FraRon charger

[Padraic]

No it just begins charging as soon as hook up is connected.
The unit I chose is a small one so is best suited to trickle/top up. The starter battery is unlikely to ever go flat so will never need a deep charge. I suppose the next unit up would be better.
I think our man in Belgium went this route?

I suppose any charger is okay, as long as you don't have to be fiddling with buttons, just turn on power and forget about it.

 

[ajdowson]

I think that small charger - 0.8 - should be perfect for what I'm after - only £36 on amazon now.

I'm hoping with this set up it never goes dead - hence just needs a top up.

I'll have a look for any sort of split charger but no sign in the photos I have of that area.

Another question - what is the metal bar mounted at around 45 deg in the back of the battery box for? Mine seems to be just sitting there no attached to anything. Looks quite sturdy - is it just a brace of some sort? It has a thread on the end but nothing attached? The end just seems to float in space?

PS on my van there is a small drain due to the alarm/central locking I have fitted so can't leave it for more than 3 weeks undriven.

 

[ajdowson]

(think I've answered the metal bar question - looks like there should be 2-3 (3rd inbetween the two batteries) and they are used to clamp the battery in place, as per the westtfalia workshop manual)

 

[ArcticMatt]

Hi,

Need to find a way to charge up the starter battery when on hook up - I don't use it that much and a flat battery is not uncommon. I'm happy to leave the T4 plugged into the 230v and have a wifi/timer socket to give the camper power for e.g. just the weekend.

My westfalia charger is dead - and what I thought was a T4 specialist installed a new charger in a cupboard when it broke. Not a great job but hey ho. I would have just put in a FraRon in now if I'd know more at the time. The charger there is a 10000 job that does have 6 step charging etc. so not too dumb but just charges the leisure battery. I did used to think that the westfalia charger did do both batteries both but read above that it didn't. I had thought that there were two separate + and - connections on the six terminals at the westfalia charger - what do these actually connect to? Is there wiring to the starter battery available under the fridge?

As it stands there is room under the fridge for something like a ctek charger and I was wondering if I could link that to the 240v that is already there and find wiring to the starter battery? Would this be safe? I'm unsure if something like a ctek can be left without access or whether you have to press a button?

The other option is to just plug in a ctek into one of the mains sockets behind the drivers seat and plug into e.g. the cig socket (which is always live). Might be easier but less convenient than a "fit and forget" which would be better.

Grateful for any thoughts on options. Cheers!

How much was the new charger you bought. I would have said fit the FraRon but your better off now with the extra CTEK charger. I only got rid of mine because it was in the way of my feet where the last owner fitted it. CTEK chargers are pretty much the best. If they made one that worked with the westfailia screen then I'd have had one in a shot.

 

[ajdowson]

How much was the new charger you bought. I would have said fit the FraRon but your better off now with the extra CTEK charger. I only got rid of mine because it was in the way of my feet where the last owner fitted it. CTEK chargers are pretty much the best. If they made one that worked with the westfailia screen then I'd have had one in a shot.

Hi the ctek was only £36 from amazon for the 0.8A version which seems fine. Looks like a well made bit of kit.

I will probably use it through the cig lighter first and see how I get one and understand how it works - through the cig lighter I don't want high A currents, just a trickle (or it will blow the cig lighter fuse) so the 0.8 seems ideal for this.

I have a juicier normal charger in the garage anyway if it goes flat again - but I'm hoping it won't now.

I am going to fit one of those voltmeter/USB that fit in the standard T4 switch blanks too, and run that off the radio circuit. This can let me see the volts when required. I have already made the radio/cig lighter switchable so it is not always live - (side story - I had to do this and make the radio switchable as I have a BT420 Blaupunkt radio which is a pain with a permanent live feed - not because it uses juice but because the bluetooth is therefore always on - it used to pair with my phone when I was in the house and didn't want it to, and worse would not pair with the phone when I jumped in a did want it to! In a normal car with ignition feed to the radio the BT420 is fine (obviously what it is designed for), and works fine now with the switch to "reset" it so it pairs as if in a normal car).

 

[ArcticMatt]

Cool. My old CTEK was ran from the 240v plug just under the table on the exclusive. When you connected the normal mains hook up that made the other charger live.

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[sidepod]

Hi the ctek was only £36 from amazon for the 0.8A version which seems fine. Looks like a well made bit of kit.

I will probably use it through the cig lighter first and see how I get one and understand how it works - through the cig lighter I don't want high A currents, just a trickle (or it will blow the cig lighter fuse) so the 0.8 seems ideal for this.

I have a juicier normal charger in the garage anyway if it goes flat again - but I'm hoping it won't now.

I am going to fit one of those voltmeter/USB that fit in the standard T4 switch blanks too, and run that off the radio circuit. This can let me see the volts when required. I have already made the radio/cig lighter switchable so it is not always live - (side story - I had to do this and make the radio switchable as I have a BT420 Blaupunkt radio which is a pain with a permanent live feed - not because it uses juice but because the bluetooth is therefore always on - it used to pair with my phone when I was in the house and didn't want it to, and worse would not pair with the phone when I jumped in a did want it to! In a normal car with ignition feed to the radio the BT420 is fine (obviously what it is designed for), and works fine now with the switch to "reset" it so it pairs as if in a normal car).

You’ve probably got it covered but I’d make the new voltmeter switchable. It could possibly drain the battery over time if left in charged.

Surely your BlueSpot head unit has an ACC power input?

 

[ajdowson]

You’ve probably got it covered but I’d make the new voltmeter switchable. It could possibly drain the battery over time if left in charged.

Surely your BlueSpot head unit has an ACC power input?

Yes, that occurred to me - the switch I used for the Blaupunkt originally was an old fog light switch (where the lamp had blown so technically could be an MoT fail) that I had replaced.

As its a two position switch the radio is on with the "rear fog" position, and the voltmeter is on at the "front and rear fog" position. And I can turn it all off. Its ideal really.

I could have put the radio on an ignition only live circuit, but as a camper it is good to be able to have the radio on without the ignition on - and this is how it is originally designed. The fault is really with the Blaupunkt - with a perm live feed it appears impossible to fully turn off/reset/control the bluetooth. It's a great headunit in many ways, but marred by a lack of DAB and a rotary RWD/FF dial that is a bit pants at accurately controlling an iphone track selection. I might swap for a DAB Stockholm at some point, but quite pricey at £170 and no rear USB which the BT420 has.

 

[ArcticMatt]

Plugged mine in for the first time in donkeys for a bit of winter hibernation. For some reason nothing was charging! Had a little think and took the fridge panel off and guess who forgot to switch the charger to "On", DOH!

 

[bxl_lad]

Plugged mine in for the first time in donkeys for a bit of winter hibernation. For some reason nothing was charging! Had a little think and took the fridge panel off and guess who forgot to switch the charger to "On", DOH!

oops... But why would you switch it off?

 

[ArcticMatt]

Must have left it off when I was doing a bit of a tidy up. It's not charging the leisure battery at the moment so I need to check how this dual output is supposed to work.

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[sidepod]

Now I know why I installed an illuminated switch in a visible position along with a voltmeter.

 

[ArcticMatt]

Must have left it off when I was doing a bit of a tidy up. It's not charging the leisure battery at the moment so I need to check how this dual output is supposed to work.

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Dual output working again now (phew) I fitted an extra fuse box but the spade connection isn't exactly tight and it popped of when I put the battery cover back on. Working a treat now

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[bxl_lad]

Dual output working again now (phew) I fitted an extra fuse box but the spade connection isn't exactly tight and it popped of when I put the battery cover back on. Working a treat now

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Hi Matt,
good stuff... So it seems I will have to be plugging the starter battery into the loop too

One question, your fuse holder has two inputs (I guess one to each of the batteries), but they appear to be different size fuses - can you explain the difference?

Cheers,
Matt

 

[ArcticMatt]

Hi Matt,
good stuff... So it seems I will have to be plugging the starter battery into the loop too

One question, your fuse holder has two inputs (I guess one to each of the batteries), but they appear to be different size fuses - can you explain the difference?

Cheers,
Matt

The other one was from the solar charger to the leisure battery. I need to check if that's correct. It's 25amp in there but I can't remember if that's correct or not

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[sidepod]

Just wondering if they sell cable ties in Norway?

 

[ArcticMatt]

Just wondering if they sell cable ties in Norway?

View attachment 41066

It's getting redone when I get back. I was short on cable at the time. Those fuses are going elsewhere too.

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[dspj73]

Posidrive screwdriver, crimp connectors for the larger cables (5mm2?) crimp tool. I also inserted a 25A fuse holder and fuse as Fraron recommended. Plus suitable sized spanner for the battery connections!
2 weeks later the fridge controller also packed up (coincidence??) another £175! (from Penguin refridgeration)

Hi!
I have some questions about the shipping from fraron and the installation.
We arrived to Italy yesterday and connected the powercable and sat down for some cofee.
After a couple of minutes the was filled with smoke and a smell of burned cable.
Checked it up today and when i try to Connect 230v to the car it flashes in the charger and the mainfuse disconnect.
I suspect that is the charger that are smoked.
Was it a fast delivery to the campsite and was it easy to install?

//Dennis


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[ArcticMatt]

Hi!
I have some questions about the shipping from fraron and the installation.
We arrived to Italy yesterday and connected the powercable and sat down for some cofee.
After a couple of minutes the was filled with smoke and a smell of burned cable.
Checked it up today and when i try to Connect 230v to the car it flashes in the charger and the mainfuse disconnect.
I suspect that is the charger that are smoked.
Was it a fast delivery to the campsite and was it easy to install?

//Dennis


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Is it your original westfalia charger that's failed? You can change to the FraRon unit fairly easily with basic tools. It comes with the wiring you need.

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[Sleepyboy]

Is it your original westfalia charger that's failed? You can change to the FraRon unit fairly easily with basic tools. It comes with the wiring you need.

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The only thing it doesn’t come with is an inline fuse between the charger output and the leisure battery. I had to order one separately.

Otherwise it is a fairly simple job although it is possible that the original multi-plug connector to the original charger may be damaged and need a little repair (mine did)


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[ArcticMatt]

The other option if you are stuck and need one quick is find a shop near you and buy a standard charger but you might need to chop it up to connect it but it might save you time. The original charger was 10 amp. The FraRon is 20 amp to handle two batteries

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[dspj73]

The other option if you are stuck and need one quick is find a shop near you and buy a standard charger but you might need to chop it up to connect it but it might save you time. The original charger was 10 amp. The FraRon is 20 amp to handle two batteries

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Thanks for the answers!
I just mailed fraron and asked how fast the can ship,leaving italy on friday and hope it will arrive before that.



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[dspj73]

But it must be possible to put a normal charger right on the batteries so they get charged ?


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[ArcticMatt]

But it must be possible to put a normal charger right on the batteries so they get charged ?


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That's what I said before. You can find a normal charger (better if you can get one with the same kettle plug) and use that for now.

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[bxl_lad]

Hi!
I have some questions about the shipping from fraron and the installation.
We arrived to Italy yesterday and connected the powercable and sat down for some cofee.
After a couple of minutes the was filled with smoke and a smell of burned cable.
Checked it up today and when i try to Connect 230v to the car it flashes in the charger and the mainfuse disconnect.
I suspect that is the charger that are smoked.
Was it a fast delivery to the campsite and was it easy to install?

//Dennis


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Hi, Just saw this - I had the Fraron shipped to the campsite we were at in France last year - My wife is German and so she called them and emphasised the urgency (though I'm sure if you call them they'll also have someone who speaks English) - i think we paid a little extra for express delivery, but it was there within 2 days. With a basic set of tools its possible to fix in the field.
Good luck!