CPeachey Posted September 28, 2011 Share Posted September 28, 2011 The current MMM mag has a bit on the VanBitz Battery Master (£69.95). Road Pro have the "Sterling Power Battery Maintainer" (£67.95). They both seem to do the same job. Is one better than the other? Either would do what I want. ie keep the starter battery charged. Chris . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brambles Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 They both do the same function. However the Sterling can supply up to 3 amps where the Vanbitz is 1.1 Amps. So where the Sterling would appear better in this respect it depends if you think a 1.1 amp charge is safer. I do not know what the standby or quiescent current of the vanbitz is, but the Sterling is very low at below 1.5 mAmps. The lack of specifications being readily available for the Vanbitz battery master makes me think the Sterling is probably a better designed product but more importantly maybe is it has a better pedigree as I put it coming from the stable of a Batttery chargers and power supply company, where the Vanbitz is well just that..van bits albeit a very good company and give good service. Be interesting to read other peeps views and if any have had problems with either, hopefully all positive for both, but I would favour the Sterling as it is capable of a higher charge rate if needed. Remember they will only keep your engine battery charged if you have charge going into your leisure batteries in the 1st place, such as hook up or solar panels. (edit - spelling) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 This earlier thread may be helpful http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=14754&start=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 nearly bought a battery master when I got new van is the spring........That was before someone on here told me the Adria's have their own fitted as standard *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HymerVan Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 I can't make a comparison but I can say that my last Van had a Batterymaster (fitted by Leisurepower Warrington) at the same time as an 80w solar panel. My Van was stored without access to MHU but both batteries were always fully charged even in dead of winter despite drain from alarm and boiler frost sensor circuit. I will very likely fit one to my new Van a Fifer "M" PVC which I hope to get in the Spring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPeachey Posted September 29, 2011 Author Share Posted September 29, 2011 Thanks for the replies. I'll go for the Sterling product. There are several ways of dealing with keeping the starter battery topped up but this is "fit and forget" without spending a fortune. If I were to buy a new van I would expect the charger to charge both batteries. Last winter the starter battery went flat as I had not realized that it was not charging on hookup. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brambles Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 Sounds good to me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tp002c784tp002c784tp Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 Hi Chris I have a van bitz battery master fitted on my Lunar, also an 80watt solar panel, I find that my leisure battery and vehicle battery are always equal and all through last winter both batteries never dropped below 13.8 volts and i think the battery master a good investment Terry ( PS my surname has no ey on the end ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliffy Posted October 1, 2011 Share Posted October 1, 2011 We have a Van Bitz Battery Master fitted to our van and it is 'fit and forget' it just keeps doing it's job. The vehicle battery is never allowed to drop less than 0.5 Volts below the leisure batteries, (Whenever there is surplus power in the leisure batteries), which are charged by a solar panel/mains hook up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alf Posted October 8, 2011 Share Posted October 8, 2011 CPeachey - 2011-09-28 7:39 PM The current MMM mag has a bit on the VanBitz Battery Master (£69.95). Road Pro have the "Sterling Power Battery Maintainer" (£67.95). They both seem to do the same job. Is one better than the other? Either would do what I want. ie keep the starter battery charged. Chris . We have the Stirling Battery Maintainer fitted to our Dimension there are 4 led's for different conditions it is fitted in the van but the unit is rated at IP 65 it seems to do its job OK Alf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike B. Posted October 8, 2011 Share Posted October 8, 2011 CPeachey - 2011-09-28 7:39 PM The current MMM mag has a bit on the VanBitz Battery Master (£69.95). Road Pro have the "Sterling Power Battery Maintainer" (£67.95). They both seem to do the same job. Is one better than the other? Either would do what I want. ie keep the starter battery charged. Chris . I've just won the VanBitz competition for one of these!!! I'll tell you what it's like after the winter -getting it fitted on Tuesday Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1footinthegrave Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 This is a bit of a mystery to me ( as are so many things ) why can't anyone just have a length of cable with a couple of crocodile clips to link the leisure batteries to the engine battery when parked up for any length of time whilst on charge without any of these gizmo's as I once read in a motorhome advice column, or on one of the forums ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.