Relay ticking

[Observer]

Hi all, since installing a new touch screen stereo just after Christmas http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Erisin-ES996G ... 0925421320 a few strange things have happened. (This is wired to the LB and charged from the Willinton kit)

Occasionally when starting from cold, I get the feeling that the crank battery is about to fail and then all of a sudden she spins away and fires.

Recently after a twenty mile trip I sat for several minutes playing with the built in Sat Nav settings to navigate back home and when I turned the key it just grunted and wouldn’t turn over so I had to get a jump start off from someone.

I’ve had a Willinton kit fitted for about 18 months and a new 110 ah LB only last September and the LB has not been used whilst parked up for camping purposes since then. Since last September, I have often checked the charge state of the LB by looking at the built in green indicator and it has always been green but over the last month or so it shows nothing or just ‘clear’

I decided to check the SB leads for tightness and whilst the bonnet was up I tried the starter and listening for the usual click from the Willinton, I was surprised to hear the relay click several times before settling down. I then got someone else to turn the key and I could see the green light on the Willinton relay flashing on and off with every click. When I turn the engine off, there is usual single click after a few seconds.


Does anybody know what could be happening please?

[g8dhe]

The Willinton kits relay is a Voltage Sensitive Relay, it will operate when it sees the S/B voltage exceed about 13.8-14.0 volts, this is the click you hear when the engine starts running and the LED comes on the relay. When the engine shuts off the voltage across the S/B falls after a short while below the voltage that the relay operates at and so you get another click as the LED goes off. Hence the clicking. If it is clicking at different times, then this indicates that the S/B voltage has risen/fallen below the limits and hence the relay operates/released as required.

[Observer]

The Willinton kits relay is a Voltage Sensitive Relay, it will operate when it sees the S/B voltage exceed about 13.8-14.0 volts, this is the click you hear when the engine starts running and the LED comes on the relay. When the engine shuts off the voltage across the S/B falls after a short while below the voltage that the relay operates at and so you get another click as the LED goes off. Hence the clicking. If it is clicking at different times, then this indicates that the S/B voltage has risen/fallen below the limits and hence the relay operates/released as required.

Thanks Geoff, I am used to hearing the relay click once on starting and once on switching off but I am getting several clicks four maybe five on starting - what is it trying to tell me?

[g8dhe]

The voltage on the S/B is going up and down ..... the question is why;
1. Is the alternator happy when it is running are you getting a decent charge?
2. Are all the battery connections, including the earth bonds OK ?
3. Is it just that the S/B needs a decent charge after the Winter, short runs high power requirements little chance for charging maybe ?
Do you have a meter ? Can you measure the voltage across the S/B terminals and see what's happening ?

[Observer]

1. Is the alternator happy when it is running are you getting a decent charge?

Not sure about this how do I tell?

2. Are all the battery connections, including the earth bonds OK ?

All removed and replaced

3. Is it just that the S/B needs a decent charge after the Winter, short runs high power requirements little chance for charging maybe ?

Bongo does 2 x 8 mile trips every week day and then short 1 mile trips at other times

Do you have a meter ? Can you measure the voltage across the S/B terminals and see what's happening

S/b was at 12.3 v before cranking and then whent up to 13.4 when running and strangely there was no rapid clicking this time

[wonkanoby]

I would start with putting both batteries on a charger over night

as your not doing enough to put charge back in one battery let alone both

[g8dhe]

Bongo does 2 x 8 mile trips every week day and then short 1 mile trips at other times

That's could be the answer, insufficient time to charge the Starter battery and/or the L/B.
Measuring the current drain during starting and then the charging on my V6 suggests that a minimum of a 15 minute run at 30mph or above is needed to replace the charge. I normally suggest a 20 minute run on a dual carriageway as the simplest description.

[Observer]

Thanks both I'll sort it over the coming weekend