I've just got my first caravan which has a leisure battery with no charge. Can anyone tell me if it's possible to recharge when connected to the car (I've not yet got the electrics installed) or is it likely to need a new battery if it's been flat for some time?
Also I want to connect power at home - can I use an ext lead with blue command sockets and an adapter to a domestic 3 pin uk plug?
Or can I charge the battery when connected to mains at home?
A battery with no or a low level of charge will be ruined if left in that state. So that's not looking at all good.
The battery can be charge by the car but with most caravans this will be slow and extremely fuel expensive. Some caravans have inline voltage increasing electronics and charge very effectively from the car but these are rare.
You can purchase UK 13 Amp plug to Commando fly-leads from caravan accessory shops to be able to couple the van via a normal EHU lead to a domestic outlet. This is one way to charge the battery. You can also couple a quality automotive smart charger to the battery, isolating it from the van first to very effectively recharge the battery.
The battery charges on 12v car socket or when connected to 240v. Instead of using an extension with blue and 3 pin plug get a metre of 4mm twin & earth put a 3 pin plug on one end and blue socket on other then just plug in ur hook up cable. Or u can buy special adaptors quite cheap from caravan shops. I don't think a normal extension will have thick enough cable though
Don't rely on the on-board charger to charge the battery as they only charge to 80% anyway. Get a cheap car battery charger to recharge it to 100%, but unless it is a smart charger, don't leave it connected permanently.
Don't put a plug on a length of twin and earth. You need to use flex for plugs. Twin and earth is solid copper and will snap if it is flexed too often. It also has no insulation on the earth so it is not impossible for the earth wire to break internally and chaff into the live.
Hi steve2009, I have my van charging from my garage socket, I have a timer in socket13amp plug with heavy duty cable going through wall into rear of a caravan hookup socket with flap,blue female connector via the heavy duty cable,this is in trunking that runs to the front of the van,it then gose into a 13amp 3 pin waterproof socket, I have a 13amp 3 pin plug with the heavy duty cable and the blue female caravan plug,and that plugs into a short length of cable( with male/female plugs) that is connectet to EHU in battery box to charge battery,( reason all the plugs and sockets, is, my van is tight up against a wall, and i do not have any accsess to battery when its stored), it also allows me to unplug and move van without dragging AC cable along the drive way, or going into battery box to unplug, also helps when going on trips,no hook up cable to wrap up and store in garage. Battery is charged every day for four hours, 0000 til 0400, via the timer. In my location you are not allowed to have extention cable from house socket to any appliance out side,it has to have earth leakege CBs, waterfroof sockets, armour cable/trunking, for health and saftey of any one on the property.
Post last edited on 02/06/2011 21:33:18
Post last edited on 02/06/2011 21:34:14
Post last edited on 02/06/2011 21:34:52
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I think I'll try charging with the domestic supply and EHU cable, failing that I think I've got a car charger somewhere. Last resort will have to be a new battery. Am I right in thinking that you should charge at no more than 5amps using a car charger?
Car battery charger didn't work at all - I suspect it may be the battery rating was too high for it.
So now trying to charge with EHU cable & domestic supply. The EHU powers everything in caravan OK when Zig control is switched to "caravan". I also have a Zig TX-2000 installed plus RCD's etc - this apparently charges battery.
Can anyone tell me how I should set up to ensure charging from domestic mains please?
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Topic: Battery charging
