Hi, we've recently bought an Abbey Piper 14.5 EX(1992 model) and we've used it a few times no problems. However, just before we came home the green and yellow light came on, on the water heater, ie low battery voltage. Obviously, it was still on when we used it again this weekend. The battery meter just would not go into the green. Does our caravan have a built in battery charger or must I do this manually? I swapped the battery over into a friends motorhome and it eventually took a charge, but when used his battery meter went straight into the red. Coming from a mechanical background this would suggest the battery is duff as it did the same in his van as ours. I cant see any signs of a charging system in our van so would like some advise on how the 240/ 12 systems work. Sorry for the long windyness!!!
I can't see anything that could remotely resemble a charger, I've tried to follow the wires but after a while they dissapear into trunking. Don't know how old the battery is as we've only had the van for 6 weeks or so. For the 1st couple of days of using the van the battery meter was in the green, but when a load has been put on it the voltage dropped right down, ( with my friends spare battery fitted it never did this). I can get the battery tested when I'm back in work tomorrow.
The charger was under the offside bed locker in my last van but I couldnt find it in my new van, found out it is under the false floor in the wardrobe at the back of the heater. Its worth looking in all the nooks and crannies.
The battery charger can some times be built into the zig unit,that is behind the wall where all your switches are that control your electrics.
A must buy is a meter to check your battery and charger,you can get a good one from around £10 from ebay.
If you want to know if you have a charger,take out the battery and switch a light on.You must have the van connected to the mains (ehu)first.If the light comes on you have a charger
Refit the battery as the charger will not power all your electrics on its own.
A caravan of that age may well be fitted with just a 12v transformer to run the 12v stuff while hooked up to ehu & if it has a battery it could have been fitted later. If you want to charge battery on ehu you can either fit a new transformer/charger or a cheaper method is just to use a plug in charger into a socket while on ehu.
I will try the battery removal method first though!
Thanks..
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Yes that will do the job. Just plug in while on ehu as needed. When you get caravan home after a trip its best to charge battery so it is left fully charged when 'van is unused. Its good to charge battery overnight once a month.
Has anyone used this? I have just been given one brand new, the instructions are a bit confusing?
As far as I can tell.. all you do is plug it in, and set to the Amps you want and let it go..?
Can't see anywhere that says about which mode to put it on etc..? I think maybe you just connect it, and it works out what the battery life is, and then clicks on and off when needed?
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Topic: Power supply/ Battery charging
