I have a mains lead connected to the caravan whilst on the drive and during November. December and January when not using the van as much I switch the power on from the house a couple of evenings a week to keep the battery charged up.
I can switch the power on to the van from the house, but have been going out each time and switching the power switch on the wall panel in the caravanon as well, as I am not sure if it will charge the battery if the caravan main power switch is on at the same time.
When I switch on the mains from the house the light on the vans microwave comes on regardless of the vans power switch being on or off.
Does anyone know if the caravan's power switch has to be on for the mains supply to charge the caravan battery?
If it does and I leave it switched on to save going out to van on a wintery night, will it cause the battery to discharge quicker without the mains supply to it?
Just leave the switch on in the van the same way you would do at a site.If everything that runs off 12v is off then the battery will not drain.The microwave should be 240v unless it states different.Can you not pull out the plug for it ?You need the switch on to make the charger work.
When we get onsite the cable in/switch on at the caravans mains. and that is all. Surely you would of automatically pulled the plugs out of the back and all electric appliances still left in.
If your microwave is sealed up then there must be an on/off switch or button. Can you turn the microwave clock off also. Then nothing will be drained by that electrical appliance.
...When I switch on the mains from the house the light on the vans microwave comes on regardless of the vans power switch being on or off...
The switch in the van is a 12v function switch only to select all 12v equipment and doesn't effect the EHU connection at all.
Once you've switch on in the house, all 230v equipment will run, including the microwave, hence the light coming on. If the microwave is a problem, unplug it while in storage but it won't be draining the battery as ran from EHU only.
During the season, I have my EHU switch automatically via a timer but once I've 'wintered' the van I remove the battery and leave on a smart charger in the garage.
...When I switch on the mains from the house the light on the vans microwave comes on regardless of the vans power switch being on or off...
The switch in the van is a 12v function switch only to select all 12v equipment and doesn't effect the EHU connection at all.
Once you've switch on in the house, all 230v equipment will run, including the microwave, hence the light coming on. If the microwave is a problem, unplug it while in storage but it won't be draining the battery as ran from EHU only.
During the season, I have my EHU switch automatically via a timer but once I've 'wintered' the van I remove the battery and leave on a smart charger in the garage.
The more I come onto this site the more I learn. Now what used to be my little black book I started with, has become 2 little black books
i have ours plugged in 24/7 on EHU.been like that for years.i have it on a timer for 4 hours a day.this keeps the battery fully charged ready to use the mover.DO NOT use a cheap timer as they are a fire risk.unless you have switches to say otherwise the battery charger should be automatic on EHU.
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
Michael, like you I would like to leave it powered all the time to keep the battery full. I need the movers to get the van off the drive, Only reason I haven't up till now is because I was not sure if it would damage the transformer unit leaving it on all the time?
i take mine out while the van is winterised ,and charge in the garage every week or so .IF it turns really cold i will bring it indoors to keep warm and give it a cuddle every now and then
Quote: Originally posted by Dave11 on 08/11/2012
...Michael, like you I would like to leave it powered all the time to keep the battery full...
Dave forgive me, but I might have mis-read your reply to Michael. He doesn't keep his EHU powered up 24/7, he uses a plug in time switch to turn the supply on for just four hours a day.
This is probaly the most sensible approach, unless you remove the battery and run off a dedicated smart charger permanently.
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Topic: Is it charging?
