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Topic: Leisure battery install to an Eriba

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Masiemoo20

02/9/2012 at 9:44pm
Location: Devon
Outfit: Eriba triton

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Please help!!!
I have recently received back my beloved 1997 eriba triton from a caravan worship with them having it for 5 weeks to install a leisure battery. I have been told by them that after great efforts by them and others they liaised with, that it was not possible to install a leisure battery as it would blow the transformer!?! As you can tell this is like Talking another language for me, but I really cannot see why I cannot get it done. When we brought it from holland, it had a connector cable that could go straight into the car battery and was advised to obviously not run it through this when the car wasn't running as it would drain the car battery. If this is the case then why can I not install a separate one into the van. After much pushing the subject we took her back with still no battery......any advice would be so appreciated, many thanks

Opensauce

02/9/2012 at 10:38pm
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2 ways to do it. Best & most expensive, discard original transformer which is designed just to supply 12volts while plugged into ehu & fit a new transformer/charger, cost well over £100 plus labour plus battery of course. This will allow battery to be charged while driving & also when plugged into ehu. ie the normal setup in any modern caravan.

Cheaper way is to discard transformer so ehu works 230v fridge/sockets/mains lightbulbs. water pump & 12v lights work direct off battery & battery is charged from car as normal while driving. This is the way 1980s UK supplied Eribas were set up if battery was required.

If caravan has only a single 12n 7pin plug either option will need a second grey lead & 7pin 12s plug fitted, alternatively fit a newer type single 13pin plug & 13 core cable. This is required for car to charge battery while driving & has added advantage of allowing fridge to be run on 12v while driving. Obviously your car will require either twin 12n/12s or single 13pin socket fitted.

Imho if you are going to be running on ehu all the time theres no point in fitting a battery, if you are going to be stopping on sites with no ehu you might as well use the second cheaper method as without ehu you can only charge battery while driving between sites. If you use the cheaper method you can always charge battery on ehu by plugging a separate trickle charger into 230v socket inside caravan.

Post last edited on 02/09/2012 23:12:51

Opensauce

02/9/2012 at 10:54pm
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Its fairly obvious the caravan workshop you used simply didn't have the skills required to carry out this work as it is an installation from scratch rather than repair/replacement of existing components. Its possible a good auto electrician with the ability to do non standard work might be better.

Its not a difficult job, it uses standard off the shelf items & just requires an understanding of what is required. For the transformer/charger option you could be looking at 4 to £500 for the job at normal workshop rates & it needs to be done right.

JTQU

03/9/2012 at 7:15am
Location: Hampshire
Outfit: Hymer Nova S

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The workshop could also be concerned at the legal obligations, under possible negligence claims of fitting a battery if no vented space and securing arrangement has been provided in build?
Hymer if following its larger caravan and motorhome practice would where batteries are fitted within the habitation space use the safer "GEL" battery. These alone come at a cost of about £240 for the 90 Ah size fitted in mine.
My two Hymers have been fitted with Schaudt Elektroblock charger/controllers which are very expensive new. This link gives a source for remanufactured units.

http://www.gumtree.com/p/business-services/schaudt-elektroblock-repairs-ebl-29-ebl-99-ebl-100-ebl-101-ebl109-ebl-208-ebl-220-ebl-240/103280530

Opensauce

03/9/2012 at 7:37am
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Yes that is a fair point. A commercial workshop has to work to current regulations which might make things more difficult, a diy installation would not be restricted by this but of course could be less safe as a consequence.

Attention would have to be paid to secure mounting & ventilation of battery & installation would require a certain amount of planning.

Masiemoo20

03/9/2012 at 8:03am
Location: Devon
Outfit: Eriba triton

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Thank you both for the valuable advice! I now certainly have something to go on.

JTQU

03/9/2012 at 8:49am
Location: Hampshire
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I think I would go the old Labcraft TP2 route; a separate free standing battery in a portable plastic box with its own 230 volt and in car charging facilities. I still use mine as my back-up battery.

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