Battery Check and maintenance

[Javert]

We are fairly new to caravan life (had caravan just one year). Our Swift Sprite Major 4EB 2025 model has been on a seasonal pitch with hookup for the first year, but from March it will be in storage when not out touring.

We were looking to do some rallies and trips where there is no hookup during the coming year. In view of this, the last 2 times we were at the van, I disconnected the mains charging function to see how long the battery lasted. Both times, the panel on the caravan was beeping and saying low battery on the 2nd morning after arriving, so it lasted less than 48 hours before claiming to need recharge. Fridge, TV are running off mains, so the battery is only being used for the caravan heating fan, lights, internet router.

To be fair, we did have the heating on most of the day from the Saturday afternoon and most of the day Sunday and lights on all evening from about 4.30pm.

The van has a solar panel but our pitch is under a tree and it generates pretty much zero in the winter.

Does this indicate that the battery needs checking if it is only lasting less than 2 days?

We went to a couple of 4 day festivals last summer and no issue, but this could be because the solar panel was topping it up in summer.

The van is going in for its first service in 2 weeks, so I will also ask them to check the battery at that point. Wife is talking about booking a 9 day rally on a non electric pitch in July, so we will need to be able to cover 9 days potentially somehow.

 

[otherclive]

We are fairly new to caravan life (had caravan just one year). Our Swift Sprite Major 4EB 2025 model has been on a seasonal pitch with hookup for the first year, but from March it will be in storage when not out touring.

We were looking to do some rallies and trips where there is no hookup during the coming year. In view of this, the last 2 times we were at the van, I disconnected the mains charging function to see how long the battery lasted. Both times, the panel on the caravan was beeping and saying low battery on the 2nd morning after arriving, so it lasted less than 48 hours before claiming to need recharge. Fridge, TV are running off mains, so the battery is only being used for the caravan heating fan, lights, internet router.

To be fair, we did have the heating on most of the day from the Saturday afternoon and most of the day Sunday and lights on all evening from about 4.30pm.

The van has a solar panel but our pitch is under a tree and it generates pretty much zero in the winter.

Does this indicate that the battery needs checking if it is only lasting less than 2 days?

We went to a couple of 4 day festivals last summer and no issue, but this could be because the solar panel was topping it up in summer.

The van is going in for its first service in 2 weeks, so I will also ask them to check the battery at that point. Wife is talking about booking a 9 day rally on a non electric pitch in July, so we will need to be able to cover 9 days potentially somehow.

Are your lights LED and in July lights and heating wil be far less than you have experienced. What size is your solar panel as this will significantly affect your ability to maintain battery life. Also what size battery do you have? Your four day summer experience was a positive one, and if your lifestyle stays constant then 9 days should be feasible. But what you don’t say is after the four days what voltage was your battery showing.

 

[Javert]

Are your lights LED and in July lights and heating wil be far less than you have experienced. What size is your solar panel as this will significantly affect your ability to maintain battery life. Also what size battery do you have? Your four day summer experience was a positive one, and if your lifestyle stays constant then 9 years should be feasible. But what you don’t say is after the four days what voltage was your battery showing.

I’ll get a photo tomorrow morning of the battery. I don’t know if the lights are LED - they are the factory fit lights as we had the caravan from new - 2025 model Swift Sprite. I’ll ask the dealer. I know that it was the more expensive one of the ones the dealer suggested as we said we would be going to festivals with no hookup.

I didn’t note the voltage after the 4 day summer experience.

I can tell you now that after about 29 hours since we disconnected the charger in the van, the voltage on the van panel is 11.6V “Fair”. this is with the living area lights on and the heating on (but the fan does not seem to be running at this moment).

I do remember noting when we were at the festival last year, that the solar panel was generating a heck of a lot more power than when we are on our normal pitch, which as I said is under some trees. It was obviously some months ago and I didn’t note the exact voltages, but I seem to recall that the battery was only just starting to say “Fair” after 4.5 days of camping, and from memory I think the first 2 days were sunny but the last 2 days were very cloudy.

Edit: Acccording to the brochure the lights are LED.

 

[IanB1485]

2 days off grid in winter seems pretty good to me I have 260W of solar panels and even in summer have to be careful on usage ( big variability on solar output during our british summer), having said that I do run a 60W cool box ( with a low voltage/temperature cut-out controller so the battery doesn't get flattened). To test your battery you need to put it under load , most batteries are rated at the C20 discharge rate so for a 100A. battery = 1 hour at 100A ( not achievable) is the C1 rate, the C20 is 100 A.hr/20hr = 5A is the rate which would flatten the battery in 20 hours. If you can switch on stuff in the caravan and monitor the current to get about a 5A drain by removing the battery fuse and inserting this monitor ( see first photo) and time how long the battery lasts. I have a much faster way but not as accurate I load the battery with about a 1000A and watch the voltage using one of these ( see second photo) if it stays about 11.4-12 V for 30 seconds then its pretty OK , if it quickly falls away ( 10-15 seconds) to 10V or less then its on its way out. My get out to battery anxiety whilst off grid is :- I have bought a 280A.hr Li-PO4 battery ( and a 3kW inverter) and added the necessary wiring so I either use the internal battery or the lithium(which lives in the awning) to power the caravan .

 

[Jcloughie]

We are fairly new to caravan life (had caravan just one year). Our Swift Sprite Major 4EB 2025 model has been on a seasonal pitch with hookup for the first year, but from March it will be in storage when not out touring.

We were looking to do some rallies and trips where there is no hookup during the coming year. In view of this, the last 2 times we were at the van, I disconnected the mains charging function to see how long the battery lasted. Both times, the panel on the caravan was beeping and saying low battery on the 2nd morning after arriving, so it lasted less than 48 hours before claiming to need recharge. Fridge, TV are running off mains, so the battery is only being used for the caravan heating fan, lights, internet router.

To be fair, we did have the heating on most of the day from the Saturday afternoon and most of the day Sunday and lights on all evening from about 4.30pm.

The van has a solar panel but our pitch is under a tree and it generates pretty much zero in the winter.

Does this indicate that the battery needs checking if it is only lasting less than 2 days?

We went to a couple of 4 day festivals last summer and no issue, but this could be because the solar panel was topping it up in summer.

The van is going in for its first service in 2 weeks, so I will also ask them to check the battery at that point. Wife is talking about booking a 9 day rally on a non electric pitch in July, so we will need to be able to cover 9 days potentially somehow.

This is not comparing like for like. You now have the heater fan on for much of the time as well as the lights. Last summer the fan would not be needed, and less lighting required.

I don’t think that 48 hours of fan and lights is unreasonable.

John

 

[Javert]

This is not comparing like for like. You now have the heater fan on for much of the time as well as the lights. Last summer the fan would not be needed, and less lighting required.

I don’t think that 48 hours of fan and lights is unreasonable.

John

Thanks - yes I am aware that it's not the same as in the summer, but I was curious as to whether about 48 hours is unreasonably low, as when I researched this a bit I saw some posts implying that this could be within the expected range, whereas other posts were from people who claimed their battery lasted 4.5 days in the middle of winter in a snowstorm with the heating running all the time, lights on and TV running several hours a day. Of course maybe they had extra batteries or something.

 

[Mel]

From your post I am assuming that you were on trialling off grid on your seasonal pitch on which your caravan had been standing, not connected to hook up whilst you were away?
Hence the only thing keeping the battery topped up prior to arrival was the solar panel?
Had you ensued that the Sargent black switch on the box under the front seat was in the off position when you were absent from the van, hence shutting off all 12v power when you were not there?
What was the battery voltage when you arrived at the van?

The reason I ask is if the Sargent switch was not off, you may have already had a partially depleted battery before you started as sunshine ( especially this winter) has been poor.
Good luck
Mel

 

[Javert]

From your post I am assuming that you were on trialling off grid on your seasonal pitch on which your caravan had been standing, not connected to hook up whilst you were away?
Hence the only thing keeping the battery topped up prior to arrival was the solar panel?
Had you ensued that the Sargent black switch on the box under the front seat was in the off position when you were absent from the van, hence shutting off all 12v power when you were not there?
What was the battery voltage when you arrived at the van?

The reason I ask is if the Sargent switch was not off, you may have already had a partially depleted battery before you started as sunshine ( especially this winter) has been poor.
Good luck
Mel

No the van was left connected and the charger left on during the time I was away from the van (4 days), so the battery would have been as fully charged as it can get using just the caravan charger when we arrived - I turned off the charger as soon as we arrived to test the endurance.

We don't normally turn off the inverter when not at the van as it shuts off the fridge and since we are visiting the van most weekends, we leave the fridge running (as do most other people on our site). From what I recall, when I tested shutting off that black switch it also shut off all of the 240V power even though the cable was still connected.

When our van goes into storage from March onwards, the Sargent switch will be turned off when we are not at the van. Unfortunately the only spot available is right next to the warehouse where they store caravans inside, at the SSW side of the warehouse, so I'm guessing the van will only get solar for half the day at best. However they said we can use a nearby power point to top up the battery every few weeks if we need to.

In reality we are planning to use the van at least once a month this year which is the main reason why we did not renew our seasonal pitch. Hopefully a trip to Europe will be on the cards later in the year.

 

[Javert]

Are your lights LED and in July lights and heating wil be far less than you have experienced. What size is your solar panel as this will significantly affect your ability to maintain battery life. Also what size battery do you have? Your four day summer experience was a positive one, and if your lifestyle stays constant then 9 days should be feasible. But what you don’t say is after the four days what voltage was your battery showing.

This is the Exide battery that has been fitted from new (just coming up to 1 year).

 

[IanB1485]

The black power switch on the Sargent EDU ( EC 400 or above) doesn't turn off the mains it merely shuts down the 12V systems including the internal microprocessor , but the 12V EDU system will still draw some power from the battery , The mains systems will still be live if on electric hook up. Also the solar panel is connected to the battery and will try and keep it topped up.

 

[otherclive]

This is the Exide battery that has been fitted from new (just coming up to 1 year).

View attachment 10193

That’s a good battery that should do the job. Why not next time out go on EHU pitch but don’t hook up and see how solar panel copes with your usage. If the battery voltage starts to drop then you have EHU to fall back on for the rest of your trip.

 

[Javert]

The black power switch on the Sargent EDU ( EC 400 or above) doesn't turn off the mains it merely shuts down the 12V systems including the internal microprocessor , but the 12V EDU system will still draw some power from the battery , The mains systems will still be live if on electric hook up. Also the solar panel is connected to the battery and will try and keep it topped up.

Are you sure because when I tested it some months ago, when I switched off that black power switch it shut off the fridge. I can’t remember whether it shut off the microwave or not. Maybe it’s more that the fridge shuts down because it requires 12V power for the control cirtuits?

Otherwise I will test it again next weekend.

 

[Jcloughie]

No the van was left connected and the charger left on during the time I was away from the van (4 days), so the battery would have been as fully charged as it can get using just the caravan charger when we arrived - I turned off the charger as soon as we arrived to test the endurance.

We don't normally turn off the inverter when not at the van as it shuts off the fridge and since we are visiting the van most weekends, we leave the fridge running (as do most other people on our site). From what I recall, when I tested shutting off that black switch it also shut off all of the 240V power even though the cable was still connected.

When our van goes into storage from March onwards, the Sargent switch will be turned off when we are not at the van. Unfortunately the only spot available is right next to the warehouse where they store caravans inside, at the SSW side of the warehouse, so I'm guessing the van will only get solar for half the day at best. However they said we can use a nearby power point to top up the battery every few weeks if we need to.

In reality we are planning to use the van at least once a month this year which is the main reason why we did not renew our seasonal pitch. Hopefully a trip to Europe will be on the cards later in the year.

On our seasonal pitch we are away for the 3 winter months. Back in March. I think that most leave their vans on EHU. I have unplugged and turned off power in the van as much as I can, just the alarm I think. My hope is that the 100 watt solar will keep it topped up. I think it will.

John