Charging technology is always expensive, especially when it comes to smart alternators. You normally find these fitted to later vehicles from around 2015 onwards, to meet emissions or other regulations (Typically late EURO 5 and EURO 6, or vehicles with stop/start, ad-blue, or regenerative braking).
Traditional DC-DC or B2B charging kits can sometimes be over 10 times the price of a standard split charge kit, but we've put this kit together to try and make this technology a little more affordable.
How does the unit work?
Very simply, the voltage range from a smart alternator can be very wide compared to a standard one. For example, around 12V and sometimes exceeding 15V, clearly neither of these are suitable for charging a leisure battery.
What the DC-DC unit does it convert these voltages to a more stable and constant one to provide an efficient and reliable charge to your leisure battery.
In addition the battery charging is provided in three stages - Bulk, Absorption, & Float (Depending on battery technology).
When using Lithium, the unit also has a reactivation feature for batteries in a low state of charge.
Will it work in my van?
Not only will this kit work with smart alternators, it'll also work with standard ones too. It'll provide a more stable and reliable charge to your leisure battery (extending life & available capacity) over a traditional voltage sensitive relay kit. It'll also allow you to run lithium battery technology.
Such vans as the below will normally have a smart alternator fitted, but if you're not sure, or your van isn't listed, please just drop us a message and we should be able to confirm its technology.
- Late Volkswagen Transporter T5.1
- Volkswagen Transporter T6
- Volkswagen Transporter T6.1
- Ford Transit Custom
- Late Ford Transit
- Late Mercedes Sprinter
- Late Volkswagen Crafter
What battery technology does it support?
You can use this DC-DC kit to charge the following battery types, you just need to select the correct settings on the dip switches.
- Sealed lead acid
- Flooded lead acid
- AGM
- Gel
- Lithium
What's in the kit?
- 20A DC to DC battery to battery charger (Adjustable to 10A for smaller batteries/battery banks)
- 3M/5M/10M 16mm2 Red hi-flex battery cable
- 2M 16mm2 Black hi-flex battery cable
- 5M 1.5mm2 Ignition trigger wire cable
- 1 X Positive leisure battery terminal (8mm post)
- 1 X Positive leisure battery terminal (8mm post)
- 2 X PVC battery terminal covers
- 2 X Bolt down MIDI fuse holders
- 2 X 30AMP MIDI fuses
- 3 X 16mm2 8mm Hole copper crimp terminals
- 11 X 16mm2 6mm Hole copper crimp terminals
- 8 X 70mm Red heat shrink sleeve
- 6 X 70mm Black heat shrink sleeve
- 20 X Self adhesive cable tie bases
- 20 X Cable ties
- Wired battery temperature sensor (optional)
What's the optional battery temperature sensor?
The DC-DC unit can come with an optional temperature sensor, it simply plugs into the RJ11 port and the probe placed in contact with your leisure battery.
With this sensor fitted, it will monitor the temperature of your leisure battery and adjust the charging rate in line with the battery temperature. For example if you battery was very cold it would increase the output.
The unit will work without the sensor, its just an option should you want it as it may increase battery life and maximise capacity.
Depending on stock, this will be either a single probe (pictured) or a probe mounted inside a ring terminal.
Please note, a temperature sensor should not be used with lithium batteries due to internal BMS used in this technology.
Technical specification
- Transformation - 12V > 12V
- Input battery voltage - 8V > 16VDC
- Charging current - 10/20A
- Lead acid charging voltage - 13.2V > 14.7V
- Lithium charging voltage - 12.6V > 14.6V
- Efficiency - 90%
