But will all our new uses, we thought it would be prudent to make sure we will be able to keep the batteries topped off. Our 160w solar panel does a great job, but not so much in bad weather. So we now have a charge coming from the Sprinter alternator.
Mercedes has a lovely little junction box under the driver's seat. It has three posts, each with a different usage. They each serve a different access to the vehicle's main power source. One gives power all the time, even when the vehicle is off. An example usage for that line is to power a step that comes out when the door opens to make getting in and out easier. The second terminal is for power during ignition, and the third terminal is after ignition is complete and the engine is running.
So the connection is simple in theory: run a line from the house battery under the van to the front seat, then connect it to the third terminal post. And make sure that the power only goes from the terminal back to the house battery, so add a fancy switch to keep the systems separate.
I am a pretty cautious guy, and really don't want to break anything that Mercedes Benz created. So I asked Todd Blackwood, the brilliant owner of Beaches Electric. Todd has been our go-to guy for electrical work on our house, and he has always done impressively quality work. I figured it was worth having Todd look at my plan and make sure that I didn't miss anything. My back also wasn't really wanting me to climb under the van for the wiring.
So Todd came over and did the work with me watching and helping with the odd tool or wire. He made sure that the proper wire sizes were used, and reviewed the documentation I found online. He attached the Battery Doctor securely under the seat and made all the connections in the proper order.
The proof in the pudding was a drive out to White Springs for SBA's Secret Santa weekend. The house batteries stayed full on the drive, and the ARB stayed cold. Yippee!
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