A simple cheap DIY 12V campervan Chassis battery maintainer

[@CriftinsCampers]

One thing I forgot to mention, when connecting any form of charger to a chassis battery, there is always the possibility that any existing archaic VSR or more intelligent DC-DC/B2B charger will also switch on once the chassis battery rises above that devices trigger threshold. If this happens then simply remember to isolate the VSR or DC-DC/B2B. In my own van I use the engine running D+ signal to switch on my Sterling BB1260 so it only comes on when the engine is running

[@Dirt-Diggler]

Cool 😎 Well explained Keith 👍

[@CriftinsCampers]

Thanks

[@allandevaux4123]

Interesting video, thanks. I had a quick look at the Votronic standby unit but it specifically says not to mix lithium and lead acid/flooded batteries. Do you know why this would be please, and would the method you show here work with lithium leisure and lead acid chassis battery? Thanks

[@CriftinsCampers]

Lithium is fine for trickle charging a lead acid battery my AMT12-2 is effectively doing exactly that, in fact it is better because it sits at around 13.2v virtually permanently when not being charged, so allowing for the volt drop across a diode the lead acid will be maintained at a healthy 12.5-12.6v even overnight. Then when solar kicks in the lead acid battery voltage will rise in proportion to the higher charge voltage to the Lithium same as in my demonstration so is then effectively on float. Perhaps the Votronic docs meant do not physically connect lithium and lead acid directly together in parallel. This can have undesirable effects and as an aside it's never a good idea to use an Archaic split charge relay with Lithium! FYI in recent years many people have started experimenting with hybrid Lithium/Lead Acid Auxiliary battery banks but that an entire topic on its own!

[@Dirt-Diggler]

How did you get on with the android head unit? I had to unplug my canbus decoder otherwise the dam thing drew a constant 2A.

[@CriftinsCampers]

I haven’t decided what’s going in the Daily yet, I have an Xtrons in the Crafter, it’s ok ish it draws about 25mA when off. Like all these units the screen isn’t bright enough in sunlight, apps don’t always display properly in landscape and the touch screen controls are dangerous or impossible to try and use when driving. I may use a normal BT head unit with proper knobs on and a normal phone mount for google maps. I don’t have steering wheel controls in either van which doesn’t help either!

[@Dirt-Diggler]

@CriftinsCampers I think my canbus decoder was faulty, I lost remote CL with it plugged in ? But the reverse camera triggered OK, I use manual triggering with feed off the Phnx system, I think inane is an atoto 4 with proper buttons and a volume lnob 👌 not really a touch screen fan tbh, personally I think they're dangerous and distracting but it's handy for the cams I spose.