Calibre question

Submitted: Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 18:28

ThreadID: 86278 Views:2466 Replies:7 FollowUps:5

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MervB

Just installed a Calibre battery isolation kit - The red charging LED is on even when the engine is off. Is this normal?

Thanks

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Reply By: snoopyone - Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 18:30

Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 18:30

What do the instructions say

AnswerID: 454260

Reply By: MervB - Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 18:36

Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 18:36

Hmmm - thats the problem - It says "LED Indicates solenoid is active and charging Auxiliary battery" - thats why I am worried. I thought some one else my have experience this.

AnswerID: 454263

Follow Up By: Member - nick b - Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 20:29

Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 20:29

The redarc isolator does the same till the voltage drop after a while.!!

Cheers Nick b

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Follow Up By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 10:50

Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 10:50

Hi Merv,
I had the same problem with my Calibre and then I got a Redarc. Guess what, it did the same thing. Just the nature of the beast.

The LED will stay on indicating both batteries are connected together till the battery voltage in the start battery drops to the cutout voltage.

To overcome this I removed the sensor and hooked the solenoid up to the ign switch so that the two batteries are only connected when the ign is on.

Works for me. You really don't need a voltage sensor/cutout then, just need a good solenoid. Many have done likewise, it appears.

Cheers, Bruce.

At home and at ease on a track that I know not and
restless and lost on a track that I know. HL.

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Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 11:04

Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 11:04

Gday Bruce,
I got your comment below, but thought best to answer here. The downside to running the solenoid directly off IGN power is that your batteries are being joined whenever you're cranking. With the surge of high current, it's likely to wear out the solenoid contacts sooner rather than later, especially with the 100A Redarc. So I think its best to leave the voltage sensing in the circuit and go with a relay on the earth.

Cheers
Phil

FollowupID: 727151

Reply By: Member - Tezza Qld - Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 20:28

Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 20:28

How long does it stay on for? Some battery systems take 40 sec or longer to return to a state where there is no connection between the start battery and the auxilury battery. It also can take a amount of time before they connect after start.

Read the instructions again . They seem to be a copy of Red Arc and sold by Supercrap and on my young blokes Red ARC unit the light stays on for about 40 secs to a minute.

Cheers Teza

AnswerID: 454276

Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 21:25

Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 21:25

The Calibre isolators don't isolate until the starting battery drops to 12.5V. Same as what the older model redarcs used to do. The power used by the solenoid when the vehicle is not running is wasted power.
The solution with the Redarc was to slip a relay into the earth wire from the isolator, so the earth would get cut when the IGN is off.

AnswerID: 454284

Follow Up By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 10:53

Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 10:53

Hi Phil,
That's a very good solution mate.

Will give that one a go. KISS principal, works every time.

Cheers, Bruce.

At home and at ease on a track that I know not and
restless and lost on a track that I know. HL.

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Follow Up By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 11:25

Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 11:25

Phil, this set up has been in the car for some time before I got it. I decided to go with something better as described. Discovered a problem with the calibre as outlined then got a redarc from ebay, could have been old stock, same problem. Went back to the old solenoid and still no probs yet.
But I think I will go with your suggestion as it is simple and you get the best of all worlds with it.

Good one and thanks for the tip.

Cheers, Bruce.

At home and at ease on a track that I know not and
restless and lost on a track that I know. HL.

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Reply By: Ray - Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 08:19

Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 08:19

I just use a simple circuit breaker between the two batteries controlled by the ignition. No need for all those fancy gismos

AnswerID: 454311

Reply By: howesy - Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 12:31

Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 12:31

I cant see what the big issue is, I left my redarc to operate as intended with them both tied together and the red light on until the majic 12.5volt mark is reached and it splits them. Been using that system for 5 years with plenty of camping running the camp lights off a 1200w inverter on the aux battery and all my other accessories I wired to the aux as well (lighter socket, radio etc).
My car has always started in even the coldest mornings with the power left in the cranking battery after the cutoof so again what is the issue can't see it myself

AnswerID: 454339