Leisure Battery Charger + Battery Monitor Upgrade ( VW T5 ) - Mantis Hacks E22

[@FFND16N]

Great inspiration, Matt & good job! You have 'vetted & verified' the work that I am close to accomplishing: the SAME type hook-up, of an 'Leisure AGM' via the 'CTEK DS250SE', plus a 1000W Inverter in my interior. I've been shoehorning it all inside a Honda CRV...and had to get quite creative; spacing my components about, keeping my runs of 1/0 cable just under 5 & 6ft. length. Hoping to "flip-the-switch" very soon, after I've mounted by 'battr monitor'-unit & all my ground connections.

[@MattDenton]

Thanks. Hope your build goes well 👍

[@grumpywoodiam]

Hi Matt, just about to fit the D250SE along with the Smartpass 120S, I'm wondering if I can fit a 230v charger to the Ctek for when I'm plugged in at camp sites? Thanks for posting a great informative and professional video. Will

[@MattDenton]

Yeah I think you can just add a mains charger to the battery terminals..

[@daforce128]

Hi Matt, well done video and good explanation! So what is your experience with the system so far? Does the battery always get fully charged with the alternator or solar panels?

[@MattDenton]

Hi. Yes good so far! The aux battery fills up then it trickle charges the main battery which is what I wanted as my main battery keeps discharging when left for a while.

[@daforce128]

​@@MattDenton Really liked how you tidied up the almost unused fusebox. I'll do exactly that as well, greetings from Germany

[@MattDenton]

Thanks.. yeah pointless dues box 👍

[@Chris-74]

On your dcdc diagram that you drew, isnt the + & - around the wrong way for leisure output and negative? Solar and Alt are in correct position , but your polarity is displayed differently on diagram.. ( Hope i explained that right ) Please excuse me, not being picky, its a great tutorial as im currently doing my research for my own install, and trying to get my head around it all.. For example im installing an AGM plus i have Smart alternator, so trying to work out correct connection with Black/Red small wires on Ctek.

[@MattDenton]

I'm not sure hat you mean. I've just checked the diagram and it looks correct. If I had + and - switched I think I would have popped fuses... 😬

[@FFND16N]

I think you are referring to his diagram of the CTEK Charger's '+' & '-'-->depicting the 'Leisure Output' & 'Negative' posts, as viewed upon the right-hand 'face' of the CTEK unit itself, as you look at it. Matt's drawn diagram 'switches' their superposition--one over the other...versus HOW they are located on the actual CTEK. Despite that 'illustration error', his ACTUAL wiring & connections of components is 100% spot-'ON!'

[@MattDenton]

AHH that makes sense. Yeah I drew it the easiest way rather than physically correct.

[@greggil3454]

Hi Matt, I came across your tutorial which is exactly what I am trying to to myself so spot on. The only question I have how did you reduce your 125A current from alternator to required 30A for Ctek charger ? did you use any resistor or something else ? thanks

[@MattDenton]

You don't need to. The charger will only take why it needs, the alternator can't force current into it 👍

[@greggil3454]

@@MattDenton ok so 30 amps fuse does the job? Yeah I was figuring that after some time but U would better ask thanks Matt

[@MattDenton]

Yes 👍

[@avinyljunkie]

Hi great video, really useful info. Please can you give the model number of that agm battery?

[@Jabbo6]

Hi Matt I like that setup! What kind of wire sizes did you use? and therefore which size of flat plugs? (those to the fuse box) and for the Solar, is an fuse necessary? i havent found one for an solar cable greetings from switzerland

[@MattDenton]

Hi, It's been so long since I did this let me refresh myself... the 30A lines look like 12AWG, the 125A lines look like 8 or 6AWG...

[@PietroThe99]

Hi, would like to do something like you in vw t5 do you have some pic or video about the cable from the main battery to the leisure one?

[@gazmgow622]

Nice set up, the ctek piece of kit isn’t cheap though. Didn’t you consider just matching your batteries so the split charge would have worked fine? I don’t see a problem with the solar charging both batteries ??

[@MattDenton]

Three issues: 1) if I put a wet cell under the passenger seat it would have to be much smaller capacity as it would need to be upright, the AGM is laid on its side and hence can fit bigger battery in. 2) wet cell batteries can vent gas, not a great idea inside of a living compartment. 3) if ignored the above two and fitted the wet cell anyway, then yes maybe not a huge issue if it’s charging both, but, you really want the leisure battery topped up first so you know when solar is down and the relay switches off you have plenty of capacity. Also, the relay itself is a hefty change over type relay, I expect it’s 2 or 3 watts of wasted power. Ok if the engine is running but a waste of precious solar!

[@gazmgow622]

Matt Denton or you could have used 2 matching leisure batteries? One to start the vehicle, ie main battery and same as a leisure battery. I’m not camper minded, I see you was using/wanting the split charge system to work backwards to how they are designed ie charge main then open relay to charge aux battery. Still....interesting to see what others are doing and nice video

[@jamesfuller201]

Just about to do similar to mine, that many wires make me nervous! Did you consider getting rid of all the vehicle wiring and tucking it under the mat? You would have a lot more room to work. Had to do it revently for a double swivel and its so much nicer with it all tucked out of the way.

[@begibobokhidze2005]

Hello.I have one question and please help me to understand it .I bought CTEK D250SE for my camper. And now I have to choose battery for my system.when I read recomedations of manifactures they said that below 100 ah you need D250SE with SMARTPASS. Cant i have only D250SE for 110 ah battery system?

[@MattDenton]

Tha manual says the D250SE can do 30 to 300AH auxiliary battery so 110 is fine. Smartpass is used for higher capacity batteries from 100 to 800AH

[@swisstony662]

I'm doing exactly same as you soon as I buy a cetex DC charger

[@monkeysausage2404]

So you don't need the relay switch from van battery? I've seen others add the switch before going into the ctek.

[@MattDenton]

You shouldn’t do no. The ctek has an electronic switch built in.

[@tinfoil4x460]

would a switch on the leisure bat side of the vsr not of sorted the problem out of curiosity? im thinking of doing the same but dont want the main bat to leech power with the relay opening like you have encountered

[@MattDenton]

Yes there are some simple solutions but I was looking for a more sophisticated solution

[@tinfoil4x460]

@@MattDenton thanks for the reply , am i right in thinking even with a switch on the vsr agm and lithium bats would still not get a true full charge? im thinking the ctek is the way to go for my build and just want to get things in right the first time. and have a capable charging system with solar aswell not asking to much is it!

[@MattDenton]

Correct. If using an AGM or lithium you will never get a full charge which is why I switched to the CTEK

[@tinfoil4x460]

thanks for helping clear a few things up for me, CTEK is they im going for sure ! 👌👍

[@FourtySixx]

hi there, if you could please help me I would appreciate it, I have the same setup but I think there readings from the display are wrong, is it because I don't have an earth from the leisure battery to the chassis? I just followed the guide and it says to connect one side of shunt to the "load/charger" so i just connected that to the negative on the charger. Should I just ground this to the vehicle chassis instead? i have 3 160w panels in parallel and its saying one amp charging. The only ground I guess currently is from the alternator circuit, I realize this might sound stupid but just a bit confused

[@MattDenton]

You need to have a common ground between batteries and the chassis.

[@lolapanola2748]

Hi, tidy wiring! Where did you connect the smart alternator red wire please?

[@MattDenton]

I think that depends on if you have a smart alternator. What does the manual say?

[@lolapanola2748]

@@MattDenton I have a smart alternator so need to connect to ignition feed. I'm trying to establish if that means on 1st position ignition feed (eg fuse 19) or when the engine is actually running (in case power is taken from leisure battery when starting)

[@RabbitsInBlack]

OMG your car has no steering wheel! LOL

[@MattDenton]

😂

[@StephenStylesGoesVanCamp]

We know it's yours so no need for my my my 👍

[@MoonshineBlack.]

that battery monitor is for a lead acid battery not a AGM.

[@MattDenton]

Doesn't really matter. It recorded current and voltage which is all you need.

[@MoonshineBlack.]

@@MattDenton ah, i dont know too much myself. been looking purchasing one but they all seem to say they re not suitable for agm. i dunno.

[@MattDenton]

Well.. that may be true if you are looking to use the battery percentage feature. This is where the meter takes a guess at how much charge remains in the battery based on its current voltage and capacity. So yes and AGM battery would give you a slightly incorrect reading. However, I only use the monitor to look at the voltage and the current going in and out..

[@MoonshineBlack.]

@@MattDenton Ah i understand. Thanks for the info. I am after a capacity reading metre. Perhaps I am in the wrong place. Thanks again.

[@comfortablynumb8832]

Hi what’s your name

[@MattDenton]

Slim shady..