Your explanation and graphics were ideal for a novice. One point: a Split Charge Relay is fine if your vehicle has a standard alternator. If it has a Smart Alternator, you need a DCtoDC charger instead. Smart Alternators happen to switch off when the starter battery is fully charged, leaving the leisure battery uncharged..but the DCtoDC charger bypasses the Smart Alternator and charges the leisure battery directly from the starter battery, which is then simultaneously charged by the Smart Alternator. I lost 2 good batteries because my fitter didnt know about Smart Alternators..which are now increasingly more common.
@@5905-k8v.. Phone the appropriate dealership (Ford, Toyota, Merc etc) and gjve the model, type and year of your vehicle to a mechanic. He should know. Smart alternators are becoming more popular nowadays as they save on fuel due to turning off.
Quick question, how does the Smart Alternator know the difference between the starter battery and the starter battery + leisure battery (which I would assume the split charge relay would connect the two batteries once it senses 14.2V from the alternator)?
@@PersonaN007Grata I didn't stand over my auto electrician to see how it was all wired in/connected. It's an interesting point though that could be explained by an auto electrician who works with Smart alternators.
Probably the best explanation I've ever seen. The myriad of videos aching to show how smart they are usually ends up with viewer confusion. Clear, concise and easy to follow. Thanks a bunch!!!
Great video lots of great information. Joel of you are going to charge a lead acid battery inside your van you need to vent it to the outside because gas that comes from the battery while it's being charged is very explosive and it only takes a spark for it to blow up. The gas is also dangerous to breathe in and you are sleeping right next to it. Be careful.
I also have used red wire for ground wire due to limited materials. Just a tip to help with tracking, take some black electrical tape and put a couple wraps every 6-12 inches along the red line your using for ground. Makes it easier to know what's what and trace lines if needed.
Cheers for this; so many videos on electrical setups for campers take these basics as common knowledge and then go on to explain their setup / amp hour calcs.
Thank you for such a simple explanation, It's so frustrating to watch all these videos about wiring / installing electrical systems from people who don't actually explain how to DIY.
Bookmarked!! I bought a van for riding dirt bike and it came with a leisure battery, I was clueless on how to put a simple fuse block for exactly what you did light,fan,and maybe usb for camera, phone battery. Thank you!
I was getting all sucked into the camper van power systems that i forgot what i was going to use it for, thanks for grounding me and saving me a fortune. ❤️🇮🇪
Thank you for making this easy to follow video tutorial. I've never understood electrics and was confused by leisure batteries, but now I actually understand! Your diagrams and then showing what it looks like in real terms was so helpful. Thank you!
At last. A guy who knows how to teach. You even explained the saftey aspect. Sorry, but there are so many terrible teachers on youtube who show you a big mess of wires and converters and think that people will follow along with that crap. Thank you for the video. For anyone who wants to teach - take notes here guys.
So simple - amazing. You used easy to understand words and diagrams!! I've bought a T5 2004 to convert. I home educate my high school age children and i am using this camper project as a teaching tool also. They loved watching your video and understood better the rules of electrics and safety as you provided a 'real example' as my son said, of over heating and shorting! Good work
Great video for the basic functions (which I think many other videos leave out and/or take for granted that the viewer knows) and for You not being a trained electrician, this was excellently explained. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for the clear and simple diagrams and explanation!! In under 20 minutes I am now ready to build a secondary battery set up in my van. You rock!!
Hi, I am a trained electrician and I teach this subject in college. Your explanations were great, very clear and well explained. Those principals you mention with the cable has to be rated higher than the fuse and the fuse higher than the load is the most important thing for any electrician or anyone installing any electrical equipment. Well done you! With your permission I may use your video in a future lesson in college.
Thank you so much for this video. I watched several videos and none were as easy and complete to understand as yours. The diagrams helped a lot and you take the time to comletely tackle other issues that many other videos missed. I am grateful...
That is the most easy explanation ever! I was completely confused as am totally unaware of the technical terms and men just love assuming everyone knows. Thank you Joel. Am just selling my car to get a Ford Connect Van - not to live in - just for traveling about and also as a car. I feel much more confident now as electrics are very important to me for coolbox etc.
Can’t thank you enough for these videos. You’re an excellent electricity teacher. Spent a few years NOT understanding this. You explain it plainly in 15 minutes. Ahhhh the time I could have saved 😂 and for some reason I understand the British lesson way easier than if an American is teaching it. I think some of the words make way more sense (leisure battery (b)=dual system(a)) plus I enjoy your accent way more than these hicks we have here 😂😂😂 sorry I had to 😝
This opens a good possibility instead of jumping straight into solar and all that it involves, I can start up with this setup it might turn out to be enough, much appreciated!
In my opinion solar is only worth it if you are planning to remain parked for days at a time. As soon as I drive with this setup it charges the battery. Good luck!
This is the way, electrical is explained to the world. Very nice and simple. This information is very close to Me understanding how I'm going to connect my battery to my Alternator 220AMP. Thank You Joel's, nicely done! Hope you get to see my comment, I have a question to ask. in the meantime, Thank You. :-)
red wire negative, don't worry about it ,Vauxhall have used brown for negative and black for positive in many a Corsa and a Combo Van. Great fun when someone takes no notice when you tell them and they try and jump start from it.
I finally understand how the flock this works....I just went through a major starter crisis, (so I thought) after replacing a starter and starter relay I didn't really need, and after pulling out my hair just before lighting the truck on fire, LOL...... A buddy mentioned that if my second battery was not wired properly I could have problems. I disconnected the second (apparently incorrectly wired) the truck fired up like usual. DAMN, it's always the last or simplest things that mess you up. Great video, brother...ordering a relay now.... Thanks
Very simple and informative video mate! Just about to convert my transit connect into a mini stealth camper and this was exactly the information I was looking for!
you'd make an excellent instructor - given that I am a woman with no mechanical experience what so ever - I actually understand what you say :) well done and thank you for this video - subscribed !
Hi Joel, Thank you for the extremely clear explanations and your beautiful video. I learnt what I wanted to know very clearly. Recently I converted my station wagon into a camper and have been doing some car stuff on my own. I have also just subscribed to your channel. Well done, thank you mate :)
Thanks for the video, I have recently bought a vw t25 camper van however all of the lights are run off of the starter battery. I'm already concerned when camping about running the lights for too long. From the video I've worked out in theory that I could disconnect the wire running to the leisure part of the van, put in a 50amp fuse and then continue this to the leisure battery with split charge relay. In theory shouldn't be too difficult. Thanks for your help
Such a good and simple video mate, helped me alot to understand how it all worked rather than the really complicated videos I have seen, I'll have a better idea at what those other videosnare now getting at
Robert Pittam Paintings I have 2 110A leisure batteries in my van. I found that the split charge relays would fail after a year or two. While waiting for replacements, I connected them direct to the car battery (with a fuse on BOTH ends of the cable) One day I realised that this was working perfectly for me. You get THREE batteries to draw on for leisure - and I don't flatten the engine battery because I keep a careful eye on a voltmeter I have on the wall. Thing is - everyone needs to watch their voltage with leisure batteries - because whenever you drop below 12.65 volts you are slowly sulphating and killing your battery! (deep discharge batts excepted). Make sure you have a heavy enough cable and fuses to your leisure batteries because to take their share of engine starting loads.
Ive had 2 vsr and they all back fed from my leisure batteries. I found a battery isolation switch is best. BUT remember to shut it off when you stop travelling.
