Technical Battery Master

[Joe Anderson]

Hi All,
Has anybody fitted a Van Bitz battery master to a Fiat Ducato Autotrail Imala 730HB motorhome.

 

[Mike1alike]

I haven't...

 

[Jockstrap]

Happy New Year Joe .

Like Mike, nor me.

However, might help if you could be more specific in your reason for the question.

 

[brokendonkey]

its a motorhome battery charger, so when the van is on hookup or has a solar charger connected to the leisure battery it detects when that is charged and puts some charge into the vans actual battery. tbh 1 amp feed sounds a bit rubbish. think i would look at the cheaper knock off ones.

 

[Mike1alike]

tbh 1 amp feed sounds a bit rubbish

It really does!

 

[Communicator]

its a motorhome battery charger, so when the van is on hookup or has a solar charger connected to the leisure battery it detects when that is charged and puts some charge into the vans actual battery. tbh 1 amp feed sounds a bit rubbish. think i would look at the cheaper knock off ones.

It is only meant to be a trickle charger to keep the starter battery topped up when the vehicle is laid up. I seem to remember that a charge rate equal to 1% of rated capacity should suffice to maintain a FLA battery in good condition. However there may be an alarm draining the battery.....

 

[Mike1alike]

However there may be an alarm draining the battery...

Or any other consumer...
Check the amperage while car is 'parked'.

 

[Googlebot]

I have one and it’s great.

Usually wired by the B2B charger where all the cables gather anyway.

More than 1 amp just means both batteries end up flat, so it’s ideal and exactly how it’s designed.

I haven’t ever heard of one playing up or breaking, get a cheap one by all means but be prepared to do it twice.

 

[theoneandonly]

It is only meant to be a trickle charger to keep the starter battery topped up when the vehicle is laid up. I seem to remember that a charge rate equal to 1% of rated capacity should suffice to maintain a FLA battery in good condition. However there may be an alarm draining the battery.....

Totaly agree there are many Battery master owners would also agree, me I haven't got one but a Votronics duo MPPT solar charger that has a default FLA second battery charge at 1A, irrelative if the primary is set to Li as has been sufficient for over 5 yrs. But as suggested if a real parasitic draw (alarms and Pioneer radios a favourite) it may not be enough.

 

[Joe Anderson]

I have one and it’s great.

Usually wired by the B2B charger where all the cables gather anyway.

More than 1 amp just means both batteries end up flat, so it’s ideal and exactly how it’s designed.

I haven’t ever heard of one playing up or breaking, get a cheap one by all means but be prepared to do it twice.

Hi,
I have an Autotrail Imala 730HB motorhome and looking to fit the battery master. Do you have any photos of the connections please. Thanks in advance.

 

[jackwhoo]

Hi,
I have an Autotrail Imala 730HB motorhome and looking to fit the battery master. Do you have any photos of the connections please. Thanks in advance.

Hi,
Given the value of your moho and the potential for causing a fire if you dont know what you are doing get it fitted by a professional.

You havent given any info about your current battery controller system which also worries me regarding ability to alter electric system.

Maybe a stand alone trickle charger connected to starter battery would be more viable for you?

Regards
Jack

 

[Joe Anderson]

Hi,
Given the value of your moho and the potential for causing a fire if you dont know what you are doing get it fitted by a professional.

You havent given any info about your current battery controller system which also worries me regarding ability to alter electric system.

Maybe a stand alone trickle charger connected to starter battery would be more viable for you?

Regards
Jack

Thanks for your concern but I am more than capable of fitting the battery master to my PSU. Just wanted to see where others have fitted them.

 

[Communicator]

Joe,
I am sorry but you have perhaps unintentionally been economical with the facts. My research informs me that your Imala is probably fitted with Sargent electrical distribution systems. I have extracted the appropriate diagram from the manual and attached it below. As you should be aware you need to connect to fused starter, and habitation batteries. Sargent are consistent with their wiring colours, with brown/green (NG) being the vehicle or starter battery, and brown/blue (NU) being the habitation battery, and white/orange (WO) being earth. The only places where these circuits are presented together are at the EC176 PSU, which has plug in connections, and at the Solar option if fitted. If the solar option is fitted and connects with the starter battery, then why do you need a battery master? However the solar option unit shown above the regulator may be the best option for making tidy connections to a battery master. I am wondering whether if you do not have the solar option fitted, provision may have been made for it in the wiring? If so, then you should be exploring a suitable location in the immediate vicinity.

 

[Googlebot]

Hi,
I have an Autotrail Imala 730HB motorhome and looking to fit the battery master. Do you have any photos of the connections please. Thanks in advance.

Hi, I am afraid not. I am not familiar with that system.

You might get someone who can help over on Motorhomefun or Communicator has given you a head start.