Split Charge Diode

Seanieke

Hi,
Is there anywhere in Dublin/Meath that would sell (cheap) split charge diodes?

stapeler

Only places I'm familiar with is Maynooth Motorhomes or Charles Camping in Blessington. Don't know if they're cheap though.

joncollier

Are you sure you want a diode? and not a relay? If its a relay for split charging a 40amp automotive one will do. Try Maplin

Seanieke

Pretty sure it's a diode, more relyable. it's charging a 190Ah battery

Seanieke

stapeler wrote: »

Only places I'm familiar with is Maynooth Motorhomes or Charles Camping in Blessington. Don't know if they're cheap though.

Thanks, I'll give Maynooth a try.

Aidan_M_M

A Heavy duty relay is more reliable . I use them all the time , for years .

Seanieke

Aidan_M_M wrote: »

A Heavy duty relay is more reliable . I use them all the time , for years .

So just take a feed in from the altenator, out to the battery, what signal do I use to trigger the relay?

joncollier

Hi, the small wire from the alternator is called the "D+" this can be used as the switching feed to the relay, other connections can come from the vehicle battery. Maybe you should google split charge relay wiring for a diagram.

Seanieke

joncollier wrote: »

Hi, the small wire from the alternator is called the "D+" this can be used as the switching feed to the relay, other connections can come from the vehicle battery. Maybe you should google split charge relay wiring for a diagram.

Great, thanks for that! Bring on the christmas holidays and the chance to instal the sysetm!

pandos

Why a diode? a relay is, as far as I know the normal way in a camper.

Diodes cause a voltage loss and whilst I have one on my boat, it is used in a circuit where you have the possibility of starting the engine from the domestic battery bank.

In any case you would get one from motor factors or marine outlets but expect to pay money for one either way.

I intend to fit two automotive relays with fuses, adjacent to the engine battery, one wired to the fridge and one wired to charge the batteries, I did this in my previous camper and it worked fine for years.

We had 200 amps in the domestic bank but the critical issue is how much the alternator will actually push out and how much charge the batteries will actually pull in.

Fuse needs to be rated to protect the wire you actually use.

Seanieke

I've no real preferance as to what system I use, I just figured since a diode system would be more modern than a relay system it would be better, then again the relay system is less of a dark arts plus the diode needs .7 of an amp before it breaks down?! I think....

joncollier

An automotive relay is about €5 or less and will do the job perfectly, I use them in all of my conversions.