Battery Charger/ Power Supply

[DrZhivago]

My "Plug-in-Systems" KT12SM charger has failed. They don't make them any more so I am looking at a Rovert :-

www.12voltplanet.co.uk/rovert-automatic-multi-stage-leisure-battery-charger-12v-20a.html

Somewhat cheaper (2/3 price) than an equivalent Amporor that I have seen recommended here. Does anyone have experience of Rovert chargers?

 

[TowerAmulet]

I haven't used one of these.
What Ah capacity battery bank are you charging? Make sure that your charger matches the intended bank capacity (or unforseen battery shortfall). The spec suggests 150Ah lower threshold which is more than a single regular big leisure battery so you may need to carry two. Check the mains input current as a poor conversion might mean you exceed the capacity of a small suitcase genny should you ever need to use one.
That Rovert has possibly a better back drain and a good input voltage tolerance which is handy if you're ever on a hunting/fluctuating genny.
I use one of these.
http://ctek.com/gb/en/chargers/MXS%2025EC
More of a marine item but I'm a land lubber and it works for me. The spec says suitable for 40 - 500Ah although a higher 25A output so it will perhaps manage that lower threshold with its extra charging steps but I'm not certain .

 

[Damian]

Rovert are a very well known brand and have good reliability record.
The charger you indicate is ideal for your van and is on par , if not better, than other makes on the market.
It is intelligent so will not overcharge your battery and with its capacity will act as a PSU meaning even less starin on your leisure battery.

 

[Woodentop]

Looks a good buy to me.

I suspect the battery rating comment is based on C/10 charge rate and the box can do 20A, ergo it will charge a 200Ah battery - provided you don't want it to power anything else at the same time!.

The 12VPlanet web site indicates that they know what they are doing. How often do you find any non-specialist retailer doing pure sine wave invertors - very few I can tell you. Also the PSU/charger being British made (Preston) means you have someone to complain to in addition to your supplier!

 

[DrZhivago]

My battery is 95Ah, so the particular link I gave is to a charger on the big side for my battery. Rovert do a smaller one (12A max rather than 20A) but that supplier seem to say they are out of stock of that one at the moment. I'll phone then Monday.

The CTEK looks stylish, slim, cool and lightweight - more the sort of thing to clip on in an emergency. I prefer things like this to be big, ugly, heavy, and bolted on

Woodentop wrote :-

The 12VPlanet web site indicates that they know what they are doing.

. Indeed, unlike Advanced Battery Supplies who specify charging currents in Ah !

https://advancedbatterysupplies.co.uk/product/numax-122000hd/

 

[Woodentop]

Don't misunderstand. The battery will only take the current it needs. Yes, the charger may well be capable of providing something much greater but if it is a controlled or float charger there won't be a problem. 20A is much more realistic for modern day 12V needs in the caravan alone!

 

[pmb]

I take it the replacement pcb for the charger from www.expluginsteve.co.uk is not an option? I replaced mine a year or two back and glad to have kept it like it was originally.