Caravan installed battery chargers

[otherclive]

In my previous caravans I have always removed the battery when the van was instore (anti theft measure) and taken it home There I would connect it to my CTEK 3600 charger and just leave it to charge and float until next required in the caravan. I always got good battery life. In this latest caravan it is fitted with the 2 stage charger which should allow me to keep the battery in the caravan and then just connect to the 240 v mains to charge the battery. But do the 2 stage chargers have the same characteristics as Optimate where I can leave it on float?

 

[ProfJohnL]

Without seeing the specifications, its impossible to know, but being a two stage charger suggests it will have bulk charge rate with probably 14 to 14.4,V and a float charge of about 13.8V

It certainly wont have the battery recovery options that a CTEK has.

 

[bertieboy1]

I charge my batteries with a straightforward car battery charger not "smart",no "stages",just a simple transformer/rectifier,never had any problems in 50 years.

 

[Hutch]

When I put the van into storage, pull the main 20 amp fuse which stops all battery drain, but normally only into storage for between a 2 week or a month. The caravan power unit charges great.

 

[Craigyoung]

Never once took our battery off or pulled the fuse out on our old Orion , never had a problem with it , was used quite often though like now , but even in storage still no battery drain.

 

[Hutch]

Craig, if, I dont pull the main 20 amp fuse and the fridge 5 amp fuse then after a month the battery is down to about 11 1/2 volts the fridge panel and main power panel drains the power , even with everything switched off. Maybe why the newer caravans have solar panels to keep the batteries charged.