Depends what you mean by completely flat.
Any normal car charger will charge it but, if it's too flat, an intelligent charger may not, until there is some charge in it. Bear in mind that, if it's completely flat (showing a voltage of less than 10.5-11V) it may be permanently damaged, especially if it's been left like that for a while.
If its been flat for a while then the cells will be breaking down.
Never leave a battery discharged. I charge mine at home every month or so. Stick it on for a few days to a week at a time.
If you dont have a battery charger get some cheap jump leads and connect it to the car. Or connect the caravan to the car and leave the engine running for a bit.
The battery will need a good charge though. Ideally a low slow charge for 24 hours.
We didn't intentionally let it go flat but, now that it is, we need to revive it.
It does have a little disc that apparently goes red when the battery is terminal (no pun intended) but that's still green so we think it can be saved.
On our last trip, we connected car and caravan with the battery in place then, on site, tried the mover. It made some starting up noises then died like that had used all the power there was.
The problem is that we don't have a long enough journey from storage to site for the car to charge the battery.
Does anyone know of a charger that will deliver that trickle charge? We can't seem to find one that will handle the 110Ah requirement.
Thanks again,
------------- Best Wishes and Happy Travels,
Feecamp
Quote: Originally posted by Feecamp on 08/8/2014
Thanks, guys.
Does anyone know of a charger that will deliver that trickle charge? We can't seem to find one that will handle the 110Ah requirement.
Thanks again,
Any non-intelligent charger will work. I've used one like this for many years.
It sounds like your battery is nearly always flat, so it probably will be shot and won't respond to charging. I have just replaced my leisure battery as, although reading fully charged, it won't release enough power to start my 12V compressor fridge - it sounds like the same is happening with your motor mover.
I have an older version of this charger which I plug in and leave on whilst on site, as I don't have any charger for whilst on the move. I have a small motor mover and an 85amp leisure battery (which is more than enough for my little caravan!).
Personally, I would get a new leisure battery and one of the above.
Quote: Originally posted by Francophile1947 on 08/8/2014
Quote: Originally posted by Feecamp on 08/8/2014
Thanks, guys. Does anyone know of a charger that will deliver that trickle charge? We can't seem to find one that will handle the 110Ah requirement.
Thanks again,
Any non-intelligent charger will work. I've used one like this for many years. It sounds like your battery is nearly always flat, so it probably will be shot and won't respond to charging. I have just replaced my leisure battery as, although reading fully charged, it won't release enough power to start my 12V compressor fridge - it sounds like the same is happening with your motor mover.
Well, thanks everyone for your input - it was all very much appreciated but especially to Francophile1947. We bought the charger you'd recommended and, after a few days on charge, the battery's little disc went from black (charge required) to green (OK). I've since been advised that it would show a red disc if the battery needed to be replaced.
We took the battery down to the caravan today, connected it up and gave the mover a short trial. It sounded perfect and worked a treat. Last time we'd tried it, it sounded like it "took the weight" of the caravan, ready to move it but that was all it could manage. Totally different this time so we're confident it'll easily get us onto the pitch without needing too much muscle power!
Thanks again everyone.
------------- Best Wishes and Happy Travels,
Feecamp
Ha ha! Cheers BillGenEx - might have to look into that but the caravan lives in a big, dark barn when not in use and that's when top he battery went flat.
------------- Best Wishes and Happy Travels,
Feecamp
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Topic: Flat Leisure Battery
