Thread: What happened to your D3/D4 today?

Finally got around to finishing the Traxide install in my D3 that has been sitting half done for the last few months. A bit baffled by the incab module. Can anyone tell me if that thing is meant to be switched up or down? I don't really get the ignition mode vs shared mode thing practically

Originally Posted by Parso

Finally got around to finishing the Traxide install in my D3 that has been sitting half done for the last few months. A bit baffled by the incab module. Can anyone tell me if that thing is meant to be switched up or down? I don't really get the ignition mode vs shared mode thing practically

Well... I've had my Traxide installed for two years and have read the instructions many, many times and I still haven't quite figured it out, so good luck.
I once tried to lay out a Traxide switch decision matrix on a spreadsheet, but stopped when my head hurt!
As I understand it:
1. Keep the batteries in Shared Mode. That is, the switch away from the LED. This is a set and forget mode and you only need to change it
IF
2. You have a flat cranking battery. Then switch it to Ignition Mode (towards the LED) until the cranking battery is fully charged. Then switch back to Shared Mode
OR
3. You are about to do some winching, then you switch it to Ignition Mode BUT you must move the switch slowly in the following order:
With the switch in Shared Mode, switch it to Ignition, then back to Shared, then back to Ignition.

Geddit? There's two separate modes when the switch is in the Ignition Mode setting. One is Ignition Mode, the other is Winch Mode. How the LED flashes indicates which mode you're in and what the system is doing, but buggered if I can learn it.

After winching, return the switch to Shared Mode. It will time itself out and go back to Shared Mode by itself eventually.

Look, it is a clever system and there's a lot more to it. My magnus opus, should I live so long, will be a definitive, clearly understandable explanation of the Traxide switching options. But not now. My head is hurting again...

I think it is about time I made a video, to show how all the setting work.

This would probably make it easier for each owner to setup the way that best suits their individual needs.

Originally Posted by drivesafe

I think it is about time I made a video, to show how all the setting work.

This would probably make it easier for each owner to setup the way that best suits their individual needs.

Maybe a cheat sheet on A5 sized download so we could laminate it and leave it in the glovebox?

Yes I find the terminology to be confusing plus find it near impossible to distinguish between the different LED flashing modes in bright sunlight. Fading in and out just looks the same as blinking on and off and there are a number of these confusing LED sequences to indicate different states. I could never tell reliably whether the unit had isolated or what without getting the multimeter out.

I moved away from a Traxide 160USI unit I had fitted to another brand earlier this year after being a bit unhappy about it all. Don't want to start a war, the service from Traxide is second to none.

InterVolt VSR - 500A peak, 150A continuous, fully solid state (no mechanical relays), all functions (upper and lower voltage thresholds, time delays, alarm conditions etc.) fully programmable plus has a positive indicator of battery isolation and can support an in cab module to indicate isolation status and to jump start the main battery when needed.

Originally Posted by Parso

I don't really get the ignition mode vs shared mode thing practically

As I understand it, the difference between the 2 modes is one of lower voltage threshold, ie the voltage the battery must drop to before the unit isolates both batteries from each other.

When in 'ignition mode' as far as I can work out the lower voltage threshold is set to 12.7 volts. So when you turn the engine off the battery voltage drops to <12.7 volts fairly quickly and so the unit isolates the 2 batteries at ignition off. This is the way most other VSRs work.

When in 'shared mode' as far as I can work out the lower voltage threshold is set to 12.2 volts. So when you turn the engine off the unit keeps both batteries joined until the combined battery voltage drops < 12.2 volts at which point the unit isolates the 2 batteries. The cranking battery remains at 12.2v for starting purposes but the aux battery is free to continue to power any devices attached to it. This way the available capacity of the aux and cranking battery can be maximised to power aux devices.

The upper voltage threshold is the same in both cases, 13.2 volts I think, ie when the voltage at the cranking battery rises >13.2V (ie the engine is started) the unit joins the two batteries together so both charge.

So you can choose which way you want your unit to run. Isolate at ignition off (ignition mode) or isolate hours later (shared mode) after some capacity from the cranking battery has been utilised to power your aux devices.

Originally Posted by drivesafe

I think it is about time I made a video, to show how all the setting work.

This would probably make it easier for each owner to setup the way that best suits their individual needs.

Tim, as with others, I salute your dedication (particularly to this site) and expertise.

Can I suggest you find the dumbest person you can (apart from me) and get them to understand and explain at least the simplest parts of the system?

I relate to DieselLSEs comments, and Ferrets simplistic (in the nicest sense) explanation makes some sense, but many like me just switch off the brain as soon as electrickery conversations start ie we just don't get it.

Hi Gavin, and I have been working on a video to explain what the different functions are, how to set them up and what they achieve when selected.

I am trying to do this with an animated video, to help make it easier for people to understand what they get when they install one of my systems.

I have been working on the video and some new products but I am flat out with orders as well, so it is taking time.

But the suggestions here are being taken onboard.

Thank you all.