Hi guys. I’m new to the scene and have a few questions I really would like help with. I have a 2011 swift challenger 530 and want to know the following:
When I am on EHU does my caravan take charge straight from the hook up or via battery?
If I don’t use my caravan for a couple of months do I have to recharge the battery?
How would I know how much charge my battery has?
How long could I go away for just on the battery without an EHC?
Thank you guys!!!!
When I am on EHU does my caravan take charge straight from the hook up or via battery? - your caravan has 2 sets of power, the 3 pin sockets work anything run on 240 volts the same as at home, your battery will power things such as your water pump, your lights, toilet flushing, the 240v supply will charge the battery whilst on hook up.
If I don’t use my caravan for a couple of months do I have to recharge the battery? yes its best to recharge the battery using a smart charger at home just in case of power failure on a ehu site.
How would I know how much charge my battery has? you buy a multi meter and check the voltage, it needs to be above 12.3 which is considered dead
How long could I go away for just on the battery without an EHC? depends on the time of year and what you use in the caravan along with the size of battery, for example our caravan is power hungry and even with a 110amp hr battery we can manage upto sunday lunchtime, before we have to fire the car up and plug the 12s in to keep things running in the caravan and put a bit back in the battery
hi I have a Challenger 514 similar age, the battery is only for the 12v system eg lights pump etc, it will explain this in the manual.
when connected to hook up it will charge the battery, we are lucky we keep the van on the drive, so we can leave it connected to mains which charges the battery, only way you can unless you remove the battery take it home and charge it with a charger.
My challenger has a control panel above the door and you can press a button which says "view levels" this will show you the charge in the battery, but don't do it with the hook up on as it will give a higher level.
As for how long it will last? how longs a piece of string?
what size is your battery?
what condition is it in?
how often are lights used etc?
are you using a TV on 12v?
We always use hook up, but those who go rallying etc might be able to answer your last question with an approximation.
Batteries have an ampere hour rating and may typically be 75, 85 or 110 AHr. 1 Ampere hour means you can draw 1 amp for 1 Hour so a 110 Amp Hour battery will let you draw 10 Amps for 11 hours for example. The more you use the less time it will last.
As batteries age the Amp Hour actually achieved reduces and not all will be fully charged to start with. The rate at which it is discharged also affects it. A heavy discharge will dramatically reduce it so you may not actually have 110 AHr.
Typically for lights and occasional use of a TV you should last 1 week without problem possibly more. Of course, in summer time you will use lights less than in winter so this will affect how long it lasts.
If you need more you can get a solar panel to charge the battery which is very effective at extending your time.
Quote: Originally posted by Mattycliff on 15/2/2019
Hi guys. I’m new to the scene and have a few questions I really would like help with. I have a 2011 swift challenger 530 and want to know the following:
When I am on EHU does my caravan take charge straight from the hook up or via battery?
There is a charger which will supply items in the caravan until it reaches maximum output, after that point the battery will supply the extra
Quote:
If I don’t use my caravan for a couple of months do I have to recharge the battery?
Depends on battery type, with a flooded i.e. you can top it up, then needs recharging around every 6 weeks, with a AGM you can normally have three times that time before recharge
Quote:
How would I know how much charge my battery has?
The normal way is voltage, when not on hook up then normally 12.8 volt is fully charged, but only real way is with a hydrometer, but voltage is a good indicator.
Quote:
How long could I go away for just on the battery without an EHC?
Thank you guys!!!!
If you use just one lamp for say 5 hours a night (8W) and the water pump with a 75 Ah battery you could get two weeks, with a 110 Ah may be 3 weeks, however if you have more than one lamp, and a central heating fan running you may struggle to get 2 days.
Years ago the caravan had gas lights, and a foot pump for the water, and my mother would take me (as a 6 year old) in a caravan for whole of summer holidays from school, no hook up, and battery would last as it hardly did anything, even the fridge had a pilot no need for battery to light it. But those days are gone.
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Topic: Leisure battery help
via mobile 15/2/2019 at 9:30pm
