General 'Smart' Alternator?

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General 'Smart' Alternator?

Vito61

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Hi

I've got a 2010 2.0 diesel 263 with stop/start technology. I'm looking to charge a leisure battery which I use for my work (window cleaning, water pump).

What sort of split charge relay would I need or do I need some other system?

Comments appreciated. Thanks
 
A towing type Voltage Sensitive Relay (Maypole do a selection) would work, but note that to get any consistent power with a Smart alternator, you may end up having your lights on all the time.
 
Hi,

it is quite easy to build such a circuit yourself by driving a fat relay over ground and D+ from the alternator (85 on ground, 86 on D+). But since circuits like that are cheap to get in China you can get something like that for a fiver: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Relais-12V-Batterie-Trennrelais-EIN-AUS-fur-BOOT-CPKW-AMPING-WOHNMOBIL-120A/143450184023?hash=item21664c1957:g:avEAAOSwFZNd2NFb.
This part will charge your Battery as long as the engine is running. It will cut the charging amperage off when it is not, so your leisure battery keeps unconnected as long as the alternator is not charging.
You must take care of the cables for charging and ground to be big enough.

If you want to build something with a similar ampacity yourself you have to take at least three heavy duty relays (~40 A each). Getting the circuit ready for use for a bit more than a fiver makes building it oneselves superfluous.

Good luck
 
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