What is this black box?

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Discussion

Scrump

Original Poster:

22,056 posts

159 months

Saturday 18th November 2023
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I replaced the starter battery in my van and found this black box tucked down the side of the battery
It had small gauge wire running to it straight from the +ve and -ve terminals. There was no wire attached to the third connector on the box.
I did wonder if it was some form of split charge relay for the leisure batteries but cannot see it is the relevant connections for this (plus the van has had a proper dc to dc charger since it was built when new).
It has no writing or other marks on it except a handwritten sticker saying 12v.
Any ideas?



Chris32345

2,086 posts

63 months

Sunday 19th November 2023
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Any marker mark or numbers on it!


What was the wiring like did it look factory or after markket?

Caddyshack

10,829 posts

207 months

Sunday 19th November 2023
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Open it up and have a look inside, I am guessing something like a split charge relay but it does seem odd with 3 terminals. The 2 look pretty chunky as well.

Scrump

Original Poster:

22,056 posts

159 months

Sunday 19th November 2023
quotequote all
Chris32345 said:
Any marker mark or numbers on it!


What was the wiring like did it look factory or after markket?
No marks or numbers on it at all (apart from 12v sticker)
Wiring was definitely aftermarket.

Scrump

Original Poster:

22,056 posts

159 months

Sunday 19th November 2023
quotequote all
Caddyshack said:
Open it up and have a look inside, I am guessing something like a split charge relay but it does seem odd with 3 terminals. The 2 look pretty chunky as well.
I agree, can’t see it now it would work as split change relay. It has two chunky male spade connections and one small male connector. The wires connecting it to the battery terminals were not large to take enough current to charge another battery.

Polly Grigora

11,209 posts

110 months

Tuesday 21st November 2023
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Guessing though

Scrump

Original Poster:

22,056 posts

159 months

Tuesday 21st November 2023
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I have removed the top of the box, the plastic plate around the spade connectors and there is another small one under there which has been removed (no hole for it in the top cover).
So it does look like a large relay, I think it may have been for split charge relay or similar but doesn’t seem to be needed now.
I will stick it in the glovebox for now, but the van seems to be suffering no ill effects after the box was removed.