Split charge relays

corblimey · Post by **corblimey** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 6:58 pm

Oh no, here we go again!

I know this has been done to death but I can't find what I'm after and I'm sure someone before me has already done the leg work.

Where can I get a suitable spec auto sensing relay from? I've seen the ones from towsure but from reading previous threads I understand that they don't have a high enough current rating.

Any help appreciated

Thanks

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 7:53 pm

Try this guy. I bought my large battery tray from him. He is fitting / has fitted a large leisure battery to his own Ford Freda and I have found him v helpful in email dialogue.

Mike

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... &rd=1&rd=1

corblimey · Post by **corblimey** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 8:27 pm

Hi Mike

I too have just purchased a tray from him and it arrived today. It looks just the ticket. He's a Bongo Fury member too but I don't know if he lurks on the forums or not. You're right he is very helpful and has in fact sent me one of his relay drivers to test.

Seeing as I still need to source a suitable relay I figure if I can get an auto sensing one I may as well. Also it will make the whole wiring job so much simplier.

BTW have you fitted your beemer clock yet? I did mine on Sunday and have taken a load of photos with the intention of writing a howto. If you're interested let me know.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 10:54 pm

I'll PM you my email address corblimey. I owe Gozzy a big thanks for selling me the clock (if you are reading this Gozz). I installed it a few weeks back but the bulb seemed to be duff. So I owe another big thanks to Pippin who sent me a replacement. Since my Xmas hols ended I'm back to family duties and work and cant get on with the Bongo at any decent rate. But I really want to find the best instrument light feed to take the BMW clock light off (one that is easy to reach - could use advice on how you did it).

I'm also puzzled about the left hand drive / right hand drive debate on these clocks. It really seems possible to me that you could mounted the unit 'upside down' and it would make do difference becuase of the design of the clock face (which doesnt show 12.00 and 6.00 if you get me).

Turning back to the leisure battery thing, I would really like someone to put together all the bits and all the foolproof instructions you need to install one and to rewire the Bongo accessories etc. through the LB but without interfering with the wiring loom any more than necessary (I recall someone got tiny spade connectors and put them on the back of the fuse box to reroute the feed or somesuch). Interested to hear how you manage to do it.

Mike

Yamaha · Post by **Yamaha** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 11:14 pm

Hi Corblimey

A while ago I was also wondering where to get a decent high current sensing relay - then I discovered this one:-

http://www.redarc.com.au/smartstart-techspec.pdf

I did have to get it from Oz - but it arrived in about a fortnight, about £42 if my memory serves me right.

You would still need to source the heavy cable, and 60A fuses and holders locally - but it seems a great bit of kit.

Mike

corblimey · Post by **corblimey** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 11:49 am

Hi

Glider Mike: A picture of my clock wiring is here http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... c&start=75

I stuck it to the end of that thread cos it seemed more helpful if someone were to search for it. As for turning the clock up side down, can't see why it should make any difference to it's operation. Can't see the advantage either though?

Microlight Mike: Thanks for that. Looks ideal, shame about the price and location though. I'll have to ponder that before jumping in. I assume that you wired it up and all worked well and as expected?

Regards

Glenn

pippin · Post by **pippin** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 10:29 pm

The clock will work upside down, but the DIN holder thingy will not look quite right upside down.

dandywarhol · Post by **dandywarhol** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 12:12 am

pippin wrote:The clock will work upside down, but the DIN holder thingy will not look quite right upside down.

I suppose you could always put velcro onto everything that'll fit into the cubbybox - or maybe keep a pet bat in there..........................

corblimey · Post by **corblimey** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 12:46 am

Yeah my point exactly, not much point. Although I do like the idea of the little bats!

Just got an email from the Auzzies re the Smart Start; no UK distributors but they can ship for £43 at the current exchange rate.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 1:02 am

I only mention it as some purchasers were miffed that their clock was LHS and not RHS as shown in the (ebay?) pic. It may be it was posed for the camera upside down!?!?! As long as I get my little light working (and thanks again corblimey) I dont give a s**t

corblimey · Post by **corblimey** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 9:26 am

Hi Mike

I take it that the wiring photo helped clarify things for you.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 1:44 pm

Very much so corblimey and my sincere thanks (thought I'd PMd thanks to you but my memory as largely AWOL these days) - simple, clear, to the point, and with a pic. I'll post something once I've done the job (on Saturday if She Who.... will allow me).

Ian - factsheet or sommat on BMW clock fitting? Could you tempt coblimey to write up an idiots guide to leisure battery installation from all the bits on BF that I pasted together + his own experience. Otherwise I'll just have to shut my eyes and plunge in

Thanks again corblimey

Mike

Post by **Ian** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 2:15 pm

I haven't the time at the moment to write any more factsheets, other than the 4 I've got lined up already (changing bulbs, awnings 2007, roofbeds, CV boot replacement), but if one of you gentlemen would care to write one, I'm sure the Bongo community at large would appreciate it lots!

corblimey · Post by **corblimey** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 6:33 pm

I took a load of pics when I fitted the clock with the specific intention of writing a howto.

I intend to do the same with my leisure battery install but I'm not sure when I'll be starting that because I haven't sourced all the parts yet (hence this thread).

There is only one caveat to all this, time. What with cycling, learning the piano, bongoing, running my own business, baby on the way.... well you get the picture. Anyway, I'll endeavour to do my best.

Back to the thread....

Seems to me that so far Yamaha's found the best solution for the job, if only it cost £25 and could be delivered in 2 days not 2 weeks then it would be the perfect choice. Still, I might go with one of these if I can't source a similar product over here. I know that it would be cheaper to fit a lesser spec smartcom to drive a beefier relay as some have already successfully done or indeed to fit the alternator relay driver I've been given but I want simple.

IMO one of the reasons this topic keeps reappearing is because the split charging issue doesn't seem to have a simple, definitive and cost effective answer (although I think Yamaha has come the closest).

Sterling Power do have 70A MOSFET driven "split charge diodes" http://www.sterling-power.com/htm/di.htm for £35 (inc p&p) which is an option but you need to rewire the alternator feed.

The hunt continues....

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 8:03 pm

corblimey - I reckon your sheet and pic on BMW clock is almost all thats needed if Ian was happy to plonk it up as an FAQ! Ian - you have loads on, didnt mean to pester you