Clicking Willinton Relay

[New Forest Terrier]

Hi all.

Expert advice needed. I have a Willinton split charge relay which is making a steady clicking sound, bit like the indicator tick but slower and louder. There is also a green light flashing behind the relay.

I have a long journey coming up with little time to find an auto electrician. Is there a quick fix, like an easily replaceable relay or is it a new kit? Also will it strand me if I cannot get it fixed in time. Everything is working from both batteries but it just sounds ominous.

All advice appreciated. Thanks

[Simon Jones]

Mine did that for a while and it turned out to be a connection inside that came unsoldered. Worst case it's not charging but if you are going to be on hookup it's not such a problem. It's a standard Nagares relay but with a small circuit in the top of the casing with is sealed in place with stuff known as potting compound so it is completely moisture-proof. The base of the relay can be prised out which will allow the solder joints to be checked.

[New Forest Terrier]

Thanks Simon

Hopefully this is a bad case of finger trouble. After I had posted I went to get the shopping out of the Bongo and heard the unmistakable hum of the fridge. It was switched on and obviously had been since I came back from the Bash on Monday. It was a slow hot run with the usual road closure and queue at Cricklade. The fridge was on, and tired and hot I must have unloaded it without switching it off.

The frantic clicking was the Willinton trying to recharge the leisure battery, against the fridge setting off full belt once it recovered a bit.

Idiocy prize next bash?

[Dodgey]

I contacted the maker with the same problem and he repaired it for free as long as I paid the postage. Top man!

[nth]

I contacted the maker with the same problem and he repaired it for free as long as I paid the postage. Top man!

I had the same clicking issue, I did the same trying to contact the seller (several times by email & via ebay) but I never even got a response. wasn't looking to get it replaced for free or anything as the kit was in the bongo when I bought it, was only looking to buy a replacement relay off him. Ended up fining one on ebay eventually.

[Simon Jones]

Unfortunately, Willinton (AKA Martin Bird) no longer supplies the relays, battery trays or wiring kits so he may not be offering support on them any more.

[g8dhe]

How often and at what rate is the relay clicking ? It can be a normal function, where the voltage on the disconnected SB side rises above the trigger level when the LB is disconnected but falls below the drop-pout voltage once it is connected, this normally only happens for a few minutes after stopping or removing a charging source.

[nth]

Mines was totally random, could happen at any point in a journey & any length of time, i replaced my relay nearly a year ago & never had a bit of trouble with it since. At the same time I also fitted an isolator switch between the positives of both batteries with heavy cable as an emergency backup to link the batteries incase the relay fails again & also doubles as a jump starting switch .