Dual battery vehicle electrical systems
First Claim
1. A dual battery electrical system for a vehicle having an engine, the system comprising:
- a plurality of primary loads and a plurality of secondary loads and being switchable between an ON state in which the engine is running, an OFF state in which the engine is not running and a START state in which at least one of the primary loads requires power to start the engine;
a first battery arranged to provide power to the primary loads;
a second battery arranged to provide power to the secondary loads;
switch means closeable to connect the first battery to the second battery, such that both batteries can provide power to both loads, control means arranged to open the switch means when the system is in the OFF state and to close the switch means when the system is in the ON state and the START state; and
a connection system having a plurality of output terminals for connection to the plurality of primary and secondary loads and two input terminals for connection to the first and second batteries, respectively, wherein the plurality of primary loads are electrically disconnected from the plurality of secondary loads in the START state when the voltage charge of the second battery is less than the voltage charge of the first battery.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a dual battery electrical switchable system 2 for a vehicle having an engine. The vehicle comprises a plurality of first loads 8 and a plurality of second loads 10. The vehicle is switchable between an ON state in which the engine is running, an OFF state in which the engine is not running and a START state, in which at least one of the first loads 8 requires power. The system 2 comprises a first battery 4 arranged to provide power to the first loads 8 and a second battery 6 arranged to provide power to the second loads 10. A switch 18 is provided between the first battery 4 and the second battery 6 and control means 20 is arranged to open the switch 18 only when the vehicle is in the OFF state. A connection system 12 is also provided having a plurality of output terminals 16 for connection to the plurality of primary and secondary loads 8, 10, and two input terminals 14 for connection to the first and second batteries 4, 6 respectively.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A dual battery electrical system for a vehicle having an engine, the system comprising:
-
a plurality of primary loads and a plurality of secondary loads and being switchable between an ON state in which the engine is running, an OFF state in which the engine is not running and a START state in which at least one of the primary loads requires power to start the engine; a first battery arranged to provide power to the primary loads; a second battery arranged to provide power to the secondary loads; switch means closeable to connect the first battery to the second battery, such that both batteries can provide power to both loads, control means arranged to open the switch means when the system is in the OFF state and to close the switch means when the system is in the ON state and the START state; and a connection system having a plurality of output terminals for connection to the plurality of primary and secondary loads and two input terminals for connection to the first and second batteries, respectively, wherein the plurality of primary loads are electrically disconnected from the plurality of secondary loads in the START state when the voltage charge of the second battery is less than the voltage charge of the first battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A vehicle electrical system comprising:
-
a first battery; a second battery; a set of primary loads electrically connected to the first battery by a first circuit; a set of secondary loads electrically connected to the second battery by a second circuit; a switch disposed between the first and second batteries; an ignition switch having an OFF condition, an ON condition, and a START condition; and a controller for controlling operation of the switch such that the switch electrically disconnects the first and second batteries when the ignition switch is in the OFF condition;
the switch electrically connects the first and second batteries when the ignition switch is in the ON condition, and the switch electrically connects the first and second batteries when the ignition switch is in a START condition and a charge of the second battery is not less than a charge of the first battery. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification