Thanks Red.
The LR already had a split charging system built in by LR Special Vehicles, but we suspect this was a simple generator enabled relay and chose not to use this.
The split charging system consists of three 86AH leisure batteries, the 120AH engine battery and a Merlin Smartbank split charge control system (as used in ambulances and military vehicles see
http://www.merlinequipment.com/index.asp). Rather than use a diode to separate the battery banks the Smartbank system uses a relay and senses the voltage of the two banks. The advantage is that the engine battery contributes to the overall energy capacity until the system measures that the remaining charge is falling below a set-point, and then isolates the engine battery to ensure sufficient starting power. A dash mounted display unit shows % charge remaining, and engine and auxiliary battery voltages. We have connected a warning alarm when the auxiliary batteries fall below a preset level to warn the operator to connect an AC hook up, start a generator or start the engine to maintain power to the electronic systems. If the engine battery becomes flat due to leaving the vehicle headlamps on for example, then a push button on the display will connect the auxiliary batteries to the engine battery and effectively jump start the engine. One last thing, the system is self calibrating, as it is used it learns the battery bank capacity and condition, and adjusts the % charge remaining display to be more accurate.
We have also included an onboard 50A multi-stage battery charger, and regulated power supply units to protect the sensitive electronics from spikes, noise and excessive charging voltages. Flood and interior lighting is by high intensity LED technology.
The Hookup is done inside the locker so no one can come along and unplug, good idea by the designer
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