split charge relay & sediment and charging warning light

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:38 am

Good morning Bongoers. Has anyone experience of this?: just had our split charge relay replaced and now the sediment and charging warning lights come on very dimly when driving. Disconnecting the split charge relay turns them off but of course we want the relay to charge our leisure battery.
Is the 'fault' with the relay just that it brings up these warning lights or is there more I need to do? As I mentioned the warning lights are dim which may suggest a gremlin rather than an actual fault... .

mojo

Veg_Ian · Post by **Veg_Ian** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:44 am

No doubt you've spliced into the sensor feed for the alternator? I had the same problem when I did mine. I forget the technicalities but taking the feed for your relay from here upsets the voltage on the line and causes the lights to glow. I added a VSR to my setup so that the feed to the relay now comes from the battery.

Rkkibongo · Post by **Rkkibongo** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:56 am

The same happens with mine. It doesn't seem to cause any harm. I think someone has already come up with a technical explanation of this. Have you tried searching the forum?

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 8:21 am

Thanks very much indeed guys. There was a bit of panic here this morning when we discovered this issue as we're taking our young family to France at dawn tomorrow and don't fancy spending our annual hols at the mechanique(?!).
I did search the forums for solutions but didn't find anything about the relay (just suggestions to replace the alternator, which happily isn't the problem here). Maybe I need to fit a VSR Veg_Ian - what is it though?
Or maybe I can just ignore the dimly glowing lights - have you been doing the same for a while Rkkibongo?
I forgot to mention that I had to replace the leisure battery as the previous relay had allowed the old battery to completely discharge/die. So the new batt is still conditioning itself and drawing more from the alternator.
Once again - many thanks.

mojo

Veg_Ian · Post by **Veg_Ian** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 9:28 am

You don't really have time to be messing if you are leaving tomorrow but be aware that the glowing warning lights may mask any real problem that could arise. Personally I would take a chance. As for the new leisure battery, I would disconnect it from the van and leave it on mains charge all day to ensure you at least start off with everything tip top.

A VSR - voltage sensing relay can be bought for a few quid. Corblimey's written an easy to follow factsheet on the subject which explains all.

corblimey · Post by **corblimey** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 10:32 am

Hi guys

Search on ebay for this item 220141302915. Unfortunately Willinton (the seller) doesn't have any on the go at the moment. Perhaps you could contact him as he puts them on regularly so he must have a supply.

Willinton, if you're reading this, where's my commission

Here are my fitting instructions http://www.instructables.com/id/EHJ8Q4LF0FI39R8/ In there I list another vsr which is suitable although it does have one slight drawback (which is documented). I have one fitted to my van at the moment and have had no problems so far but I have just got myself one of Willinton's to replace it with.

HTH

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 3:04 pm

Thanks to all who've come back with helpful suggestions. I've decided to let things stand for now - alternator is working fine and charging all (starter-winter-leisure) batts but I will of course post any updates which might be useful.

Best

mojo

corblimey · Post by **corblimey** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 3:12 pm

Have a great holiday Mojo.

Rkkibongo · Post by **Rkkibongo** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:05 am

mojo wrote: Or maybe I can just ignore the dimly glowing lights - have you been doing the same for a while Rkkibongo?

About a year!

Border T · Post by **Border T** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:50 pm

Sorry for late reply Mojo but just needed to confirm we have had the same dim sediment light now since the day the bongo was converted 3 years ago. No problems at all during this time ,just glad to hear that we are not the only ones with this oddity.