Charging Battery During Winter Period

[BernardinTring]

Clarification would be welcomed on the following.

Van is stored away from home premises, not too far, but requires battery to be brought home for any recharging over winter.

My first season at caravanning and although I have a car battery charger in the garage think I have read somewhere that using this would do more harm than good to a caravan leisure battery in that it will shorten its life.

Is this correct and if so is there is a specific type and make of charger I should be looking to aim for or is this 'more harm than good', perhaps a ploy to encourage buy from the caravan accessory shop at a highly inflated price?

Comments, advice and any assistance in various pitfalls very much appreciated.

Any indication of price guide too of this piece of equipment would be welcomed.

Many thanks.

Bernard

 

[ajmacintosh]

Hi Bernard,

Luckily my van is kept at my home so I usually hook the electric up once a month which charges the battery.

When my caravan was in storage, I used to take the battery home and charge it once a month using a std car battery charger, it never seem to do my battery any harm.(I await the wrist slap).

If you want a decent charger take a look here:

http://www.waudbys.co.uk/products/details/12.html
Regards

Andrew

 

[GrahamPonty]

Hi Bernard,

I have two 85amp leisure batterys, like you my van is in storage, I use one of the new chargers that not only charges your battery but it also conditions it as well with no fear of boiling the battery dry.

I change the battery about once a month on the van for the fully charged one then bring the flat battery home and put it on charge, the reason for this is the van is fitted with a tracker and alarm which need a charged battery to work.

The model of charger I use is made by CTEK and cost

 

[bigbilly]

On all my caravans I have left the van charger on all the time that the caravan is not being used - fortunately it is kept at home.

I have a 110 amp leisure battery for my small fishing boat and that is connected, in the garage, to a CTEK charger the whole time that I am not using the boat.

If it is a non sealed liquid battery make sure thatthe 'acid' level is regularly checked especially during hot weather (if we ever get any !)

Bill

 

[BernardinTring]

On all my caravans I have left the van charger on all the time that the caravan is not being used - fortunately it is kept at home.

I have a 110 amp leisure battery for my small fishing boat and that is connected, in the garage, to a CTEK charger the whole time that I am not using the boat.

If it is a non sealed liquid battery make sure thatthe 'acid' level is regularly checked especially during hot weather (if we ever get any !)

Bill

Many thanks to all for the advice and comments given.

Very much appreciated.

Bernard

 

[BernardinTring]

Many thanks to all for the advice and comments given.

Very much appreciated.

Bernard

 

[will2]

Hello Bernard.

I use an Optimate 3 trickle charger.

I bring the battery home when caravan is in storage and recharge with the optimate.The charger also conditions the battery and can also recover deeply discharged batteries.

They are about

 

[John_374325111]

Hi Bernard

Have you thought about getting a small solar panel? I've put one in my caravan, and it keeps the battery topped up. They cost around

 

[BernardinTring]

Hi Bernard

Have you thought about getting a small solar panel? I've put one in my caravan, and it keeps the battery topped up. They cost around

 

[John_374325111]

Thanks for this suggestion of the solar panel. Note you disconnect vans electrics. I would seem to have a problem in that I hav a proactive Phantom alarm fitted which requires a constant supply.

Any suggestion on this aspect and the solar panel.

Many thanks.

Bernard

Hi Bernard

Depends on the current consumption of your Phantom alarm. Have a read of the instruction book for it and see what load it puts on your van battery. Providing its a lot less than the panel produces you should be reasonably ok. Panels do come in lots of different output levels. You would have to have one that will provide the cuurent you need.

The alarm system fitted to my van will work quite happily on its own battery for three months without the van battery being connected. However, we use our van frequently, so I haven't had to proove it!

John