to the starter battery, but do check)
I have solar. I know it’s inefficient to go 240v to 12v but it works as a back up.

Brownbetty · Nov 29, 2022

Lambeth Cali said:
Is there anything plugged into the dash cigarette socket? That would drain the battery even if not switched on.

No the only thing on was the alarm.

WelshGas · Nov 29, 2022

Brownbetty said:
No the only thing on was the alarm.

See here. Post 15 , by @Loz onwards.

Battery maintenance during the lock down

Hi all, looking for some advice on maintaining engine starter batteries for our Beach and also other car. I was thinking given the lock down I should get a battery trickle charger. Is it ok to use one of the cigar lighter adapters to charge the starter battery for the van and also my golf...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Kenny Marsh · Dec 2, 2022

Brownbetty said:
Hi everyone, I would like to trickle charge my engine starter battery from my leisure batteries that are connected to a solar panel on the top of the van, the reason is after nine wks away my engine battery was diagnosed dead by the AA & needed replacing, this battery was less than a year old & fully charged when we left luckily it had a five year warranty & was replaced. So what is involved to trickle charge the starter.
My van is a 57 plate se California, all batteries are very new. Thanks

Shadrack said:
Click to expand...

If you have a split charge relay relay rather than a dc to dc charger (used with smart alternator) and it isn't already dual bias, simply change it. They work both ways i.e. if either battery gets above a certain level e.g. 13.7v the relay closes and also charges the other battery. So when parked up with solar once the leisure batteries get above the voltage specified on the, relay it closes and also chargers your starter battery. They obviously work the other traditional way too, they also still open when the volts are getting too low to protect draining both sets of batteries.

Greg&Mel Australian Cali · Dec 2, 2022

Has anyone replaced their AGM Leisure battery with a lithium battery?

grainflow · Dec 2, 2022

Kenny Marsh said:
If you have a split charge relay relay rather than a dc to dc charger (used with smart alternator) and it isn't already dual bias, simply change it. They work both ways i.e. if either battery gets above a certain level e.g. 13.7v the relay closes and also charges the other battery. So when parked up with solar once the leisure batteries get above the voltage specified on the, relay it closes and also chargers your starter battery. They obviously work the other traditional way too, they also still open when the volts are getting too low to protect draining both sets of batteries.

Does that mean I could swap the spilt charge relay under the passenger seat of my T5 Cali with something like the link below and it'll do the trick?