Drovers new Rig - "Big Mal"

[Drover]

Dug around and found some instalation instructions for your TS1500 and the wiring schematic is virtually the same as the Breaksafe, so connecting the van 12v to the black wire which is from the tug via the 12pin is the way to go as it appears to have the same trickle charger installed, I wouldn't connect the van supply to the 240v charger input as that would shunt the full power into the battery .......... I notice the later Model TS2000 has done away with the battery and now connects direct to van battery.......
You don't want to connect anything that requires charging direct to a battery as the power needs to be regulated so the unit needing charging basically doesn't melt.....

 

[Boots in Action]

Sorry, I have been using the wrong name for the breakaway device fitted to my Jayco. It is actually a TOW SECURE TS1500 unit. It came with a small 230v switch-mode plug pack that provides 15v DC @ 1A to charge the 7Ah battery whilst the caravan is connected to 230v AC. The end of the lead from the plug pack is inserted into a connector lead protruding out of the TOW SECURE control unit. What I was thinking of doing is replacing the 15v DC output from the plug pack with a feed from the lithium house battery (approx 13.34v - though voltage will vary a little up and down from that within the setting limits of the solar controller and BMS systems). Anybody see problems with trickle charging the 12v 7Ah SLA battery using that? That way I wouldn't have to worry about the 7Ah going flat.

Now that @Drover has explained that the breakaway battery (12v 7ah) has its own dedicated charging system 240v trickle charger AND a separate charging link from the tug alternator, I certainly would NOT be connecting it to a different type of battery chemistry ie. lithium. With the existing setup, connection is made with two batteries of the same type ie. LEAD ACID. A lithium battery has considerable power potential and an uncontrolled connection could result in a huge surge of current into a low SLA battery in parallel, This would be especially so if solar charging was in progress at the time. We all know the problems that can occur when a low battery is connected in parallel with a fully charged battery of the SAME type and SIZE {capacity). Connecting two batteries of different type/size/chemistry and even voltage could cause problems IMHO.

 

[BaldEd]

Thanks Drover and Boots. Advice noted. I'll just have to try to remember to connect that little 230v plug-pack charger at home every month or so .

 

[Drover]

Just check the wiring coming out of the box, the black one is the one your after, connect it to a 12v circuit from your van battery/fuse board or even a direct connection to your battery, chemistry is of no matter and your all good.................

Pleased to report that this new Lithium is really performing beyond expectations, today I'm going to see if I need to put out the portable to get things fully charged by 0900, I suspect not..................... I have a suspicion I had one of my GEL's faulty longer than I thought all history now ............

 

[jazzeddie1234]

This is the wiring for the tow secure.

You could disconnect the black wire that is currently going to the tug via the 12 pin and instead connect it (via a fuse) to the van battery. This would mimic the vehicle being always attached and should work fine...so long as the van battery has enough voltage (yes voltage) to power the units trickle charger. The plug pack is 15ish volts so I would be looking for at least 14 from the van battery to keep it charged. NOTE: It cannot be left wired thru to the tug!

A second option is to wire the van battery via a plug the same as the plug pack and connect this (via a fuse) instead of the plug pack. This has the advantage of leaving the permanent wiring alone and the tug still providing charge when connected.

Either of the two examples don't care what sort of van/tug battery is used but a battery with high charge voltage like a lithium (14.6v) is better for the units trickle charger.

 

[jazzeddie1234]

Pleased to report that this new Lithium is really performing beyond expectations

No going back now!

 

[BaldEd]

This is the wiring for the tow secure.

Thanks jazzeddie, I had looked for that info in the instructions and failed to find it. Will give further thought later about using my new lithium batteries as the charging source via a fuse and a disabling switch. Off now on first trip with the lithiums.

 

[Drover]

Back on topic again,........

Tad warm so side screen up, river rocks not peg friendly so milk crate, ALDI canvas bag and a shopping bag make great rock pegs..... They have held well in some good winds....

Totally wrapped in the new lithium battery ...



...

 

[Drover]

A nice cloudy day that wasn't hot recently was an ideal time to do the dreaded bearing/brake/wheel rotate to Big Mal, what a pain that is for an old coot, about 8K km since last time, near enough, brakes got about 1 click each, bearings not a wobble so very happy since last pack which was when I did the new magnets and shoes, whenever that was. Tyres rotated and the rear ones do get a hammering on this suspension set up, they are 6 yrs old and have a good amount of tread left after probably 50/60K odd km but new ones next year, this time going for Bob Jane J-Trax LT's in 265 75R16's, price is good and seem to give good life by reports, Geolanders have been great but just way to expensive now and as the Jeeps Geolanders will probably need replacing at end of next year, the J-Trax fit the bill, I hope .... still over a Grand to shoe each vehicle so will need a generous tooth fairy .............. Been quite a few years since underneath got sprayed so decided to give it a recoat, didn't get far with it, got the suspension recoated and the rest will have to make do, poxy job...

Some new insulation on a couple of water lines underneath is needed as the old AC pipe lagging has rotted away and the quicker the HW gets to shower the better for all concerned ..

New gas piggies and regulator made an improvement, gas lasted longer and no faint gas smell at times.............. Lithium battery is working nicely and my diy settings on the Epever appear to work well as it charges up happily ............. Water pump clean up seems to have done some good, not as noisy as previously and reverse flush of water lines can only be good, at 12 yrs old it needs special TLC every so often.... Every so often I will pull something down for a clean up....... also a good walk around after rain driving, any rivet showing a rub/dirt streak gets removed, silicon in hole and a new rivet in place to stop any possible leak.

Awning upper arm brackets need a mod but haven't quite figured it out, clinker type cladding makes things difficult ............ Some 3mm alloy plate shaped to fit the wall contours is on the books as being the ideal choice and with some off cut wall panel I'm hoping a mate of mine who is very OCD can knock me a shaping plate up from timber so I can form the alloy over it ..................... failing that 2 bits of 5mm welded at the edge to make a step then some creative grinding work....

The fun never ends ...............................