Hi have a question about an older caravan, the Abi celebration 520 et. When plugged into a sites electricity, does the caravan charge the leisure battery? I’ve read the owner manual but there is nothing about battery charging in it. Does it stop charging at a certain % or do I have to manually disconnect the battery when connected to mains power to avoid over charging. Totally new to owning a caravan thanks.
Abi celebration 520 et
- Thread starter Wanderer2023
- Start date
Hi
When connected to EHU the charger should charge the battery if both are OK, no need to disconnect the battery when on site with EHU, the thing to be wary of is when not connected to mains as the battery will discharge slowly and could reduce the life of the battery.
Hope this helps
Gra
When connected to EHU the charger should charge the battery if both are OK, no need to disconnect the battery when on site with EHU, the thing to be wary of is when not connected to mains as the battery will discharge slowly and could reduce the life of the battery.
Hope this helps
Gra
Most caravan manufactured since 1980 do have a built in battery charging facility, These rectified sine wave outputs that were unsmoothed and unregulated, and could produce unloaded peak voltages in excess of 21V. Connecting a good battery would load the charger and reduce the peak voltages and the battery would carry the current demand between the chargers peaks.
These chargers were not smart and would cook a battery if left turned on over longer periods. These should be turned off when the battery has reached full charge.
From about 1985 most (but not all) built in chargers limited their charge voltage to about 13.8V rms but even these could produce peak voltages in excess of 20V if the battery was in poor condition or disconnected. As before, these were unsmoothed and unregulated so the battery was needed to supply current to the loads between the chargers voltage peaks.
These chargers also be turned off when the battery has reached full charge.
From the mid 1990's most chargers fitted were now technically "power supplies" and would produce a regulated and smoothed output of 13.8V dc. This value was chosen because it was assumed that a a battery ( in adequate or better condition) could withstand a constant 13.8V without over charging.
Provided the power supply could produce enough current , you could run some 12V items without the battery in circuit, but if a water pump caravan mover was needed the battery must be connected. Batteries will less likely to be damaged by these power supplies.
As we move beyond 2010, an increasing number of caravan power supplies have some "smart" features, which monitor the batteries condition, and will automatically either bulk charge the battery if it needs it, or put it into float charge when the battery has reached very close to its fully charged state. Theoretically these caravan systems should keep the battery in its best condition indefinitely..... but their not as effective as some of the multistage chargers available for keeping car batteries in tip top condition and ready to go.
Generally it should be OK to keep the charger on whilst you are using the caravan, but probably better not to run it 100% time whilst in storage.
These chargers were not smart and would cook a battery if left turned on over longer periods. These should be turned off when the battery has reached full charge.
From about 1985 most (but not all) built in chargers limited their charge voltage to about 13.8V rms but even these could produce peak voltages in excess of 20V if the battery was in poor condition or disconnected. As before, these were unsmoothed and unregulated so the battery was needed to supply current to the loads between the chargers voltage peaks.
These chargers also be turned off when the battery has reached full charge.
From the mid 1990's most chargers fitted were now technically "power supplies" and would produce a regulated and smoothed output of 13.8V dc. This value was chosen because it was assumed that a a battery ( in adequate or better condition) could withstand a constant 13.8V without over charging.
Provided the power supply could produce enough current , you could run some 12V items without the battery in circuit, but if a water pump caravan mover was needed the battery must be connected. Batteries will less likely to be damaged by these power supplies.
As we move beyond 2010, an increasing number of caravan power supplies have some "smart" features, which monitor the batteries condition, and will automatically either bulk charge the battery if it needs it, or put it into float charge when the battery has reached very close to its fully charged state. Theoretically these caravan systems should keep the battery in its best condition indefinitely..... but their not as effective as some of the multistage chargers available for keeping car batteries in tip top condition and ready to go.
Generally it should be OK to keep the charger on whilst you are using the caravan, but probably better not to run it 100% time whilst in storage.
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