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Post by bigboack on Dec 20, 2012 20:03:29 GMT
Jess i think from memory its wired wrong that may be why you are getting a flat battery, which battery is getting flat,is it your leisure or starter.
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Post by whitevanwoman on Dec 20, 2012 20:04:53 GMT
Its a CD / MP3 /USB /bluetooth fancy stereo thing. I've got loads of 5A glass fuses for the cig sockets, but no inline fuseholder for them, but I have loads of flat square blade fuses and I think I have a spare inline fuseholder for that, so could I use that instead? Which type of fuse is better and why?
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Post by n brown on Dec 20, 2012 20:04:53 GMT
no 12v feed needed
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Post by bigboack on Dec 20, 2012 20:08:46 GMT
Its a CD / MP3 /USB /bluetooth fancy stereo thing. I've got loads of 5A glass fuses for the cig sockets, but no inline fuseholder for them, but I have loads of flat square blade fuses and I think I have a spare inline fuseholder for that, so could I use that instead? Which type of fuse is better and why? yes you could use a flatblade fuse its personal preference really, a glass fuse will blow quicker though, a 5amp blade fuse would be fine.
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Post by bigboack on Dec 20, 2012 20:09:20 GMT
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Post by Oldish Hippy on Dec 20, 2012 20:14:06 GMT
it is here vernon
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Post by whitevanwoman on Dec 20, 2012 20:15:46 GMT
Jess it think from memory its wired wrong that may be why you are getting a flat battery, which battery is getting flat,is it your leisure or starter. Both went flat after standing for a month whilst being MOT'd. But I think that if the fuse between the Smartcom and the vehicle battery had blown, that would mean that as the leisure battery was discharging whilst standing, it was taking power from the vehicle battery, wouldn't it? So that would account for the flat vehicle battery, which has happened a couple of times now. When I got it back from MOT both batteries were 11.8v within a couple of days (I knew the leisure battery was flat but the garage had charged up the vehicle battery so that had gone flat again very quickly) so I charged them both back up, and disconnected the leisure battery from the vehicle battery and haven't had any problems with the vehicle battery since, apart from losing all power on turning over the ignition, but that's a different problem, a loose connection with the main battery and is easily solved by wiggling the wire:-0 I also think that is why the coil light has come on a couple of times whilst driving. After a good wiggle, it doesn't come on again. I know that needs sorting but it's lower down the priority pile on the jobs to do list. I want to get the elecs sorted before I go away next week otherwise it'll be miserable without light and power etc. I reckon I can sort it so long as you can tell me what wire should go where.
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Post by Firefox on Dec 20, 2012 20:20:09 GMT
You should have bigger than 10A fuse in between leisure battery and smartcom. 10A will keep on blowing when charging starts if leisure battery is a bit flat. Originally we put in 15A or 25A I can't remember which but 25A would be fine. It will deal with starting up charge, and the cable is rated at about 60A so you'll be fine.
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Post by bigboack on Dec 20, 2012 20:23:23 GMT
the wire from starter battery is in wrong place on the smartcom, it should be on the opposite side next to neg input. then the feed to the leisure battery goes to the 12v perm+ thats why your getting flat battery.
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Post by bigboack on Dec 20, 2012 20:24:01 GMT
You should have bigger than 10A fuse in between leisure battery and smartcom. 10A will keep on blowing when charging starts if leisure battery is a bit flat. Originally we put in 15A or 25A I can't remember which but 25A would be fine. It will deal with starting up charge, and the cable is rated at about 60A so you'll be fine. 20amp both sides of smartcom
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Post by whitevanwoman on Dec 20, 2012 20:25:46 GMT
You should have bigger than 10A fuse in between leisure battery and smartcom. 10A will keep on blowing when charging starts if leisure battery is a bit flat. Originally we put in 15A or 25A I can't remember which but 25A would be fine. It will deal with starting up charge, and the cable is rated at about 60A so you'll be fine. It's probably more than 10A then, I didn't look at the size, I just did it by colour, a green one was in which had blown, so the green one came out and another green one went back it. So it should be the same as whatever we originally put back into it. I thought it was 10A but thinking about it now, you're right, it was much higher, can't remember what size though. It may well have blown as a result of jump starting the van when the vehicle battery was dead, using a portable power pack.
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Post by Firefox on Dec 20, 2012 20:30:03 GMT
This year I have replaced 3 x 15A fuses that had blown in split charge circuits.
I think it is fine if you have a solar panel to keep the leisure battery topped up, but what happens is people don't use their vans for a few weeks, the leisure gets low from natural discharge, and then it blows on the initial start up charge. Or it is a second hand battery which naturally gets very low after a bit of use. Then on initial starting up the charging current can be 20-30 amps and bang goes the fuse.
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Post by whitevanwoman on Dec 20, 2012 20:31:51 GMT
You should have bigger than 10A fuse in between leisure battery and smartcom. 10A will keep on blowing when charging starts if leisure battery is a bit flat. Originally we put in 15A or 25A I can't remember which but 25A would be fine. It will deal with starting up charge, and the cable is rated at about 60A so you'll be fine. 20amp both sides of smartcom Ok, I'll get some more inline blade fuseholders then. Although if anyone is going to RH and is passing a Maplins on the way, please could you pick me a few up, probably 3, as even if I order some online tonight they probably won't arrive until after I've left next week. I don't think I'll be going back into Kendal this side of Christmas but if I do, I'll nip into Halfords for some.
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Post by whitevanwoman on Dec 20, 2012 20:36:16 GMT
the wire from starter battery is in wrong place on the smartcom, it should be on the opposite side next to neg input. then the feed to the leisure battery goes to the 12v perm+ thats why your getting flat battery. So the double red wire in the 12v perm live O/P socket should go in the 12v fused I/P socket. And the double red wire in the Aux Batt O/P socket should go in the 12v perm live O/P and there should be a 20A fuse in that wire too. Have I understood correctly?
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Post by Firefox on Dec 20, 2012 20:39:34 GMT
I confirm that wire from starter battery should go on opposite side of smartcom into 12v fused input socket as Andrew says.
We didn't wire it up like as shown on your diagram originally. I think I still have the smartcom wiring instructions somewhere which you can have for your file!
(The other 20/25A fuse on the leisure battery side is not in the smartcom instructions but it is better practice - it's in case the wire comes out of the smartcom or off the leisure battery and happens to touch an earth - in which case the fuse will blow instead of that wire getting hot, so "belt and braces" but it is best practice)
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Post by bigboack on Dec 20, 2012 20:42:53 GMT
yup thats about it, 20amp fuse either side protects the smartcom. i have a wiring diagram somewhere If i can find it, also there might be a diagram on the underneath of the smartcom from what i remember.
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Post by bigboack on Dec 20, 2012 20:44:52 GMT
Living up in Carnforth now so if you want to pop down i can sort it for you.
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Post by n brown on Dec 20, 2012 20:51:17 GMT
sorry,there is no 12v feed to heater as wvw seemed to think as it only has a manual piezo sparker
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Post by Firefox on Dec 20, 2012 20:52:27 GMT
And the double red wire in the Aux Batt O/P socket should go in the 12v perm live O/P and there should be a 20A fuse in that wire too. Have I understood correctly? No the double red wire in the aux battery output socket, going to the leisure battery is in the correct place. If you put it in the permanent live o/p socket the aux battery will be permanently connected to the starter battery. It will not be isolated when you park up which is not what you want. The starter battery will be drained when you are camping. A 20/25Amp fuse in that wire is not in the wiring instructions (I don't recall) but is best practice
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Post by bigboack on Dec 20, 2012 21:07:33 GMT
Dont do anything yet Jess, we will get it sorted!!! I'll look at mine tomorrow.
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Post by whitevanwoman on Dec 20, 2012 21:17:26 GMT
confused.com!!! I'm beginning to wonder if I've drawn the diagram wrong now :-(
BigB, are you at BLS this weekend? And if so, would you like to earn yourself a packet of choc hobnobs? I'll PM you with my mobile number. Don't worry if you're too busy, it can wait till next week and I can get someone to have a look at it at the NY meet.
Firefox, you git! That's where the instructions are! I've been searching high and low for them. It's not like me to be so disorganised as to not put them in the "Instructions" folder which I keep in my van!
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Post by whitevanwoman on Dec 20, 2012 21:19:03 GMT
sorry,there is no 12v feed to heater as wvw seemed to think as it only has a manual piezo sparker Phew! that's a relief! I thought it might need an elec connection for ignition. Sorting that will be simples in comparison!
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Post by Oldish Hippy on Dec 20, 2012 21:26:54 GMT
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Post by Firefox on Dec 20, 2012 21:32:24 GMT
I told you I had the instructions and offered to post them. You said you didn't need them at the moment! Never mind I'll scan and post the pdf
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Post by bigboack on Dec 20, 2012 21:36:33 GMT
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Post by whitevanwoman on Dec 20, 2012 21:38:29 GMT
I told you I had the instructions and offered to post them. You said you didn't need them at the moment! Never mind I'll scan and post the pdf Did you? Did I? I don't remember and it's unlike me to write off the instructions of something I will probably need the instructions for in the future. I do remember them getting wet and presumed they'd been chucked.
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Post by whitevanwoman on Dec 20, 2012 21:43:12 GMT
Right, if I get time I will double check my wiring diagram tomorrow in case I've drawn it wrong and will get some photos. Then I'll rewire it properly as per the links above and take photos. My head is spinning now with another problem I thought was solved and I can't think straight, too many wires, fuses, different comments etc so I'm getting very confused.
If I've got a spare inline fuseholder, which is the highest priority - a fuse between smartcom and leisure battery, or a fuse between stereo and leisure battery?
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Post by bigboack on Dec 20, 2012 21:45:53 GMT
"If in doubt always cut the Blue one", famous film quote anyone know which film
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Post by Oldish Hippy on Dec 20, 2012 21:46:50 GMT
dont forget to earth it if it not fixed down run two earth one to battery and one to metal on bodywork
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Post by bigboack on Dec 20, 2012 21:52:09 GMT
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