Insurance Quotes
Insurance Discount Campsite Offers All offers
UK Sites French Sites European Sites Map Search Text Search Near your Location Popular Searches Leave a Review My Saved Sites Add a New Site
All Sections Caravanning Camping Tent Talk Motorhomes Trailer Tents Backpacking Equipment Statics UK Campsites Camping Abroad General Chat News More Sections Latest Posts
All Adverts Tents for Sale Caravans for Sale Motorhomes for Sale Equipment for Sale Post an Advert Campsite Jobs
All Categories Caravanning Advice Caravan Equipment Tents and Camping Motorhomes Towing and Towcars Equipment Furniture and Cooking Electrical / Gas Shows and Events General More Categories
Join for Free Log In

Advertisement

Message Forums
Welcome Guest Register  Log In  Search  Latest Posts
 Reception - All Forums
  Caravans and Caravanning 		Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email
Subject Topic: Recharging van battery from car
Post Reply
PersonDanTheVanMan
18/6/2011 at 2:52pm
 Location: Cheshire
 Outfit: Abbey Spectrum 620 + X5 View DanTheVanMan's Profile View Profile   Reply to DanTheVanMan Reply   Quote DanTheVanMan Quote  
Joined: 26/9/2005

Silver Member
Silver Member

Forum Posts:   169
Site Reviews Total: 7
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Hi All, hope someone can help.

I'm going away by myself for the week in the van. I'm staying on a CL without EHU. Done so many times before but not for so long. I imagine as I'm by myself the van battery should be fine, but my question is, if I wanted to top the battery up by connecting the grey electrics to the car and running the car on tick over, what can I reasonably expect in terms of time to recharge?

I have a good quality 80 amp hour battery.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Ta Dan

-------------
DanTheVanMan


PersonAl+Mel
18/6/2011 at 3:40pm
 Location: Hants
 Outfit: Fleetwood Heritage 640 EB & ML270 View Al+Mel's Profile View Profile   Reply to Al+Mel Reply   Quote Al+Mel Quote  
Joined: 18/9/2010

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   1312
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
One way I heard someone recommend is to run a smart charger from an inverter connected to the car. Could be a faster way to charge.


Personjeff juke
18/6/2011 at 5:58pm
 Location: 
 Outfit:  View jeff juke's Profile View Profile   Reply to jeff juke Reply   Quote jeff juke Quote  
Joined: 09/8/2010

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   6853
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Better fill the tank up.

-------------
Animals have feelings..

JEFF................


PersonAl+Mel
18/6/2011 at 6:32pm
 Location: Hants
 Outfit: Fleetwood Heritage 640 EB & ML270 View Al+Mel's Profile View Profile   Reply to Al+Mel Reply   Quote Al+Mel Quote  
Joined: 18/9/2010

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   1312
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Quote: Originally posted by jeff juke on 18/6/2011
Better fill the tank up.

True!

But the bloke who was talking about it made the point "why buy a generator when you are driving one" and the car only needs to be on tickover.


Personbirder99
18/6/2011 at 7:59pm
 Location: Cambs
 Outfit: Tin tent diddy tent BIG tent View birder99's Profile View Profile   Reply to birder99 Reply   Quote birder99 Quote  
Joined: 24/9/2010

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   1862
Site Reviews Total: 3
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
A lot of CS and CL sites will charge a battery for you if you ask. A few hours one day while you are out and about would probably get you close to fully charged. Might be worth taking a charger with you though and simply asking if there is anywhere you can plug it in for a few hours. Most site owners are quite good over such things as they want you back again.

-------------
'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'


Advertisement



Personwizard9956
18/6/2011 at 8:50pm
 Location: Bristol
 Outfit: Lunar Conquest 544 a View wizard9956's Profile View Profile   Reply to wizard9956 Reply   Quote wizard9956 Quote  
Joined: 25/9/2004

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   7530
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0

Error



Post last edited on 18/06/2011 21:18:55


PersonDanTheVanMan
18/6/2011 at 9:43pm
 Location: Cheshire
 Outfit: Abbey Spectrum 620 + X5 View DanTheVanMan's Profile View Profile   Reply to DanTheVanMan Reply   Quote DanTheVanMan Quote  
Joined: 26/9/2005

Silver Member
Silver Member

Forum Posts:   169
Site Reviews Total: 7
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Thanks all for your thoughts. My worry about getting the site to charge my battery, which I know they will do, is the fridge will have to go off whilst they do it.

Is there a techno type out there who knows the figures involved?

Dan

-------------
DanTheVanMan


Personjeff juke
18/6/2011 at 10:00pm
 Location: 
 Outfit:  View jeff juke's Profile View Profile   Reply to jeff juke Reply   Quote jeff juke Quote  
Joined: 09/8/2010

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   6853
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Quote: Originally posted by Al+Mel on 18/6/2011
Quote: Originally posted by jeff juke on 18/6/2011Better fill the tank up.
True!

But the bloke who was talking about it made the point "why buy a generator when you are driving one" and the car only needs to be on tickover.

Id love to know how long it would take to charge a flat battery without an inverter as it takes a while on a charger..

-------------
Animals have feelings..

JEFF................


PersonHacksaw Bob
18/6/2011 at 10:40pm
 Location: West Midlands
 Outfit: Various tents View Hacksaw Bob's Profile View Profile   Reply to Hacksaw Bob Reply   Quote Hacksaw Bob Quote  
Joined: 26/7/2009

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   6500
Tent Reviews:   1
Site Reviews Total: 10
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Quote: Originally posted by DanTheVanMan on 18/6/2011 My worry about getting the site to charge my battery, which I know they will do, is the fridge will have to go off whilst they do it.



Will the fridge not run off gas?


Personfoxylady2
19/6/2011 at 6:57am
 Location: warrington
 Outfit: pennine pathfinder View foxylady2's Profile View Profile   Reply to foxylady2 Reply   Quote foxylady2 Quote  
Joined: 01/4/2008

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   351
Site Reviews Total: 6
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
we use a solar panel to charge our battery as we regularly go to a site without ehu and that works perfectly for us. We got the brief case solar panel from maplins when it was on half price sale.


Advertisement

Wolfbox


Personbirder99
19/6/2011 at 8:50am
 Location: Cambs
 Outfit: Tin tent diddy tent BIG tent View birder99's Profile View Profile   Reply to birder99 Reply   Quote birder99 Quote  
Joined: 24/9/2010

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   1862
Site Reviews Total: 3
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
A smallish spare battery would be sufficient for the fridge control and ignition system. I'm not sure but I have an idea the even a burglar alarm battery (the small lead acid kind) would have sufficient output for the fridge systems. What ever either would be a lot cheaper than a photovoltaic panel or a generator. Try to borrow one!

-------------
'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'



In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev       Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Caravans and Caravanning - Top of Page

     Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email


Latest News, Discounts and Competitions  see all...















    Upcoming Event

UKCS Meet Elvaston Steam Rally 2026 03/07 to 06/07

Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.


5950 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker  -  Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums]  [Caravan Sites & Camping]  [Company Listings]  [Features / Advice]  [Virtual Brochure]  [Special Offers]
[Reception]  [Competitions]  [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]  [Event Diary]  [Tent Reviews] 

[Contact Us] 



Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2026


Advertisement
Advertisement

Advertisement